Karamu House & the premiere of “From Breast Cancer to Broadway”
Karamu House will inspire and empower with its Fri 10/29 premiere of the play From Breast Cancer to Broadway, written by eleven local cancer survivors. The play will deal with the impact of breast cancer on the lives of women who each have their own story to tell, and whose stories are woven together in a rich tapestry that will entertain, emotionally move, inspire, and educate the audience.
Karamu House Artistic Director Terrence Spivey directs the play, and script supervision is provided by Bridgett Wimberly. The writers—and survivors [pictured]—are Lenice Bozeman, Rose Dukes, Loretta Embry, Sabrina Heath, Denise Richmond-Kelley, Kim Martin Sadler, Bernadette Scruggs, Cordi Stokes, DeVonna While, Cheryl Williams, and Linda Wood Wims. With all those stories that take us through the human emotions of disbelief, fear, anguish, helplessness, hope and determination, the play hopes to save lives and provide a different perspective on cancer’s ramifications.
The seed of Karamu House was planted in 1915 when Oberlin College graduates Jelliffe and Rowena Woodham opened up a settlement house at the corner of E. 38th Street and Central Avenue. The seed took root as it was steered by its mission of providing “a joyful place of gathering where all people can learn about and experience multicultural arts, foster an awareness of cultural diversity, and inspire an appreciation for the richness of African American cultural heritage.” In 1945, the tree grew up a little more when the forerunner of current-day Preschool of the Arts began. Today, the tree’s branches reach for the sky with a summer youth program, an after-school program, Saturday classes, and outreach programs that include Word Power literature and writing, mime, the oral tradition of storytelling, and African drum and dance.
The arts provide a common ground for all peoples. And this play promises to do just that. More information can be found at the play’s Facebook site, where you’ll see pink boxing gloves—the symbol of fighting for cancer survivors.
Performances begin on Fri 10/29 and continue through Sun 11/21 in Karamu’s Arena Theatre. Karamu House is located at 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland. For tickets to From Breast Cancer to Broadway, call 216-795-7077 or go to http://www.KaramuHouse.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers. Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.