[4] The Jelliffes discovered in their early years, that the arts provided the common ground, and in 1917 plays at the "Playhouse Settlement" began.

[12] In 1931, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston were negotiating with the Jelliffes to produce Mule Bone, their two act collaboration, when the two writers "fell out".

[13][14] A series of conversations between the Hughes and Hurston estates, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre presented the world premiere of Mule Bone on Broadway in 1991.

The by-line in The Plain Dealer, as the Cleveland theatre season came to its end read: "Karamu returns to Harlem Renaissance status".

[8][19] This included a new streetscape, bistro, patio, and enclosed outdoor stage; as well as updates to the Arena Theater, lobby, and dressing rooms.

[8] The updates were to be completed in three phases as follows: Karamu's mission is to "produce professional theatre, provide arts education and present community programs for all people while honoring the Black experience.

[26] Born in St. Louis, Hughes early life moved to Cleveland, where he attended Karamu programs and classes;[27] after he left Ohio, he kept in touch with the director, Rowena Jelliffe, and the Gilpin Players, who produced a number of his plays, including the premiers of When the Jack Hollars (1936), Troubled Island (1936), and Joy to My Soul'[21][28] Once, Hughes even said, "if at [any] time [when I am in Cleveland] I can be of any use, if I can give for you a public (or private) talk or reading, or in any way help to raise money locally, I will be only too happy to do so.

[34] In 2020, Karamu House presented Freedom on Juneteenth, written by Tony F. Sias, Latecia D Wilson, and Mary E Weems; an event commemorating the end of slavery, June 19, 1865, in the United States.

[24] Freedom on Juneteenth originally was created to celebrate the music of Bill Withers, but was adapted due to the passing of George Floyd.