Kelly Strayhorn Theater

RELEASE: Standing Firm in Rev. Dr. King’s Legacy and Vision: MLK Day 2026 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater

MEDIA CONTACT

Mingsi Ma (she/her) 

Marketing Specialist

mingsi@kelly-strayhorn.org

412-363-3000 x325

Local Community Organizations and Performance Groups Bring Activities and Performances Dedicated to MLK’s Legacy

Collage by Kiearra Williams

East Liberty, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) brings its annual MLK Day program back on Monday, January 19, titled The Beloved Community: East Liberty’s Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rooted in Rev. Dr. King’s legacy, the celebration gathers artists, neighbors, and changemakers to uplift his vision of justice, compassion, and shared humanity. From 1:00pm – 4:00pm, community partners will activate the KST Lobby with family-friendly activities for neighbors of all ages, alongside a gallery exhibition in the KST Gallery featuring artist Morgan Overton’s work that bridges historical memory and future possibility, asking what becomes possible when the dream is activated together. From 2:00pm – 3:00pm, KST presents local performance groups on stage, highlighting the creativity and voices of local young artists.

Starting at 1:00pm, community organizations take over the KST Lobby with fun, family-friendly arts-and-crafts activities. The participating organizations include True T, ARYSE, Allies for Health + Wellbeing, Healthy Start Inc., and KSci-Art Initiative.

As audiences are invited to view the KST Gallery featuring the temporary exhibition, After the Dream, by multidisciplinary visual artist and Pittsburgh native Morgan Overton. The exhibition highlights Overton’s original works channeling the remembrance of Dr. King’s journey, Civil Rights leaders who helped lead the freedom movement, and Afrofuturist imagery. Overton’s work is described as “a reclamation of history and humanity.” The KST Gallery exhibits her existing works and new pieces created specifically for this event.

KST’s Marketing Specialist Mingsi Ma shares that “KST curates the Youth & Family event as a fun, heartwarming gathering centered on the arts, while also creating a space where families can connect with local organizations for vital resources. In the spirit of MLK’s legacy, we have partnered over the years with community groups to share LGBTQ+, health, social justice, financial literacy, and education resources, always with equity and accessibility at the center.”

From 2:00pm – 3:00pm, the main stage features performances by Hill Dance Academy Theatre, student dancers from ARYSE, and Pastor Deryck Tines and the Lemington Gospel Chorale, with Rev. Dr. Michael Diaz of East Liberty Presbyterian Church guiding the day’s celebration as Emcee. KST has also commissioned local emerging music talent Aryana Kapree to present a new spoken-word work, performed by the artist at the event.

“When I think about MLK, I’m reminded of how we need to keep showing up for one another, especially amid the injustices surrounding our communities,” says KST’s Programming Manager, Sarah Gilmer. “This year’s theme, ‘The Beloved Community’, speaks directly to what KST stands for. For 16 years, our ongoing MLK Day celebration has reflected our dedication to serve as a real welcoming touchpoint in East Liberty.”

Courtesy of Let Freedom Sing

At 7:30pm, the 19th annual Let Freedom Sing Concert celebrates Rev. Dr. King through vocal and instrumental music and spoken word. The concert features vocal selections by The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, the Rodman Street Baptist Church Choir, and acclaimed operatic soprano Zuly Inirio. It concludes with a performance by the intergenerational MLK Festival Choir, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones and Alton Mitchell. WAMO 107.3 radio personality Kiki Jones serves as the celebrity Emcee. Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned good to donate to the EECM Food Pantry.

The Beloved Community: East Liberty’s Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday, January 19, 2026  |  1:00pm – 4:00pm Community Partner Activities |  2:00pm – 3:00pm Performance Program

Kelly Strayhorn Theater  |  5941 Penn Ave.

Tickets for The Beloved Community: East Liberty’s Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are Pay What Moves You, $0 – $25 per attendee, and can be reserved here.

This event is generously sponsored by Citizens.

Let Freedom Sing Concert

Monday, January 19, 2026  |  7:30pm

Kelly Strayhorn Theater  |  5941 Penn Ave.

Tickets for Let Freedom Sing are Pay What Moves You, $2 – $50 per attendee, and can be reserved here.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Aryana Kapree is a singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer and stage actor using songwriting, performance, dance and theater to further her creative pursuits. Aryana has performed at 91.3 FM WYEP’s Summer Music Festival, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and is a two-time GRAMMY Museum GRAMMY Camp attendee.  Aryana is currently a professional ensemble member with Alumni Theater Company and a Saturday Light Brigade – Mind The Gap Fellow.

ARYSE supports immigrant and refugee youth in accessing the resources they need to feel confident, engaged, and celebrated. Through advocacy and out-of-school-time programming that focuses on building skills and a sense of community, ARYSE affirms youth’s identities and works alongside them to achieve their vision for their futures. Visit arysepgh.org to learn more.

Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT), a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure celebrated 20 years in 2025 as Black dance arts education nonprofit organization located in the Historic Hill District of Pittsburgh, PA., HDAT was founded in 2005 by Ayisha Morgan-Lee, Ed.D. to provide children, youth, and teens, ages 3 to 18, access and opportunity to dance. HDAT trains students in various styles of concert dance, fitness and nutrition, and leadership skills. HDAT’s mission is to provide professional-level training in Black Dance traditions, history, culture, and aesthetics that engages and empowers students to pursue careers in Black dance. www.5678hdat.org

Rev. Dr. Michael Diaz is the Senior Pastor of East Liberty Presbyterian Church—the Cathedral of Hope in Pittsburgh. Ordained in Metropolitan Community Churches and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), he brings more than seventeen years of pastoral leadership dedicated to building creative, inclusive, and transformative communities of faith. Dr. Diaz also serves on the Anti-Racism Transformation Team of the Pittsburgh Presbytery. As a lifelong percussionist, he believes in the power of the arts to help restore joy and strengthen the soul for the work of justice.

Pastor Deryck Tines and the Lemington Gospel Chorale

Pastor Deryck Tines is a gifted pianist and gospel artist, influenced by James Cleveland, Edwin and Walter Hawkins, and Andre Crouch. He is the founding director of the Lemington Gospel Chorale, a regional choir performing traditional gospel throughout Greater Pittsburgh and beyond. His live-recorded debut project We Shall Overcome Someday is available on major platforms. Tines is active across Western Pennsylvania, co-leading Free Holiness Churches and performing at concerts, festivals, and special events. Visit derycktines.com to learn more.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The fair market value (FMV) of Suite Life general admission tickets is $75 per Concert ticket and $150 per VIP Suite ticket. The portion of your payment that exceeds the FMV is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Pittsburgh-based multidisciplinary artist Morgan Overton (b.1993) transforms history, identity, and memory into commanding visual narratives, centering the Black American experience through portraiture, abstraction, archival collage, and symbolism. Her work explores ancestral memory, collective liberation, and intergenerational connection. She curated Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh and leads workshops on democracy and human rights. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the U.S. Capitol Russell Senate Building, Spectrum Miami Art Fair, and the London Art Biennale (2025). Learn more at morganovertonart.com.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Allies for Health + Wellbeing is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that empowers individuals and communities through high-quality integrated medical care and supportive human services. We provide inclusive, holistic care that recognizes each client’s full lived experience, removing financial barriers and stigma to ensure access to the care they need. With nearly 40 years of experience, we build trusting relationships through inclusive primary care, HIV, hepatitis C, and STI testing and care, and gender-affirming services.

ARYSE

See bio above.

Healthy Start Inc. supports women, children, fathers, families, and communities through comprehensive community-based programming, systems coordination, advocacy, research, and training. Our programming spans Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. We are part of a network of more than 100 community-based Healthy Start projects across the United States. Our goal is to make sure all families have access to affordable, quality care to improve maternal and child health outcomes and quality of life. healthystartpittsburgh.org.

KSci-Art Initiative is a mobile therapeutic art and empowerment program that brings creativity and healing directly to communities. Through engaging workshops, hands-on crafts, and meaningful conversations, KSci-Art uses the power of art to promote confidence, connection, and emotional wellness for youth, women, and families. From birthday parties to ladies’ nights, pop-ups in parks to partnerships with schools and teen programs, KSci-Art transforms everyday spaces into safe, creative, and joyful places for expression.

The mission of True T is celebrating queer people of color through creative art, community health, and social activism. Mrs. Tracey Bryant leads True T‘s Unique Jewelry Workshop at KST’s MLK Day! Join us for a hands-on journey, turning raw materials into one-of-a-kind craft jewelry under Mrs. Bryant’s expert guidance. Participants will create stunning masterpieces onsite, ensuring a unique and personalized experience. Don’t miss this chance to unleash your creativity and take home a bespoke work of art. truetpgh.com @truetpgh

ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

Named after 20th century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. We welcome our home to all who uplift Black, Indigenous, people of color, and queer voices.

