Diddy Does Broadway Tonight

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will make his Broadway stage debut tonight (March 29) to the public, as "Raisin in the Sun" kicks off at the Royale Theatre in New York. Combs and cast did their first official run through of the entire play last night. The previews, which start tonight, are open to the public. […]

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will make his

Broadway stage debut tonight (March 29) to the public, as "Raisin in the

Sun" kicks off at the Royale Theatre in New York.

Combs and cast did their first official run through

of the entire play last night. The previews, which start tonight, are open to

the public. The play officially opens on April 26.

Combs stars as Walter Lee, who seeks a business

deal using his late father’s insurance money, in hopes of escaping poverty.

Tension arises when his mother, wants to use the money to move the family out

of the city.

Walter Lee was originally played by Sidney Poiter

in the original version of "Raisin," which premiered on Broadway in

1959.

Sanaa Lathan, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald,

David Aaron Baker, Teagle F. Bougere, Alexander Mitchell, Frank Harts and Bill

Nunn round out the cast of the play.

Combs has appeared in the films "Made,"

"Monster’s Ball" and "Death of a Dynasty."

"Raisin in the Sun" was the first Broadway

play written, directed and starting African-Americans. It’s original cast included

Sidney Poiter, Ruby Dee, Louis Gossett, Claudia McNeil and others.

The play also became a hit film in 1961.