[NEohioPAL] Karamu inducts Jean E. Hawkins into its Hall of Fame

[Vivian C. Wilson]

Karamu House Inc.
2355 East 89th Street
Cleveland, OH 44106

216-795-7070

 

 

Contact:   Vivian C. Wilson

                  216.795.7070 x 215

                                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

KARAMU HOUSE TO HONOR JEAN E. HAWKINS DURING 

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY ON JUNE 28 

 

CLEVELAND - May 20, 2008 -  Jean E. Hawkins' theatrical credits include work
on an estimated 125 productions at Karamu House during an affiliation with
the nationally recognized performing arts institution spanning more than 40
years. 

The veteran actor, singer and director is a member of the Karamu Hall of
Fame induction class of 2008. She is the nominee in the Local Legend-Living
category and will share the spotlight with fellow honorees during the
induction ceremony on June 28.

Actor James Pickens of television's "Grey's Anatomy" and entertainer Kym
Whitley will co-host the event at 20/20 in the Flats. Pickens and Whitley
also hail from Cleveland and are Karamu alums.

Hawkins, fondly called "Granny" by many of her fans, was a familiar face at
Karamu from 1962 until 1981, when she moved to Los Angeles. Long-time Karamu
theatergoers may remember her tear-jerking performance as Minister Essie
Bell Johnson in "Tambourines to Glory," a production that broke box office
records at Karamu during its 1972 theatrical run.

Prior to her taking the stage, Hawkins worked in Karamu's box office and its
marketing and public relations departments. She made her stage debut in 1962
in "Time of Your Life," with Nolan Bell. 

In 2001, Hawkins directed Karamu's summer youth production, "The Wiz," and
the season opening production of "Steal Away."  She directed "Just Do It" in
2002,  written in conjunction with Cliff Beasley, Shenee King and Eva
Withers-Evans for the Karamu Youth Cultural Arts Program. That fall, she
directed "Black Girl," a play she performed in years earlier. She directed a
female cast in the Karamu 2005 season opener, "The Odd Couple." Most
recently, Hawkins was the stage manager in Karamu's 2006 Karamu production
of "Gospel Gospel."

Hawkins has worked with the Black Arts West and The Seattle Repertory Co. in
Seattle and Bon Fils Theater in Denver. Her movie credits include "Escape
Artist," which was produced by Francis Ford Coppola.  

Hawkins' directorial duties include "The Lion Writes" with Karamu Alumni
West at West Angeles Christian Arts Center and "A Dream Deferred" at the
Cultural Center for the Arts in Canton, Ohio.  She presently works with the
Creative Works Etc. in Los Angeles.

"If These Walls Could Talk" is the theme of this year's Hall of Fame event.
In addition to Hawkins, the ceremony will pay tribute to actor Al Fann in
the National Legend-Living category, playwright Langston Hughes (National
Legend-Posthumous), directors Benno Frank and Helmuth Wolfes (Local
Legends-Posthumous), R. Joyce Whitley (Fine Arts), Congresswoman Stephanie
Tubbs Jones (Benefactor) and Ken Snipes (Administrator). Actor Katrice Monee
Headd will receive the "On the Rise" award, an honor reserved for the next
generation of Karamu stars.

A weekend of homecoming activities is planned around the induction ceremony,
beginning on Friday, June 27, with an alumni reunion at Karamu. On Saturday,
Fann, Pickens, Whitley and Headd will field audience questions from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. during "Inside the Performer's Dressing Room." NewsNet 5 anchor
Danita Harris Pratt will moderate the free event. The induction ceremony and
dinner will follow at 6 p.m. 

Tickets to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony are available by calling
Vivian C. Wilson at 216.795.7070, ext. 215, or by visiting Karamu's Web site
at www.karamu.com. 

Karamu holds the honor as the country's oldest multicultural theater and can
trace its humble origins to 1915. The name Karamu is Swahili for "a place of
joyful gathering." Nestled in an urban community, the center offers
additional services, including an early childhood development center,
after-school programs, cultural and arts education outreach and senior
citizen activities.

---

Karamu House has been an important part of the Cleveland community for
nearly a century. From a unique vantage-point within the African-American
community, Karamu has fostered true interracial understanding and
cooperation, an awareness of cultural diversity and an appreciation for the
rich African-American cultural heritage.

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20080521/df1edae6/attachment-0003.htm>