Karamu House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Karamu House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Karamu House
Location in Ohio
Location	Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Built	-1915 (as Settlement House) -1941 (renamed as Karamu House)
Architectural style	Moderne [1]
MPS	Black History TR [2] [3]
NRHP reference No.	82001368
Added to NRHP	December 17, 1982

Karamu House is a very special place in Cleveland, Ohio. It's located in the Fairfax neighborhood. This amazing theater is the oldest Black theater in the United States! It first opened its doors way back in 1915. Many famous plays by the writer Langston Hughes were first shown here.

A Place for Everyone: Karamu House History

In 1915, a couple named Russell and Rowena Woodham Jelliffe started Karamu House. They were graduates of Oberlin College in Ohio. At first, it was called The Neighborhood Association. Their goal was to create a place where people of all backgrounds could come together. They soon found that art, like plays and music, was a great way to connect people. In 1917, plays began at what was then called the "Playhouse Settlement."

Welcoming All in Cleveland

In the early 1920s, many African Americans moved to Cleveland from the Southern United States. The Jelliffes made sure everyone was welcome at their center. They believed in the idea from the United States Constitution: "all men are created equal." The Playhouse Settlement quickly became a popular spot for talented African American artists. Actors, dancers, printmakers, and writers all found a place to share their skills. Karamu House also played a part in the exciting Harlem Renaissance, a time when Black art and culture thrived. Langston Hughes, a key figure in this movement, spent time here.

Karamu House Gets Its Name

Because of the strong influence of Black culture and artists, the Playhouse Settlement got a new name in 1941. It was officially renamed Karamu House. The word "Karamu" comes from the Kiswahili language. It means "a place of joyful gathering."

Karamu House became known for helping Black actors grow. It continued the work of the Gilpin Players, an earlier Black acting group. Directors from other theaters, like John Kenley and John Price, often looked for Black actors at Karamu House for their own shows.

A Famous Play: Mule Bone

In 1931, famous writers Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston wanted to put on their play, Mule Bone, at Karamu House. However, they had a disagreement, and the play wasn't performed then. Many years later, in 1991, Mule Bone finally had its world premiere on Broadway. Then, in 1996, Karamu House proudly presented the play itself! It was a huge success, with every show selling out. This helped Karamu House regain its strong reputation in the theater world.

Today, Tony F. Sias is the CEO and President of Karamu House.

Modern Updates: Renovations 2017-2021

Between 2017 and 2021, Karamu House went through a big renovation. This project cost $14.5 million! The architect firm, Robert P. Madison International, led the work. This firm was founded by Robert P. Madison, Ohio's first African American-owned architectural firm.

The updates included:

• A new look for the street outside.
• A new bistro (a small restaurant) and patio.
• An outdoor stage that can be enclosed.
• Improvements to the Arena Theater, lobby, and dressing rooms.

These changes were done in three steps:

• Phase I: The 195-seat Jelliffe Theatre got a new roof, lobby, seats, lighting, and wheelchair access.
• Phase II: A new lobby, gift shop, and art gallery were added. The Arena Theatre and cafe were also updated.
• Phase III: An outdoor stage, patio, cafe, and new street design were completed.

Karamu House Timeline

What Karamu House Does Today

Karamu House has a clear mission: to create professional theater, offer arts education, and present community programs for everyone. It especially celebrates the Black experience. It's a joyful place where people from different backgrounds come together through art. Recently, they updated their mission to use the word "Black" instead of "African-American" to include the experiences of Black people from all over the world.

Today, Karamu offers art experiences for all ages. Their main programs are:

• The Early Childhood Development Center.
• The Center of Arts and Education.
• The Karamu Performing Arts Theatre.

In 2020, Karamu House presented Freedom on Juneteenth. This event honored the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.

Langston Hughes and Karamu House

Langston Hughes had a very special connection with Karamu House. The years from 1936 to 1939 are even called the "Hughes Era." Hughes was born in St. Louis but spent some of his early life in Cleveland. He attended programs and classes at Karamu. Even after he left Ohio, he stayed in touch with the director, Rowena Jelliffe, and the Gilpin Players. They performed many of his plays, including the first showings of When the Jack Hollars (1936), Troubled Island (1936), and Joy to My Soul.

Hughes once said that if he was in Cleveland, he would be happy to help Karamu House in any way he could. He believed it was important for America to have a serious Black theater. He felt Karamu was the closest thing to it. He thought a Black theater should perform plays by and about Black people. It should also create plays that connect with the community around it.

Langston Hughes wrote many short, funny plays throughout his life. He often sent them to Karamu House.

Awards and Recognition

Karamu House has received many honors over the years:

• On December 17, 1982, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
• On June 16, 2003, it received an Ohio Historical Marker.
• In 2005, it won the "Theater Longevity Award" from the National Black Theater Festival.
• In 2019, American Theater Magazine called Karamu House "one of the most overlooked success stories in our field."
• In 2022, it received "The Doors of the Theater are Open" Award from Broadway Black.
• In 2023, Midwest Living magazine named Karamu the "Best Theater in the Midwest."

Famous People from Karamu House

Many talented people have been part of Karamu House over the years.

Actors

• Bill Cobbs (born 1934) - a well-known actor in movies, TV, and stage.
• Minnie Gentry (1915–1993) - an actress who performed on Broadway, in movies, and on TV.
• Robert Guillaume (1927 - 2017) - famous for starring in the TV shows Soap and Benson.
• Margaret Ford-Taylor (born January 6) - an actress, writer, and director who has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.
• Dick Latessa (born 1929) - an actor who won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical in 2003 for Hairspray.
• Ron O'Neal (1937–2004) - an actor, director, and writer who appeared in many films in the 1970s.
• Al Kirk - a Broadway and film actor, known for "Shaft" and "Golden Boy."
• Dave Connell - a Broadway and film actor, known for "Great White Hope."
• Vanessa Bell-Calloway (born 1956) - performed in Karamu's theater and dance programs before joining the Broadway musical Dream Girls.
• Reyno Crayton (born 1952) - performed in many Karamu House shows and won awards for his role in "The First Breeze of Summer."

Visual Artists

• Charles L. Sallée Jr. (1913-2006) - a printmaker, painter, and muralist.
• William E. Smith (1913-1997) - a printmaker, painter, and art teacher.