Plain Dealer, as the Cleveland theatre season came to its end read: "Karamu returns to Harlem Renaissance status". Critic Marianne Evett shared Karamu's success story as the theatre began to recover from past hardships. The revival Karamu House needed so desperately had arrived. During this time, playwright and two time Emmy nominee Margaret Ford-Taylor held the position of Executive Director, and Sarah May, Director in Residence. From October 2003 to March 2016, Terrence Spivey served as Karamu's artistic director. Renovations 2017-2021 In 2017, a major renovation of the facility was undertaken. The architect Robert P. Madison International, Ohio's first African American-owned architectural firm, founded by Cleveland architect Robert P. Madison, lead the 14.5 million dollar renovation. This included a new streetscape, bistro, patio, and enclosed outdoor stage; as well as updates to the Arena Theater, lobby, and dressing rooms. The updates were to be completed in three phases as follows: Phase I - Redesign of the 195 seat Jelliffe Theatre with new roof, lobby, seating, lighting, and wheel chair access. Phase II - Addition of the KeyBank lobby, gift shop, and Anthony (Tony) Smith Gallery, redesign of the Arena Theatre, and cafe. Phase III - Addition of outdoor stage area, patio, cafe, and streetscape. Timeline Identity Though Karamu House has a rich history in the African American theater tradition, it doesn't define itself as an African American theatre. Former artistic director Terrence Spivey defined it as "a multicultural company that produces African-American theatre." Spivey's beliefs are reflected in Karamu's current mission statement. Their goal is to "produce professional theatre, provide arts education and present community programs for all people while honoring the African-American experience." Langston Hughes involvement Langston Hughes had a special relationship with Karamu Theatre and the years 1936-1939 have been called the "Hughes Era.". Born in St. Louis, Hughes early life moved to Cleveland, where he attended Karamu programs and classes; 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 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