Hickory – Two familiar actors, Jordan Randall and Dior Scott, are returning to the stage for the Hickory Community Theatre’s upcoming 50th anniversary production of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The 50th anniversary of the landmark drama opens on Friday, January 31 in the Jeffers Theatre.
A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of the Younger family’s struggle for dignity and a better life, and the backlash that erupts when they try to move beyond their oppressive Chicago tenement home.
Randall plays Walter Lee Younger, the protagonist of the play, a dreamer who wants to invest his father’s insurance money in a liquor store venture. Scott plays Walter’s wife, Ruth, a strong woman doing her best to make a good life for her family.
When asked what drew him to audition for this show, Randall replied, “It is a compelling story with a relevant lesson.” This is his third show with HCT. His previous roles were Gandalf in The Hobbit and Booker T. Washington in Ragtime. His professional theatre credits include seven seasons at Tweetsie Railroad and two seasons with From This Day Forward. He is a native of Granite Falls and a slope supervisor at Appalachian Ski Mountain.
Scott says she chose this show, “because I can relate to simply wanting a seat at a table I deserve to be at.” Raisin is also her third show at HCT. She was previously in Dreamgirls as Effie White and Hair as Abie Baby. Her other theatre roles include playing Sebastian in The Little Mermaid at The Green Room. She relocated to the Hickory area four years ago from Philadelphia.
Performances of A Raisin in the Sun are Fridays and Saturdays (Jan 31, Feb 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15) at 8:00pm, Thursdays (Feb 6 & 13) at 7:30pm and Sundays (Feb 9 & 16) at 2:30pm.
Tickets for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $10 for. Thursday night tickets are $14 for all adults and $10 for students. Call the box office at 828-328-2283 or visit hickorytheatre.org to purchase tickets or get more information.
The Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. A Raisin in the Sun is produced by Corning Optical Communications and the United Arts Council in association with the City of Hickory Community Relations Council. A Cleaner World, Paramount Automotive, the City of Hickory and Sunbelt Xpress are the sponsors the 2019-2020 Season.
PHOTO: Dior Scott and Jordan Randall play Ruth and Walter Lee Younger in the upcoming production of A Raisin in the Sun at the Hickory Community Theatre. Performances run January 31 through February 16 in the Jeffers Theatre. For show times and tickets visit hickorytheatre.org or call 828-328-2283. Photo by John Koval.
