Rhythm on the River: Theron Brown Sextet

Join the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park for its free, family-friendly Rhythm on the River concert series. Together, let’s celebrate 50 years of Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

On Sept. 14, see Theron Brown Sextet with opener Open Tone Music! Bring your friends and family for great music, food trucks, field games for kids, and free 360 photo booth.

About the Band

The Theron Brown Sextet is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by pianist Theron Brown, known for his soulful and inspiring music. Theron’s sound is influenced by gospel, jazz, and soul legends. The sextet features a mix of talented musicians creating a rich and vibrant jazz experience.

Gates Open at 2:00PM | Show Begins at 3:00PM

Free Admission/Parking | No Alcoholic Beverages Permitted

September Concert is a Celebration of Jazz

The show begins with Shine Like the Sun, a trio of powerful theatrical vignettes from Karamu House—the nation’s oldest producing African American theater. Written by Michael Oatman, these stories illuminate the Black experience through music, art, and resilience:

No Room at the Inn – Akron’s Matthews Hotel in 1937. A couple’s search for a hotel room becomes a soulful stand for dignity, featuring a moving performance of “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Cast
Mary Francis Miller – Mabel
Dyrell Barnett – Calvin
CorLesia Smith – Vera

Café Society – In a Cleveland nightclub, the Café Tia Juana, past lovers and rising artists cross paths on the eve of a Count Basie concert, where art and memory collide.

Cast
Dyrell Barnett – James
CorLesia Smith – Zora
Corin B. Self – Charles
Jacob Johnson – Count Baise
Mary Francis Miller – Catherine

A Place of Our Own – At Lake Glen Country Club right here in Cuyahoga Valley in 1959, painter Charles Sallee is invited to dream bigger in a world built by and for Black excellence.

Cast
Dyrell Barnett – Henston
Corin B. Self – Charles
Joshua McElroy – Crown Prince

Shine Like the Sun

Director
Tony F. Sias

Music Director
Jacob Johnson

Pianist
Jacob Johnson

Stage Manager
Tyree Franklin

Wardrobe Coordinator

Brielle McGrew

Scenery & Props

Karamu’s Production Team

Special Thanks

Jillian England
Inda Blatch-Geib
IBG Design Group

Dianna Angell & Jessica Rosenlieb
Cleveland Play House

And don’t miss the Complex Chords exhibition tent—an immersive arts experience exploring Northeast Ohio’s rich jazz legacy.