Karamu House, theater in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest African-American theater in the United States
Karamu House is an arts center and theatre in Cleveland designed in Moderne architectural style, featuring performance spaces, classrooms, and community gathering areas. The organization presents plays and musicals, teaches acting, dance, and visual arts, and hosts exhibitions by local artists.
Russell and Rowena Jelliffe founded the space in 1917 as a neighborhood association to bring people together through arts, and it became Karamu House in 1927 when a new theater building opened. A fire destroyed the original complex in 1939, but the community rebuilt and reopened at a new location about a decade later.
The name comes from a Swahili word meaning 'a place of joyful gathering,' reflecting its mission to bring people together across racial and cultural lines. Walking through today, you see how performances and classes focus on telling stories that matter to the community and celebrating diverse voices.
The site is located on the east side of Cleveland and is accessible by public transportation or car with parking available. Plan to visit during the day to browse the galleries, attend performances, or learn about the space through staff who are available to answer questions.
This was one of the first theaters where Black and white actors performed together in integrated productions during the early twentieth century, breaking racial barriers through art. The space holds the distinction of operating as the oldest continuously Black-led theatre company in the United States, a role it has maintained for over a century.
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