Fuse dance and gospel with a biblical narrative and you get a holiday classic with thoroughly Cleveland roots. 鈥淏lack Nativity鈥� returns to Playhouse Square this weekend, presented by Karamu House.
It originally debuted off-Broadway in 1961. Karamu founders Russell and Rowena Jelliffe asked their friend and artistic partner, Langston Hughes, to create a telling of the birth of Christ.
Nina Domingue, Karamu鈥檚 current associate artistic director, said the celebrated writer maintained ties to Cleveland even though he lived in New York City.
鈥淗e actually led the very first capital campaign to get the theater built,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, we hold 鈥楤lack Nativity鈥� very close to our hearts. Even though every Black theater everywhere does 鈥楤lack Nativity鈥� at holiday times, it was ours first.鈥�
The show was first produced in Cleveland in the 1970s. Karamu brought its production to Playhouse Square in 2022 after Cleveland Play House had to cancel its own holiday show in the Allen Theatre. This year, CPH is back in the space, shifting 鈥淏lack Nativity鈥� to the Hanna Theatre. Domingue said the change in venue allows for a soft thrust stage as opposed to the standard proscenium setting.
鈥淵ou have audience almost on three sides, but it's not completely up the side of the stage,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here's a platform and some stairs that come down鈥� so, you'll get a little bit closer to the performers this year.鈥�
Choreographer Errin Weaver co-directs this year with Karamu President Tony Sias. Returning as narrator is , only the second woman to take on the role in Cleveland. Domingue said this year a chorus of female angels is part of the dance ensemble.
鈥淚t's all Christmas carols, so this music is all open domain,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is up to the musical director which arrangements they use, so you will never see the same 鈥楤lack Nativity鈥� in any two cities. It will be completely different.鈥�
For example, Karamu鈥檚 2019 version set the play in a modern city setting as opposed to Jerusalem.
鈥淭here was no manger: Mary had the baby near a dumpster,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was really 鈥� 鈥楬ow does this story translate and offer hope in the midst of the things that we're dealing with now?鈥欌��
Whether such a concept returns in the future 鈥渨ill be dictated by where we are in the country,鈥� Domingue said 鈥淭he art responds to the times. The art should make something prickle in your psyche.鈥�
