The Playwright as Activist: Lorraine Hansberry’s Legacy

Co-sponsored by The Lillys and the Museum of the City of New York, three distinguished playwrights gathered before a masked audience on Monday, June 13, 2022, to discuss theatre, activism, and the influence of playwright Lorraine Hansberry on their work. The conversation accompanied the unveiling of Alison Saar’s sculpture of Lorraine Hansberry and the Museum’s inaugural Freedom Week: A Journey into Art & Activism. What follows is an excerpt of their conversation edited by and with the panelists.

Digital illustration of three aspects of Lorraine Hansberry: one showing her wearing a crew-neck t-shirt and smoking a cigarette, one showing her wearing a pearl necklace and wearing a suit, the other showing her wearing the same pearl necklace over a sleeveless dress, wearing sunglasses, and holding a microphone from the 1950s
Illustration by Bria Benjamin for The Dramatist. www.briabenjamin.com

Lynn Nottage:  I’m so happy to be sitting next to both of you discussing the legacy of Lorraine Hansberry and her work as writer and activist. We’re here to celebrate the unveiling of the Lorraine Hansberry statue commissioned the Lillys and sculpted by renowned artist Alison Saar. The statue made its debut in Times Square, and if you would like to see Lorraine, she’s in residence this week at the Schomburg Center, before beginning a grand tour of the country. I encourage you all to take some time to sit awhile and think with her.

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Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottage

is a playwright and a screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. She serves on the Dramatists Guild Council.

Erika Dickerson-Despenza
Erika Dickerson-Despenza

is a Blk, queer feminist poet-playwright & cultural-memory worker from Chicago, Illinois. Awards: Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award (2020), Thom Thomas Award (2020), Lilly Award (2020), Barrie and Bernice Stavis Award (2020), Steinberg Playwright Award (2020), Princess Grace Playwriting Award (2019). Select stage plays include: cullud wattahshadow/land, and [hieroglyph].

Lisa Kron
Lisa Kron

wrote the book and lyrics for the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home. Other plays include In The Wake, Well, and 2.5 Minute Ride (Obie). Acting credits include Well (Tony nom.) and Good Person of Szechuan (Lortel Award). Founding member: OBIE- and Bessie-Award-winning theater company The Five Lesbian Brothers. Former Vice-President of the Dramatists Guild of America.