Tony F. Sias
Tony F. Sias
2025-2026 Roe Green Visiting Director
Tony F. Sias is the President + CEO of Karamu House, America鈥檚 oldest Black producing theatre.鈥疷nder Sias, since 2015, Karamu raised over $14 million for restoration, increased attendance and expanded the brand nationally. As a creative, Sias has produced, directed and performed in over 200 productions. In October 2021 Sias performed narration with The Cleveland Orchestra in Sinfonia No. 5 鈥淰isions鈥 by George Walker. His work has been highlighted nationally in The New York Times, American Theatre Magazine, on NBC鈥檚 Today Show with Al Roker and more.鈥
Sias served as a delegate from the U.S. Department of State in Istanbul, Turkey, representing the Council of International Programs. In 2018, he was inducted into The HistoryMakers, the largest African American oral history archive collection in the U.S.鈥 In 2019, Sias was named the Cleveland Arts Prize, Barbara S. Robinson award winner.鈥疘n 2021, Sias received the Community Leader Award from Cleveland Magazine and in 2024 he received the NAACP Cleveland Branch, Community Leadership Award. He is a Fellow of the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program through Harvard Business School.鈥 Sias serves as the National Board Chair for the League of Historic American Theatres. He is a Boards member of the Cleveland-Assembly for the Arts, Cleveland School of the Arts and the City of Cleveland Heights Arts Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dramatic art from Jackson State University and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from The Ohio University.