The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is an African-American arts institution located in downtown San Francisco. It is named after Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote A Raisin in the Sun while living in Bay Area.

Venue: Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
Town: San Francisco, US

The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is an African-American arts institution located in downtown San Francisco. It is named after Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote A Raisin in the Sun while living in Bay Area. Since being founded in 1981, The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre has mounted productions that have included performances by Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Danny Glover and Ntozake Shange. The theatre has mounted more than 100 plays, productions, and theatrical events since its founding, with the theme of exploring the African-American experience. The organization has survived obstacles including declining African-American population in San Francisco, and multiple location changes. Notable productions include the 1987 production of Ntozake Shange's play Three Views of Mt. Fuji, which completed a six-week run at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre preceding an opening in New York at New Dramatists. In 1991 African-American playwright Robert Alexander challenged the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe with a production at The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre examining stereotypes in the cabin of Uncle Tom. In June 2007, the theatre's lease for the YWCA building on 620 Sutter Street was scheduled to expire at the end of the following month (July 2007) and instead of a renewal, the space was going to be purchased by the Academy of Art University. This arts organization was planning to continue to use the building as a dormitory, as it had done since 2005. A campaign was quickly organized in an attempt to avoid displacement of the theatre. "The heads of the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Symphony, SFMOMA, and other major institutions sent a joint letter urging the mayor to take action." On June 30, the San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed a resolution "supporting the Lorraine Hansberry and its contributions to the cultural life of San Francisco" with a unanimous vote of all 10 members present. The theatre company moved into a venue at 450 Post Street. Executive Director Qu