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By Vince Robinson
Karamu House, the nation’s oldest producing Black theater, welcomed the community to its Homecoming Benefit and Community Day celebrations on July 13 and July 14 at its historic campus at 2355 East 89th Street.
Karamu House President and CEO Tony Sias said the events were a thank you to supporters and the community for investing in the 99-year-old institution, and an invitation “to experience the newly renovated spaces, tour the facility, and learn more about our bold vision for the future ‘Karamu Next Generation.’”
The festivities served as a standing ovation for the completion of Karamu’s $5.2 million theater wing renovation, which included a Karamu Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Honoring Karamu Legends
Kicking off Community Day on June 14, the Karamu House Hall of Fame honored three Cleveland artists, whom Sias refers to as “legends” in the Karamu community: Reginald “Reggie” Kelly, Peter Lawson Jones, and Annette Bailey.
Honored posthumously, Kelly was an alumnus of Cleveland’s renowned Karamu House Theater. Kelly’s accomplishments include success as a national award-winning singer, actor, director, choreographer, and playwright with over 30 years of experience.
Kelly has received critical acclaim performing leading roles throughout the tapestry of Black musical theater classics. Some highlights include “The Wiz,” “Dreamgirls,” “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope,” “The Mahalia Jackson Story” and “Tambourines to Glory.”
Peter Lawson Jones is a Harvard Law School graduate; a former president of the Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners; the first Black candidate nominated for Ohio lieutenant governor; and a speechwriter and spokesperson for the Carter-Mondale Presidential Campaign.
Jones is best known for over 60 stage and screen roles he has made his own. Jones portrayed the devoted husband and friend Jim Bono in “Fences” at Karamu House, defense attorney Henry Drummond in “Inherit the Wind” at Oberlin Summer Theater, and appeared in “A Carol for Cleveland” at the Cleveland Play House. 
Annette Bailey was a long time administrator for Karamu and has been connected to the historic theater for over 50 years.
Sustaining the Legacy
Vibrant live performances and spins from DJ Candi Fresca were the backdrop of Karamu’s Homecoming Benefit fundraiser. New Orleans-based visual Artist Stuart McClean donated an original work for hopeful bidders to add to their personal collection and to “raise funds for the sustainability of this legacy institution,” said Sias.
The recently completed theater wing renovations were funded in part by a $1 million grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in 2021. The grant provided capital to complete Phase III of renovations, including improvements to the newly named Bank of America Arena Theatre, a new outdoor stage, streetscape enhancements and the addition of Smucker’s Q89 Bistro, a full-service eatery featuring healthy options and a patio.
A $4 million dollar grant from the Mandel Foundation will help support the last leg of the Karamu campus renewal. In a statement, Sias said the funds “will allow us to complete the infrastructure and capital improvements of Phase IV of our master plan. These enhancements include renovations in the Education and Administration Building, bringing construction of the main building to a close. We are elated knowing these funds and the new relationship will add to the bright future of Karamu.”
Vince Robinson is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Cleveland, Ohio. He took up photography as a student at Kent State University in the 70’s while studying Telecommunications with a minor in Pan African Studies.
