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7546 S. Merrill Avenue
Chicago, IL 60649-3227
773/330-3563
Rujahi@aol.com
RUNAKO JAHI
OBJECTIVE To train and develop the acting skills of both youth and adult actors for performance.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES Theatre director, playwright, drama instructor, actor, poet, painter, set designer. Has
done voice-over work, historical oratory, popular solo presentations performing the classic works of Paul
Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks and others.
EXPERIENCE Actively involved in the theatre from 1972 to date, beginning primarily as an actor, developed
as a playwright, and later, an award-winning stage director. As a theatre instructor, he has inspired and
trained many performers and arts practitioners. He coached singer/actor, Jennifer Hudson, for her audition
for the film, “Dreamgirls,” and has over thirty years experience developing youth and adult talent.
EDUCATION Columbia College, Chicago (1975-1977)
American Academy Of Art (1979-1985)
LEADERSHIP Served as Artistic Director of eta Creative Arts Foundation
(February, 1990 thru July 31, 2014)
Also at eta, he taught actors’ workshops for youth and adults; plus developed the Showfolk Daytime Theatre
Series for Schools, originated in 1985.
“As a teaching artist, my goal is to help students/clients understand the fundamentals of the performing arts
with a concentration on acting, public speaking, confidence-building, and how to get the best results when
addressing audiences in both theatrical and business venues.”
Urban Gateways’ Artist In Residence /Arts For Learning Program
June 30, 1993-January 31, 2000
Taught Theatre and the Interpretation of Character Poetry to various grade levels in Chicago public and
Catholic Schools.
PLAYS WRITTEN
“Have You Seen My Daddy?” The psychological effect on children neglected by fathers. (2012)
“Emancipation Or Preservation: A Discourse Between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln” (co-written
with Useni Eugene Perkins) This play was commissioned by The DuSable Museum Of African American History
(2009)
“Michele and Barack: A Love Story” (2009)
“What Shall I Tell My Children?” The life of Dr. Margaret Goss Burroughs, with a music score by Anthony
Llorens (2001)
“Ama and The Magic Toy Box” Music score by Anthony Llorens

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Fantasy about a girl who feels her parents don’t have time for her and lives in a computerized pad of make
believe. (1996)
“The Reading Machine On Sunnyside Lane” Music score by Anthony Llorens About peer pressure and the
value of reading. (1995)
“Song and Dance: A Journey In Blacknuss” (1994)
“Kasimu and the Coconut Palm” Music score by Lynn Hilton
Fantasy about a mythical village and a child who wants to be grown before his time. (1993)
“The Positive Evolution Of Bongo Baker” Music score by Wanda Bishop
A smart boy is intimidated by his classmates and almost self destructs. (1991)
“A Place To Be Me” Music score by Durrell Daniels
A fantasy about the influence of television on children. (1988)
“Again, Sometime Soon” Self-delusion and promiscuity drives a group of friends to take a deeper look at
themselves. (1988)
“Slowdance In Room 8-C” About a complex woman and the men who think they know her. (1988)
“Fats: His Life and Times” Life of Fats Waller (Drama; not a music revue, 1987)
“A Passenger Past Midnight” Life of Marvin Gaye (1986)
“Steam” Co-written with Kai El’ Zabar and D Soyini Madison
A stylized portrait of the relationships between men and women. (1980)
“Memories Of Gangway Superstars” A nostalgic look at teens and the culture of the 70’s. (1978)
“Asante” A metaphorical fantasy about birds living in a cage who take on the personas of human beings.
(1977)
“Freeze” A fantasy about the disturbed spirits of people who died from substance abuse as they recount
situations in their lives on earth. (1976)
“Mainline Blues” A drama about two college students who succumb to heroin addiction while on campus.
Music score by Anthony Llorens (1976)