KST is an institutional arts anchor in Pittsburgh’s East End that has served the community for more than two decades. Since launching KST Presents programming in ’08, KST has been Black-led, fostering radical imagination for Black and queer arts, culture, and community in Pittsburgh by cultivating BIPOC and/or queer artists, entrepreneurs, and arts administrators, developing their careers, and shifting narratives around Black possibility.

Who Owns Culture? Questions and Answers From a Kelly Strayhorn Symposium

Panelists from “Transformative Operational Practices” discuss innovative working and programmatic models within BIPOC-led cultural institutions at “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership,” presented by Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh in May. (Photo by Mark Simpson)

As theatres across the country face financial uncertainty due to shifts in cultural attitudes and legal challenges to arts funding, last spring the team at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh hosted a symposium called “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership.” BIPOC arts administrators from across the country were invited to raise (and hopefully answer) timely questions about cultural ownership and the future. Mingsi Ma, marketing specialist at the Kelly Strayhorn, shares her perspective on the symposium and imagines a future when community ownership of the arts goes beyond physical space.

By Mingsi Ma

In May 2025, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) presented “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership,” bringing together visionary leaders from across the country in art, activism, urban planning, philanthropy, and government to envision a future for BIPOC-led cultural spaces. We built the symposium around a few central questions: What does it mean to own a BIPOC institution financially, operationally, and physically? And how can we think beyond brick-and-mortar spaces to the point where our communities own their culture, ideas, and bodies? In other words, what does cultural ownership mean to us?

“Owning Our Future” was the culmination of so much that KST has been working toward, especially in connecting cultural institutions to national movements, including Black institutional ownership and the Land Back movement. It explores more deeply how ownership enables BIPOC-led organizations to operate more equitably and impactfully with their communities. The themes at the heart of the symposium are as urgent now as they were during the pandemic, when the country was reckoning with racial injustice—a reckoning that remains unresolved.

Keynote speaker and cultural strategist Lisa Yancey opened the symposium with a powerful address underlining the interconnectedness of cultural and economic strategies as well as the economic value of investing in culture. Panel discussions such as “Transformative Operational Practices: Building Collaborative and Adaptive Organizational Structures,” “Envisioning The Future: Designing Community-Centric Spaces for Cultural Empowerment,” and more were designed to open our minds to diverse forms of artistic programs, community engagement, and civic empowerment.

Keynote speaker Lisa Yancey encouraged the audience to break into groups and imagine together what Pittsburgh will look like in 2040 at “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership,” presented by Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh in May. (Photo by Beth Barbis)

It was uplifting to see people across the country coming together in our beloved theatre to share their experiences and to look beyond traditional artistic programming strategies, within and outside of the physical confines of a cultural space. Lara M. Evans from First Peoples Fund at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation showed how they support Indigenous communities by consulting the people they serve to determine their programming. Representatives from Pittsburgh’s 1Hood Media discussed how they chose to launch a 501(c)(4) arm of the organization in order to add civic and political engagement to their already strong suite of community and media programs.

Other highlights included a specific focus on successful financial models. We heard from experts like Darren Isom from The Bridgespan Group, which provides management consulting to nonprofits and philanthropists. In his remarks, Isom shared how endowments can be used as tools to achieve bold goals, address new social challenges and advance racial equity. Architect Allan Co from Crescere Collaborative was also on hand, inspiring the audience with ideas on how to evolve beyond physical space with community-based approaches to property ownership and redevelopment. In a true cross-sector conversation, the symposium culminated with a compelling keynote from Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal, who talked about the alchemy of restaurants, bookstores and community gathering places.

Panelists from “Radical Financial Innovation” answering questions at “Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership,” presented by Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh in May. (Photo by Mark Simpson)

While the symposium is over, we take it as the starting point as we look ahead to the future, recognizing an impending shift in the cultural landscape. Specifically for KST, the lease on our century-old neighborhood home at 5941 Penn Ave. will come to an end in 2029, with no option to renew or purchase. While we grieve the loss of this beloved community anchor, we also celebrate the profound opportunity it presents: the chance to create a 21st century theatre that enables BIPOC communities’ cultural ownership. We are keen on finding another home in the East End of Pittsburgh, continuing our mission to provide a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people.

When we created our strategic direction, “Owning Our Future, Thriving Where We Live” in 2021, we boldly pictured what a day at the future KST will look like:

Community members rooted in East Liberty for generations find a place to sit and chat in the harvest-abundant KST community garden, pedestrians stopping for a drink at the beloved theatre’s coffee shop and gallery. Dancers are leaving KST rehearsal studios with towels in hand. Their residence with saunas, gym, acupuncture and massage studios—all open to local communities as well—is just around the corner at a KST-owned building.

