- Phone : 216-795-7077
- Email : ctix@karamuhouse.org
2024-2025 Season
A broad comedy, but it makes its point by laughing at segregation, not at the people involved in it. The story follows Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson, a Black self-made traveling preacher who returns to his segregated Georgia hometown with a mission to win back his family inheritance. As a Black man, that's a tall order. He has a plan to buy back Big Bethel, the community’s church, so that he can preach freedom to the cotton pickers. The church, like the town, is in the grip of racist tyrant Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee.
A Karamu Classic, Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity is the famed retelling of the Nativity Story, performed using gospel music, dramatic dance and biblical narrative.
After experiencing a profound loss, a grieving mother is held close by a spirited circle of family, neighbors, and friends. Surrounded by laughter, tears, and impromptu dance parties, she makes the slow journey through heartbreak, back to herself. The play explores how the women in the play, including the mother's mom, sister, friend, neighbor, and "church lady", share their stories of pregnancy, children, and loss, and offer different approaches to dealing with the mother's grief.
The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school’s legendary gospel choir. In this scene AJ, his roommate talks to him about a recent incident and his desire to sing the school song at graduation. Can Pharus find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?
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“Purlie Victorious” … is a broad comedy, but it makes its point by laughing at segregation, not at the people involved in it. The story follows Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson, a Black self-made traveling preacher who returns to his segregated Georgia hometown with a mission to win back his family inheritance. As a Black man, that’s a tall order. He has a plan to buy back Big Bethel, the community’s church, so that he can preach freedom to the cotton pickers. The church, like the town, is in the grip of racist tyrant Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee.
Run time: 150 minutes (with intermission)
Themes: Racial injustice, Segregation, Inheritance, The Old South, Church, Freedom
Genre: COMEDY/ Social Satire
Showtimes (September 27-October 20, 2024)
Thursday 9/26- Preview @ 7:30 pm
Friday 9/27- Opening Night @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 9/28- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Sunday 9/29- Matinee Performance @ 3pm (Post show talk back)
Friday 10/4- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 10/5- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 10/6-Matinee Performance @ 3 pm
Friday 10/11- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 10/12- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 10/13- Matinee Performance @ 3 pm
Friday 10/18- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 10/19- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 10/20- Matinee Closing Show @ 3 pm
Read the Review
After experiencing a profound loss, a grieving mother is held close by a spirited circle of family, neighbors, and friends. Surrounded by laughter, tears, and impromptu dance parties, she makes the slow journey through heartbreak, back to herself. The play explores how the women in the play, including the mother’s mom, sister, friend, neighbor, and “church lady”, share their stories of pregnancy, children, and loss, and offer different approaches to dealing with the mother’s grief.
Run time: 2 hours (intermission)
Themes: Grief, Pregnancy, Child loss, Sisterhood, Mental health, Marriage, Family
Genre: DRAMA
Showtimes (March 7-30, 2025)
Thursday 3/6- Preview @ 7:30 pm
Friday 3/7- Opening Night @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 3/8- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Sunday 3/9- Matinee Performance @ 3:00 (Post show talk back)
Friday 3/14- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 3/15- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 3/16- Matinee Performance @ 3 pm
Friday 3/21- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 3/22- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 3/23- Matinee Performance @ 3 pm
Friday 3/28- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 3/29- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 3/30- Matinee Closing Show @ 3 pm
Tickets for Black Nativity
A Karamu Classic, Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity is the famed retelling of the Nativity Story, performed using gospel music, dramatic dance and biblical narrative.
Run time: 2 hours (intermission)
Genre: MUSICAL/HOLIDAY SHOW
*Produced by Karamu House, presented at Playhouse Square – Hanna Theatre
Showtimes (November 30-December 15, 2024) Opening Night 11/30 (schedule tba), ticketing will be managed by PSQ box office
The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school’s legendary gospel choir. In this scene AJ, his roommate talks to him about a recent incident and his desire to sing the school song at graduation. Can Pharus find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?
Run time: 90 mins (no intermission)
Themes: LGBTQ+, Coming of age, Black musical legacies, Prep school.
Genre: DRAMA/Play with Music
Showtimes (April 25-May 18)
Thursday 4/24- Preview @ 7:30 pm
Friday 4/25- Opening Night @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 4/26- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Sunday 4/27- Matinee Performance @ 3pm
Friday 5/2- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 5/3- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 5/4-Matinee Performance @ 3 pm (Post show talk back)
Friday 5/9- Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 5/10- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 5/11- Matinee Performance @ 3 pm
Friday 5/16-Performance @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 5/17- (2) Performances 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday 5/18- Matinee Closing Show @3 pm
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- E : ctix@karamuhouse.org
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- Sat - Sun : Closed
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