AUDITIONS: A Raisin In the sun
ANNOUNCING OPEN AUDITIONS FOR PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS’ 2026 FALL PLAY:
A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Paramount Guest Director Alisha Taylor
Performances: August 28-30, 2026
From Concord Theatricals: Set on Chicago’s South Side, Lorraine Hansberry's celebrated play concerns the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. Hansberry's portrait of one family’s struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
Content Advisory: 13+ Mild Adult Themes
A RAISIN IN THE SUN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Paramount Productions is dedicated to diversity and inclusion as a core value, and as such we strongly encourage actors of all ethnicities and genders to audition.
AUDITION INFORMATION
AUDITIONS: Tuesday, June 30th from 7:00-9:00 PM
CALLBACKS: Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Paramount Abilene, 352 Cypress St., Abilene, TX 79601
WHO: All genders and abilities are encouraged to audition.
NOTE: Most characters in A Raisin in the Sun are performed by Black actors. See Casting Information for more details.
AUDITION FORM/TIME SIGN-UP: Please fill out the audition form and sign up for one (1) five-minute audition time slot by clicking the “Submit An Audition Form” button above. All wanting to audition MUST complete this online form and sign up for a specific time slot.
WHAT TO PREPARE: The director would like those auditioning to prepare one of the monologues that best corresponds to their general age group and gender; for options, check this Google Drive:
Memorization of monologues is preferred. Familiarity with the script is strongly advised.
Be ready to read additional sides on request at your audition time; any additional sides will be provided on-site and will not need to be memorized.
AT YOUR AUDITION TIME: You will receive a confirmation e-mail of your appointment time no later than the week of auditions. Please arrive a few minutes early to your audition to sign in with the runner in the lobby and await further instructions.
AFTER AUDITIONS: You will find out no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, July 3rd if you have been offered a callback.
Please direct any questions to Katie Hahn, Director of Paramount Productions at khahn@paramountabilene.com.
A RAISIN IN THE SUN PERFORMANCES ARE
AUGUST 28-30, 2026.
REHEARSALS BEGIN JULY 20.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Directed by Paramount Guest Director
ALISHA TAYLOR
Produced by
KATIE HAHN
Costume Design by
EMILIA RICHARDSON
Scenic Design by
TREY SPIVEY
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS
CASTING INFORMATION
The age ranges listed below are relative and should not discourage you from auditioning. The director is seeking actors who can play the ages of the characters, regardless of actual age.
WALTER LEE YOUNGER: Black Man, 30-40. Discontented with his status in life as a Black man in America, he is a dreamer, whose big plans and schemes are fueled by his aspirations and ambitions to become something in the world and make a better life for his family.
LENA YOUNGER (‘MAMA’): Black Woman, 55-65. Walter and Beneatha’s mother; the matriarch of the family, Mama is extremely religious, moral, and maternal; she wants to use her husband’s insurance money as a down payment on a house with a backyard to fulfill her lifelong dream for her family.
BENEATHA YOUNGER: Black Woman, 19-25. Lena’s daughter and Walter’s sister; Beneatha is an intellectual; twenty years old, she attends college and is better educated than the rest of the Younger family. She dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine her identity.
RUTH YOUNGER: Black Woman, 29-37. Walter’s wife and Travis's mother; Ruth takes care of the Youngers’ small apartment; her 11 year marriage to Walter has its problems, but she hopes to rekindle their love. She is about thirty, but her weariness makes her seem older. She is an emotionally strong woman and her almost pessimistic pragmatism helps her survive.
TRAVIS YOUNGER: Black Boy, 9-16. Walter and Ruth’s son. Travis earns some money by carrying grocery bags and likes to play outside with other neighborhood children.
JOSEPH ASAGAI: Black Man, 20-30. A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. Asagai is very proud of his African heritage and when he proposes marriage to Beneatha he hopes she will return to Nigeria with him.
GEORGE MURCHISON: Black Man, 25-35. A wealthy Black man who courts Beneatha; the Youngers approve of George, but Beneatha dislikes his willingness to submit to white culture and forget his African heritage. He challenges the thoughts and feelings of others through his arrogance and love of spirited debate.
MR. KARL LINDER: White Man, 25-50. Mr. Linder arrives at the Youngers’ apartment from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association; he offers the Youngers a deal to reconsider moving into his (all-white) neighborhood.
BOBO: Black Man, 30-40. One of Walter’s business partners in his plan to open a liquor store.
MRS. JOHNSON: Black Woman, 30+. The Youngers’ meddling neighbor. She’s “a rather squeaky wide-eyed woman” who grates against Lena and Ruth because she takes advantage of the Youngers’ hospitality and warns them about moving into a predominantly white neighborhood. This is a short, but important optional scene.
Moving Men: Non-speaking roles who show up at the end to help the Youngers move.
**Karl Lindner is the only non-Black character in the show.