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NOMINATIONS
Best Director for “Field Of Souls” by Darlette McAlpin, Black Theatre Alliance
Awards, eta Creative Arts Foundation (2011)
Best Set Design for “From The Mississippi Delta” by Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Black Theatre Alliance
Awards, eta Creative Arts Foundation (2009)
Best Set Design for “Willy’s Cut and Shine” by Michael Bradford, Black Theatre Alliance Awards, eta Creative
Arts Foundation (2006)
Best Director for “Woman From The Town” by Samm-Art Williams, Black Excellence Awards, eta Creative Arts
Foundation (2005)
Best Director for “Whispers Want To Holler” by Marta Effinger, Black Theatre Alliance Awards, eta Creative
Arts Foundation (2003)
AWARDS
The Alyo Award from the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago (2013)
Best Set Design from the Black Excellence Awards for the play, “Broke-ology” by Nathan Louis Jackson,
eta Creative Arts Foundation (2012)
The N’Culture Award from the N’Digo Foundation (2011)
The Tradition Keeper Award from ASE: The Chicago Association Of Black Storytellers (2011)
The Nehemiah Award for Maintaining Excellence in the Greater Englewood Community (2011)
The Outstanding Playwright Award from the Black Ensemble Theater (2010)
The Black Men of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender (2010)
Best Director from the Black Excellence Awards for the play, “HOME The Musical” by Samm-Art Williams,
eta Creative Arts Foundation (2006)
Best Set Design from the Black Excellence Awards for the plays, “HOME The Musical” by Samm-Art
Williams, and “Willy’s Cut And Shine” by Michael Bradford, both eta Creative Arts Foundation
productions (2006)
The Award of Merit from the Black Theatre Alliance Awards for career achievement (2004)
Best Director award for the Black Theatre Alliance Awards for the play, “Eyes” by Mari Evans, an adaption
of the Zora Neale Hurston classic, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” eta Creative Arts Foundation (2004)
The Monarch Award for The Arts from the Monarch Awards Foundation of Alpha Kappa (AKA) Sorority’s Xi
Nu Omega Chapter (2003)
The Jefferson Award of Merit from NBC-5 Chicago and Harris Bank (2002)
Rolling Out News Recognition for Outstanding Contributions To The Community (2002)
The 34th Annual Convention Community Award from the Chicago Chapter Of Justice, Unity, Generosity,
Service International Incorporated (2001)
The Lorraine Hansberry Award for Drama from Afrique Magazine (1999)
Best Director award for the play, “Stoops” by Crystal V. Rhodes, from The Black Theatre Alliance Awards,
eta Creative Arts Foundation (1995)
The Paul Robeson Award from the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago (1990)
The African American Achievement Award from Columbia College (1990)
The President’s Award for Contributions To Children’s Theater (1990)
The Promising Playwright Award from the Chicago Black Theater Alliance (1976)

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Best Director for “The Dreamers” by Christine Harley, Black Theatre Alliance Awards, eta Creative Arts
Foundation (1999)
Best Director for “This Far By Faith” by Marylene S. Whitehead and Rufus Hill,
Black Theatre Alliance Awards, eta Creative Arts Foundation (1997)
Chicago Emmy nomination for writing the NBC-TV special,
“Martin Luther King Suite” (1985)
ALSO WORKED WITH
The National Center For Civil And Human Rights
“Rise” Co-directed with Kevin Iega Jeff, Choreographer
(Rialto Center For The Arts, Georgia State University, 2012
The Boys and Girls Club Of Naperville
“MacArthur Park” by Andrea L. Wukitsch, co-directed with Kevin Iega Jeff, choreographer (2011)
Deeply Rooted Dance Company (Kevin Iega Jeff /Gary Abbott)
Productions include:
“Nefertiti” Co-directed with choreographers, Kevin Iega Jeff and Gary Abbott
“I Am Deeply Rooted” (voice-over, 2010)
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater
“Once On This Island” by Lynn Ahrens. Music score by Stephen Flaherty (2009)
REFERENCES
Woodie King, Jr. Founder of the New Federal Theatre, New York, NY
Abena Joan Brown, Co-founder of eta Creative Arts Foundation, Chicago, IL
Useni Eugene Perkins, Founder of Black Child Journal, Chicago, IL, Playwright
Paul Carter Harrison, Playwright, Theatre Professor, Director
Haki Madhubuti, Founder of Third World Press, Chicago, IL, Poet
Dr. D.Soyini Madison, Professor of Performance Studies at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Jackie Taylor, Founder/Producer of The Black Ensemble Theatre, Chicago, IL
Chuck Smith, Artistic Associate of The Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, Director
Joan Gray, President of Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Pemon Rami, Director of Education, DuSable Museum of African American History
Ron OJ Parson, Director, Actor, Co-founder of Onyx Theatre, Chicago, IL
Kai El’Zabar, Executive Editor of The Chicago Defender
Masequa Myers, Executive Director of The South Side Community Arts Center
Marta Effinger-Crichlow, Phd, New York City College of Technology – CUNY African American Studies
Emily Hooper Lansana, Associate Director of Community Arts Engagement, University of Chicago, arts administrator,
educator and performing artist.