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The Allen, Outcalt, and Helen
Theatres are all located at
1407 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
CPH is dedicated to serving diverse audiences with nationally acclaimed education programs.
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Karamu House, the centerpiece of Cleveland’s historic Fairfax neighborhood and the oldest Black theatre in the country, presents the soul-stirring, gospel celebration Black Nativity in the Allen Theatre. Black Nativity is the joyous retelling of the traditional New Testament account of the Nativity story, using gospel music, dramatic dance, and a biblical narrative. Written and conceived by legendary playwright, poet, and Karamu alum Langston Hughes, this soulful, heartwarming story is a Karamu House classic!
(Vocal Ensemble) is returning to the Karamu stage for the 2nd time as a part of Black Nativity. She’s also participated in a few other Karamu presentations. She brings many years of musical experience as a choir member and director. She’s starred in numerous church plays and skits and more
(Vocal Ensemble) a true mentor, artist, motivator, and friend that has many fond memories of performing at the historic and famed Karamu House. In addition, he has performed at other theaters in Greater Cleveland. He is a proud graduate of Bethune-Cookman University. Select credits include Aida, Neighbors, Dreamgirls, Sister more
(Vocal Ensemble) burst onto the scene at Karamu at the beginning of 2019, making his debut as Silva Vicarro in Tennessee Williams’s 27 Wagons Full of Cotton.? Soon after that, he was cast as the leading role of the Egyptian Captain, Radames, in the hit musical Aida. He also more
(Vocal Ensemble) is a Cleveland native, a singer, a travel business owner, and an income tax consultant. Bonita has been a singer since the age of 4. She performed in her very first stage play in the 5th grade, playing the starring role. It was there that she was more
(Vocal Ensemble) is a Cleveland native, a singer, stylist, songwriter, visual artist, and poet. Since her very first stage performance in Geminia: a Space Age Cinderella as a child, the arts have become more than a performance, but a catalyst for learning, peace, and balance. Christina has more
(Vocal Ensemble) is an actor, singer, dancer, and all-around entertainer. After graduating from the Cleveland School of the Arts, he studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy majoring in Musical Theatre and continues performing on various stages including Nighttown, Playhouse Square, Severance Hall, and Karamu House. He has more
(Joseph) is a 30-year-old Cleveland Native. He started his training at the Cleveland School of the Arts and continued his training at The University Of The Arts. Taylor has worked with such artists as Dara J. Meredith, Christopher Huggins, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Wayne St. David, and Roni Koresh, to name more
(Dancer) is a Cleveland Native who has been involved in the arts since the age of 10. Rashawn started off as a vocalist under the direction of Michael Williams at Carl and Louis Stokes Central Academy. This prepared him to make it into the Cleveland School of Arts as more
(Mary) is a Cleveland native and alumni of Cleveland School of the Arts, where she studied as a dance major. Kailyn studied and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University. During college, Kailyn trained with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC2). Today, Kailyn is a more
(Dancer) Since the 10th grade, Oriyomi has performed in city-wide plays, musicals, concerts, and performance arts venues, such as the CMSD All City Arts Program, Break City, Cleveland Public Theater STEP, The City of Cleveland Showagon, Foluke Cultural Arts Center, Rainey Institute, Errin Ministries, GreenWorks, The Ohio Theater Project, more
(Dancer) was born and raised on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. She began taking dance classes at Karamu House while also dancing for both her church and high school. She went on to dance in various productions in the city like Cleveland Dance Project and How I Got more
(Vocal Ensemble) Joshua is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art with a Bachelor’s in Video. He has his own videography business and is a Director of Music for two different churches. Joshua got started in theatre almost a decade ago while he was the Director of the more
(Vocal Ensemble) is an actor, vocalist, musician, and proud Cleveland native. Mary-Francis was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus. Performance credits include the Karamu House production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, the Cleveland Public Theatre productions of Fire on the Water and Panther more
(Vocal Ensemble) a beautiful and talented Cleveland native, by way of Cincinnati Ohio, is no stranger to the stage! This singer, song writer and dancer, has played many roles over the course of over 20 years, including music videos, live band, and stage productions such as The Wiz, Once more
(Dancer) is a talented dancer and choreographer originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She first began her dance, theatre, and capoeira journey at Rainey Institute. She is a graduate from Cleveland School of the Arts and was a participant in the All-City dance ensemble in her youth. She has trained and more
