[NEohioPAL] Karamu House 88th Theatre Season

[Vivian Wilson]

Contact:  Vivian C. Wilson

Marketing Director

Phone (216) 795-7070 x 215


PRESS RELEASE 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, August 9, 2011


 

Karamu House Inc. presents its 88th theatrical season with timely and
relevant theatrical selections that are broad in subject matter but
share a common purpose in their ability to encourage, entertain, uplift
and inform.  The new season will open with the world premiere of You Got
Nerve!  a comedy/drama with music  written by Michael Oatman, Karamu's
playwright in residence, and  recent winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize.

KARAMU HOUSE PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE 2011/2012 Theatre Season  
 
 YOU GOT NERVE!  (Comedy/Drama) (World Premiere)  
by Playwright in Residence Michael Oatman  
Directed by Terrence Spivey
You Got Nerve!  is a head spinning, pop-locking, foot-stomping
comedy/drama with music that chronicles  the adventures of a group of
unruly teens who vandalize a retirement home  and are sentenced to do
community service. Get ready to dance to some original beats and  more
as the teens are challenged to experience life, dance and learn that old
school , (the orderlies) also have some moves.  (Jelliffe Theatre)
SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 9, 2011    (Family Friendly)

THE SHADOW BOX (Drama)  
by Michael Cristofer  Directed by Terrence Spivey
In this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, three patients on a
hospital grounds diagnosed with terminal illness confront the ultimate
human challenge and learn the value of life, laughter and courage as
they struggle with their  mortality and its effect on their loved ones.
This compelling work implores us to live our lives to the fullest with
courage and passion.  (Arena Theatre)
OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 20, 2011   (Adult theme and language)
 

BLACK NATIVITY (Gospel Musical)    
by Langston Hughes
Directed by Richard H. Morris Jr. and Glenn Brackens, Musical Director  
Karamu alum and literary genius Langston Hughes' classic  Black Nativity
is the contemporary retelling of the birth of Christ based on the Gospel
of St. Luke  featuring gospel music, dance and songs.       (Jelliffe
Theatre)
DECEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 30, 2011  

Special added shows 3:00 pm on Saturday -December 17;  7:30 pm on Sunday
-December 18th; and  8:00 pm on Wednesday December 28th (Family
Entertainment)

 

 THE BLUEST EYE (Drama)  
Based on the Toni Morrison novel. Adapted by Lydia Diamond  
Directed by Fred Sternfeld
Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is a story
about the tragic life of a young black girl in 1940's Ohio.
Eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than to be loved by
her family and  schoolmates. Instead, she faces constant ridicule and
abuse. She blames  her dark skin and prays for blue eyes, sure that love
will follow. With rich  language and bold vision, this powerful
adaptation of an American classic  explores the crippling toll that a
legacy of racism has taken on a community, a family, and an innocent
girl.  ( Arena Theatre)
FEBRUARY 3 - FEBRUARY 26, 2012  .  (Mature theme; teens over seventeen)

 

 
GOD'S TROMBONES: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse (Gospel Musical)    

by James Weldon Johnson. Adapted and directed by  Terrence Spivey
Musical Director: Sharolyn Ferebee
Karamu brings back Johnson's poetic classic of seven Biblical verses
such as The
Creation, Let My People Go, The Prodigal Son, and Judgment Day,
dramatized through
the fire and brimstone of seven galvanizing preachers with soul-stirring
singing and powerful dancing as a moving experience that has had
audiences clapping, foot stomping, and standing in the aisles witnessing
an uplifting, spiritual celebration.
MARCH 16 - ending on Thursday APRIL 5, 2012 (Jelliffe Theatre)  special
performances on Tuesday and Wednesday March 27 & 28 and Wednesday April
4 closing on Thursday April 5, 2012

No performances on Good Friday or Easter. (Family entertainment)

 


R.JOYCE WHITLEY ARENA FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS
APRIL 16 - APRIL 20, 2012
 

