Veteran actress Diahann Carroll is a legendary performer with a Tony award to her credit. The talented performer was set to return to Broadway as part of the highly-anticipated revival of A Raisin in the Sun though this is no longer a possibility.

Producers for A Raisin in the Sun released news on February 9th that Carroll would no longer portray the role of the play’s matriarch, much to the disappointment of fans. Sixty-four-year-old LaTanya Richardson Jackson, who is Samuel L. Jackson’s wife, is presently slated to replace Carroll in the role of Lena Younger. Denzel Washington will portray the son of Lena Younger, now replaced by Jackson.

Diahann Carroll issued the following statement to explain the reason for her departure from this stage performance:

“The pace of filming movies and TV projects is quite different than the extensive amount of time preparing and appearing ‘live’ on Broadway eight times a week. I enjoyed working with Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, Kenny Leon and an amazing cast and I wish them well.”

A Raisin in the Sun will preview on March 8th inside the Barrymore Theatre; however, the play’s first official performance is on April 3rd. Director Kenny Leon is bringing this adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun to life though fans eagerly awaiting this performance will only have the chance to catch a viewing for a short time, during the duration that the limited 14-week engagement is projected to run.

Seventy-eight-year-old Carroll has performed on television, in the movies, and in stage performances throughout her career. The award-winning actress is well-known for her versatility as a performer. Fortunately, fans of the popular star will still have the opportunity to watch Carroll bring June Ellington to life on the well-known USA television series White Collar.

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