(Vocal Ensemble) was born in Mississippi and has lived around the country, but calls Cleveland home. You may have recently seen her as Camae in Karamu House’s production of The Mountaintop and as Della in Greenwood: An American Dream Destroyed. Notable credits include Amina (Alternate) in Dance Nation at more
(Vocal Ensemble) realized his passion for music while singing in the church choir of his father’s church. He later joined the John F. Kennedy High School choir, which won numerous competitions under the direction of Patricia Connors. His first singing debut on stage was singing “Be A Lion” from more
(Playwright) Famed poet and playwright, Langston Hughes was commissioned in 1961 to create a gospel drama to be staged that Christmas. In November of that year, Langston began a gospel play based on the theme of the Nativity. One idea above all guided him; he would attempt to make more
(Director) is the President +CEO of Karamu House, Inc., America’s oldest Black producing theatre. Under Sias, since 2015 Karamu stabilized finances, raised over $10 million for restoration and increased attendance. Prior to his tenure at Karamu, Sias served in several progressive roles for the Cleveland Metropolitan School more
(Music Director/Conductor) studied at The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and The Cleveland Institute of Music. He has earned a bachelor and master’s degree in music education from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Music in Composition degree from Cleveland State University. David did more
(Associate Director/Choreographer) is a teaching artist, wellness advocate, and community activator.?She began her dance training in African dance as a company member of Dance Afrika Dance of Cleveland, OH.?Errin attended Tennessee State University on a university performing arts scholarship, then relocated to Chicago, where she performed with the renowned more
(Projection Designer) (he/him) is a Cleveland-based projection, scenic and lighting designer. Recent designs include The Great Leap and Egress at Cleveland Play House; Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars, Ella Enchanted, The Nether, Airness, and Kill Move Paradise at Dobama Theatre; Black Nativity, Greenwood, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom more
(Costume Designer) has worked as a costume and production designer for over 1,000 theatrical, commercial, and film releases, spanning 35 years and crossing 4 continents. Production and Costume Design has included commercials for Footlocker, The West Virginia Lottery’s national award-winning campaigns, The Ohio Lottery, Microsoft, Under Armor, McDonalds, TroyBuilt, more
(Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer and photographer living in Northeast Ohio. She has designed for Cleveland area companies such as convergence-continuum, Cleveland Opera, Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theater in collaboration with Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland Institute of Music, Beck Center, The Fine Arts Association, more
(Sound Designer) is a freelance sound designer, educator and audiovisual systems consultant. Richard has worked at numerous theatres, schools and attractions in the Cleveland area and throughout the United States, including Ashland University, Beck Center for the Arts, Baldwin Wallace University, Cain Park, Carnegie-Mellon University, Chagrin Falls Performing Arts more
(Props Manager) (he/him) is a production designer for IBG Designs and specializes in properties, costumes, and sets. He lives and works in the Northeast Ohio area and focuses mainly in theatre, film and art installation. more
(Production/Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with Karamu House again! She spent two years in the Berkshires working for Capital Repertory, Shakespeare & Company and WAM Theatre. She has been working professionally in Cleveland for three years with other wonderful companies including Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public more
(Assistant Stage Manager) (He/Him) is a Cleveland based stage manager and Artist with his BFA in Stage Management from Wright State University. His recent stage management credits includes Everybody, Passage and the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program Solo Shows (Cleveland Playhouse), Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity (Karamu House), Ma Rainey's Black more
(Wardrobe Coordinator/Wig Master) is a Cleveland native who has worked in wardrobe since 2011. An alumnus of the CMSD All City Arts program, she continued to intern as an entertainment costumer for the Star Wars franchise at Walt Disney World. Besides being the resident wardrobe coordinator at Karamu, she more
(Technical Director) is a native of Cleveland. He attended The Cleveland School of the Arts, where he studied acting, and continued his training in Karamu House’s Performing Arts Center, where he was a member of T.O.P.S. Prophet served as scenic designer for Two By Tennessee, Day of Absence; and more
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Education
The Allen, Helen and Outcalt theatres are located at Playhouse Square
1407 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115
Administrative Offices and Education Center
1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000
Production Center
7401 Detour Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103