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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Karamu House
Inc.</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><strong><b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>2355 East 89th Street</span></font></b></strong></st1:Street></st1:address><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><strong><b><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Cleveland</span></font></b></strong></st1:City><strong><b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State w:st="on">OH</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">44106</st1:PostalCode></span></font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:address></span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>216-795-7070<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Contact: Vivian C. Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>
216.795.7070 x 215<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>
</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>KARAMU HOUSE TO HONOR JEAN E. HAWKINS
DURING <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY ON JUNE 28 <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=style6><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>CLEVELAND</span></font></b></span></st1:City></st1:place><span
class=style6><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> – May 20, 2008
–</span></font></b></span><span class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'> 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. </span></font><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>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 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> and are Karamu
alums.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Hawkins, fondly called “Granny” by many of her
fans, was a familiar face at Karamu from 1962 until 1981, when she moved to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>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. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>In
2001, Hawkins directed Karamu’s summer youth production, “<span
class=yshortcuts>The Wiz,” </span>and the season opening production of
“Steal Away.” <font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font>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, “<span class=yshortcuts>The Odd Couple.” </span>Most
recently, Hawkins was the stage manager in Karamu’s 2006 Karamu
production of “Gospel Gospel.”</span></font><span class=yshortcuts><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Hawkins
has worked with the Black Arts West and The <span class=yshortcuts>Seattle</span>
Repertory Co. in <st1:City w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Seattle</span></st1:City><span
class=yshortcuts> and</span> Bon Fils Theater in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Denver</span></st1:City></st1:place>. Her
movie credits include “Escape Artist,” which was produced by <span
class=yshortcuts>Francis Ford Coppola</span>.<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>
</span></b></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Hawkins’
directorial duties include “The Lion Writes” with Karamu Alumni
West at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">West</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Angeles</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Christian</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Arts</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> and “A Dream
Deferred” at the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cultural</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> for the Arts in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Canton</span></st1:City><span
class=yshortcuts>, <st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></span></st1:place>. She
presently works with the Creative Works Etc. in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>“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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>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 <a href="http://www.karamu.com"
title="http://www.karamu.com">www.karamu.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;
line-height:150%'><span class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>---</span></font></span><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><span
class=style6><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:Arial'>Karamu House has been an important part of the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> 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.</span></font></span><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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