Tony F. Sias - Director

Tony F. Sias is the CEO and President of Karamu House. Founded in 1915, Karamu House is recognized as the oldest, producing African American theatre in the nation. Karamu House is continually cited as one of Cleveland’s top four treasures—and featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Tony came to Karamu in 2015 with the hopes of making a difference. With the help of an exceptional leadership team and staff, an engaged board, and a supportive community, they are collectively educating and entertaining, while achieving their mission to produce professional theatre, provide arts education, and present community programs for all people while honoring the Black experience.

Tony has a very unique story in that he did not learn to read until he was in the fourth grade. He said what literally changed his life was that he found theater. What attracted him to the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Theater project is the opportunity to give the audience an experience where they can learn in and through the arts.