GEM OF THE OCEAN (Drama)  
by August Wilson  
Directed by Michael Oatman
Set in 1904 at 1839 Wylie Avenue in Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania's Hill
District,  Aunt Ester, the drama's 285-year-old  fiery matriarch,
welcomes into her home Solly Two Kings, who was born  into slavery and
scouted for the Union Army, and Citizen Barlow, a  young man from
Alabama searching for a new life. Citizen Barlow is in  search of
redemption. Aunt Ester is not too old to practice healing;  she guides
him on a soaring, lyrical journey of spiritual awakening to  the City of
Bones.  (Jelliffe Theatre)

NO PERFORMANCE ON MOTHER'S DAY   
MAY 4 - MAY 27, 2012  Special 3:00 pm performance on Saturday, May 19
 (Recommended for youth over fifteen, Mature Theme)

 

 

YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT THEATRE SERIES  
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Comedy)
By Kathryn Schultz Miller. From the story by Washington Irving.
Here is the spooky classic story by Washington Irving, presented with
all the thrills, chills and laughs that keep young audiences on the edge
of their seats. The storybook tale revolves around the main
characters-the bumbling,awkward schoolteacher, Ichabod, the coquettish
Katrina and Ichabod's brutish rival, Brom Bones. A perfect Halloween
treat with lots of suspense and comedy.      (Jelliffe Theatre)
OCTOBER 15 - OCTOBER 30, 2011    Family Entertainment

School Performances October 19, 2011 @ 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
 

Rid-All A Green Movement

By Marvin Wright-Bey

Based on "Brink-City, Green n' the Ghetto" comic book series by Damien
Forshe

Additional Music and Lyrics by Sens Musiq

Rid-All: A Green Movement is a science fiction adventure which explores
the value of environmental stewardship while educating urban youth and
the general community about environmental sustainability.  The
experience is interactive and fun with a hip-hop twist to encourage
taking care of the planet through recycling agriculture training and
going green.(Recommended for Children over ten years of age)

JANUARY 14 - JANUARY 28, 2012 SATURDAYS ONLY AT 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm
School Performances January 18, 2012 @ 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 

 

dont you luv me
By Linda Daugherty
Angela has a new boyfriend. C.J.'s romantic, amazingly handsome, and a 
senior. He sends her flowers. He texts her day and night. Angela's
swept off her feet, but her best friend, Jen, is troubled by changes
she sees in Angela. From the playwright who brought us "The Secret Life
of Girls" and "EAT" comes a well-researched and thought- provoking play
exploring the hidden world of aggression and violence in teen dating
while encouraging young people to make choices that result in healthy
relationships.   Recommended for Children over twelve years of age 
JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 29, 2012 SUNDAY ONLY AT 1:00 pm 

School Performances January 25, 2012 @ 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 


Seussical, Jr.
Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; Co-Conceived by Eric
Idle
Based on the works of Dr. Seuss
The story centers around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced
with a double challenge--not only must he protect his tiny friend Jojo
(and all the invisible Whos) from a world of naysayers and dangers, but
he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible
Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a
trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him, the
only one who recognizes "his kind and his powerful heart." Ultimately,
the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged
and emerge triumphant, in a story that makes you laugh and cry.   Family
Entertainment 
APRIL 14 - APRIL 22, 2011 Double Performances Saturday and Sundays  

at 1:00 PM  and 4:00 PM   

School Performances  April 18th at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Karamu House is located at 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Main stage performances are conducted  Thursday thru Saturday at 8:00 pm
and on Sundays at 3:00 pm unless otherwise noted.  Preview night occurs
on the Thursday immediately preceding opening night and begins at 7:30
pm.  Youth theatre performances are at 1:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
at 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.  The theatre box office can be
reached at 216-795-7077 or visit our website at www.karamuhouse.org
<http://www.karamuhouse.org> 

 

Karamu Performing Arts Theatre is sponsored in part by The Cleveland
Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council, the Ohio
Lottery and receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga
Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region's artistic and
cultural heritage.                      

 

 

 

Vivian C. Wilson

Marketing Director

Karamu House

2355 East 89th Street

Cleveland, OH 44106

Ph: 216-795-7070 extension 215

Fax 216-795-7073

vwilson at karamuhouse.org

www.karamuhouse.org

Feel at Home in the House!

 

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