THE LION WRITES

2365 EAST 89th ST. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44106 TELEPHONE 795·7070 KENNETH E. SNIPES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

,, THE POETS THE ACTORS

MARI EVANS Once there was a little boy who read a great deal. He had read many, QUINCY E. ADAMS, JR. ROLAND SNELLINGS many exciting stories about life and death struggles between man and the KATHY BIBBS JON ECKELS lion. But, it seemed that in every story, no matter how ferociously the lion LINDA DOUGLAS LANGSTON HUGHES fought, man emerged victorious. RICHARD J. GIBSON DON L. LEE BEVERLY J. JONES DUDLEY RANDALL ALLEN JOHNSON 11 BOB HAMILTON This puzzled the little boy so much that he asked his father about it. SAUNDRA SHEFFEY EUGENE REDMOND "Daddy, why is it that in all the stories about the lion and man, man always LAURA THORNTON ETHERIDGE KNIGHT beats the lion? How can that be when everybody knows that the lion is the FELIX WILLIAMS GWENDOLYN BROOKS toughest cat it1 all the jungle?" LESLIE WILLIAMS LAWRENCE WADE BOBBY J. WOODS CHARLES ANDERSON YUSEF IMAM The little boy's father smiled and answered, "Son, those stories will NIKKI GIOVANNI always end the same way. That is, until THE LION WRITES." EDWARD S. SPRIGGS ------CAROLYN RODGERS BARBARA SIMMONS THE MUSICIANS WALT DE LEGALL CARL WENDELL HINES, JR. PEYTON DEAN AL YOUNG Lead Guitar MYRON O'HIGGINS BRENT DOWDELL HORRACE JULIAN BOND LOIS P. McGUIRE Afro-Percussion NORMAN JORDAN ALLEN JOHNSON 11 CAROL FREEMAN Organ & Wah COUNTEE CULLEN SET & LIGHTING DESIGN BY RALPH JOHNSON Lead Guitar BATTUTA LUKAMBA BARCA MARLA NEDELMAN ANDRE KNOX RAY MONTGOMERY American Drums IMAMU AMIRI BARAKA MARVIN X COSTUMES BY HOW THE LION CAME TO BE

In the spring of 1970, Lois McGuire compiled the works of several contemporary Black poets for a workshop theatre production of THE LION WRITES. It played to enthusiastic Karamu audiences for two weeks last summer.

A year later, during the spring and summer of 1971, the "Lion" toured some eight colleges and communities in Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa to win standing ovations.

Miss McGuire is Karamu's Assistant Executive Director.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The production staff of "The Lion" is made up of Douglas Johnson and Rosetta Monique Foster. Mr. Johnson is assistant director/stage manager and acts as lighting opera­ tor. Miss Foster is the sound technician.

Christine Buster collaborated on choreographic stage movement and the staging was created by Earl Billings, Lois McGuire, and members of the Ensemble.

Original music is composed and arranged by Peyton Deane and Allen Johnson II.

Costume assistance was offered by Jean Hawkins. Coffee is provided by Cook United.

Ushering and hospitality is provided by the Karamu Host & Hostess Committee.

The poets' works originally appeared in publications by: William Morrow & Co., Inc., The Free Press, Eugene Redmond, Harper & Row, Doubleday & Co., The New American Library, Apollo Editions, Broadside Press, Proud Black Images, and Hill & Wang.

TICKET PRICES BOX OFFICE Thurs. $2.50 Mon. 12-7 pm Fri. $3.00 Tues. 12-7 pm Sat. $3.50 Wed. 12-7 pm Sun. $2.50 Thurs. 12-9 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Student ID, 50ci off Sat. 12-9 pm Sun. 2-8 pm THE KARAMU THEATRE STAFF

KENNETH E. SNIPES, Executive Director LOIS Mi:GUI RE, Assistant Executive Director REUBEN SILVER, Theatre Director MARGARET TAYLOR, Administrative Assistant HOLGER STAVE, Technical Director/Designer MARLA NEDELMAN, Associate Technical Director /Designer L. A. GATEWOOD, Technical Assistant BRENDA HEGGS, Costumer/Designer ANNA M. STAVE, Youth Theatre Director SARAH COLOMBI, Assistant Youth Theatre Director JEAN E. HAWKINS, Box Office Manager MARY ANN MAGNER, Public Information Officer *HARVEY JOHNSON, Theatre Management Intern

* Theatre Management Intern Program made possible with the support of the Ohio Arts Council and the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.

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COMING THIS SEASON

FIVE ON THE BLACK HAND SIDE, by Charlie Russell, Sept. 30 - Oct. 24. Proscenium.

FORTUNE & MEN'S EYES, by John Herbert, Oct. 28 - Dec. 5. Arena.

SIMON BIG EARS, by Aurand Harris, Nov. 13 - Nov. 28. (Youth Theatre) Proscenium.

TAMBOURINES TO GLORY, by Langston Hughes, Dec. 16 - Jan. 30. Proscenium.

THE TRIALS OF BROTHER. JERO, by Wole Soyinka, and THE FIRST MILITANT PREACHER, by Ben Caldwell, Jan .. 6 - Feb. 13. Arena.

ANDROCLES & THE LION by Aurand Harris, April 22 - May 14. (Youth Theatre) Arena.

THE KARAMU DANCERS IN CONCERT in April.

UNDER CONSIDERATION

NOPLACE TO BE SOMEBODY by Charles Gordone; DEATH OF BLACK JESUS by Alfred Brenner; MAGICAL FACES by Brian Way (for children). WHAT IS K/\RAMU HOUSE'

KARAMU HOUSE IS A METROPOLITAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS and multi-racial communication with a Black center of gravity and a Black perspective, which seeks to include all peoples in its programs.

Founded in 1915, Karamu House serves the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area with a particular emphasis on the Urban communities. Karamu House is staffed by some 75 individuals, with over half of its staff ranked as arts professionals.

The Karamu House complex includes: an arena theatre, a proscenium theatre, a day nursery and four gallery areas plus numerous display cases.

The cultural / educational program of Karamu House in­ cludes some 55 classes and workshops in all phases of: theatre, visual arts, dance and music, plus special youth programs and experimental labs. Karamu House is currently manifesting new emphasis on professionally oriented training in the performing and communications arts.

Karamu House program participants vary in age from pre­ schoolers to elders. Karamu communities involvement ranges from services-to-the-individual to high impact activities such as the coordination of citywide cultural arts programs, in-school programs, and co-operative projects with other institutions and organizations.

The public is invited to become a part of this unique and important institution as a member, participant, volunteer or contributor. Further information can be obtained by calling Karamu House at (216) 795-7070.