Karamu House
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Karamu House
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Karamu House
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| Location | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°29′37″N 81°37′25″W / 41.49361°N 81.62361°WCoordinates: 41°29′37″N 81°37′25″W / 41.49361°N 81.62361°W |
| Built | -1915 (as Settlement House) -1941 (renamed as Karamu House) |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| MPS | Black History TR |
| NRHP Reference # | 82001368 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1982 |
Karamu House in the Fairfax neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, United States, is the oldest African-American theater in the United States. Many of Langston Hughes's plays were developed and premièred at the theater.
In 1915, Russell and Rowena Woodham Jelliffe, graduates of Oberlin College in nearby Oberlin, Ohio, founded what was then called The Neighborhood Assn. at 2239 E. 38th St. establishing it as a place where people of all races, creeds and religions could find common ground. The Jelliffes discovered in their early years, that the arts provided the perfect common ground, and in 1917 plays at the "Playhouse Settlement" began.
The early twenties saw a large number of African Americans move into an area in Cleveland, from the Southern United States. Resisting pressure to exclude their new neighbors, the Jelliffes insisted that all races were welcome. They used the United States Constitution; “all men are created equal”. What was then called the Playhouse Settlement quickly became a magnet for some of the best African American artists of the day. Actors, dancers, print makers and writers all found a place where they could practice their crafts. Karamu was also a contributor to the Harlem Renaissance, and Langston Hughes roamed the halls constantly.
Reflecting the strength of the Black influence on its development, the Playhouse Settlement was officially renamed Karamu House in 1941. Karamu is a word in the Kiswahili language meaning "a place of joyful gathering". It is a place where families could gather, share stories, feast, and enjoy. Karamu has a tradition of allowing the audience to meet, and greet actors in a reception line, the "gathering place" extends itself into the community through such face to face encounters.
The original Drama/Theatre for Youth (DT/Y), now called "TOPS" was modeled after a Colorado program, under the direction of Jeff Gruszewski. DT/Y was formed in 1987, and toured to hundreds of schools in Cuyahoga, Summit, Elyria, Erie, and Lorain counties. The original company consisted of Abdullah Bey, Susan Benson, Renee Matthews-Jackson, David Reichhold, and Jerry Urick. From 1987 to present day, there have been 23 different ensemble tour companies.
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