For the symposium, the Kelly Strrayhorn lobby was transformed into a performance and communal space, echoing our vision of cultivating a sense of belonging and creating a “home” for the community. (Photo by Beth Barbis)

One of the keywords that appeared many times throughout the symposium is “reimagine.” It often stems from contexts where historically underserved communities, particularly communities of color, experience cultural displacement and disinvestment. Still, now is the opportunity to reimagine a more just future where everyone has the opportunity to bring their perspectives to the table and embrace our body, mind and soul, which define our culture. We write our culture with the arts, and it is now time to reimagine institutional and cultural ownership.

To continue the impact on KST’s “Owning Our Future” symposium, keynote speeches and panel discussions available for rewatch on YouTube. The Livestream Recording Pass is Pay What Moves You from  $15-$75.

Immerse Yourself in House Party

by Kiearra Williams

This is an editorial response written by a KST staff member on House Party. 

It is always intriguing to reflect on an event once it is over because it is quite easy to get tangled in the small details during the planning process. Recently I joined KST as the Marketing Coordinator and had the amazing opportunity to experience House Party for the first time. Hearing talks of a floating stage, and an immersive experience does not compare to seeing the final product the day of the production. It was quite liberating to see the hard work of all of the KST staff members align together to present House Party to the community. 

House Party is KST’s annual summer benefit. Our goal was to showcase an immersive neon-noir cabaret experience with captivating performances. This past Saturday night, we ushered livelihood and community to Penn Ave. Once attendees walked through the pink-lit entrance, they were greeted by an alluring media design from Scott Andrew. Guests also had the opportunity to grab some new temporary ink from Zhen Lee. The pre-show experience would not be complete without grabbing a House Party-themed cocktail from the bar before moving into the theater for highly anticipated performances from some of Pittsburgh’s hottest artists. 

KST’s stage was completely transformed from its usual setup. VIP Reception guests gathered onstage to mingle and converse with other art-loving individuals while enjoying hors d’oeuvres from Royal Caribbean. There was a platform placed in the middle of what would normally be audience seating to prepare attendees for an enchanting excursion of live performances. A luminescence chandelier hung from the ceiling, and dramatic anticipation could be felt in the air as the VIP Reception was set to begin.

Blue light illuminated the darkened theater as multidisciplinary artist Clara Kent ascended to the stage for her performance. Clara is known to uplift creative communities and for her raw and vulnerable artistry. Clara performed songs from her EP THE FOUR WINDS: EAST. With a voice that left you on the edge of your seat wanting more, and enough charisma to light up the entire East End, Clara executed a transcendental occurrence. Kent concluded her performance with a powerful rendition of her song THE JUICE. THE JUICE demonstrated Clara’s vocal brilliance by utilizing angelic notes to invoke a raw and emotional experience for the audience. 

Mystery and wonder cloaked choreographer Jesse Factor as he took the audience on a trip into the world of Diva’s Delight. Factor was trained at the Martha Graham School and danced with Graham II and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Jesse’s movements could be described as exotic and purposeful, as his limbs moved sharply to tell a story that fascinated the audience. Factor could be seen traveling around the stage, paying homage to the likes of Martha Graham + Madonna. Curiosity and wonder increased among audience members once Jesse uncloaked to reveal a glimmering nude thong as he continued to twirl. The intensity and transformative energy lingered in the air, along with admiration for the next chapter in Jesse’s journey.

The dirty down dance party filled the lobby with joy and entertainment as DJs QRX and ROJO brought the fire. Dance party guests got to enjoy a sense of nostalgia for the 90s and the 2000s as the sounds of Nelly, and TLC graced the airwaves. Tunes kept the moves going until the clock struck midnight. 

As attendees left the front doors of KST and traveled back into the night air of East Liberty, holding their custom-made KST tote bags they left with feelings of admiration, new relationships, and hope for Pittsburgh’s arts community. House Party created an exceptional atmosphere that reminded guests of the foundation of Kelly Strayhorn Theater and guided them to look to the future of what Kelly Strayhorn Theater can become.

Attending House Party left me feeling deeply fulfilled and exhilarated. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of an organization that has such a profound impact on the arts community.

Photo Credit: Randall Coleman and Matt Huggins

a tour through the heart and lungs: a multidisciplinary performance exploring interpersonal relationships

by RaiNE Brabender

This is an editorial response written by a member of the inaugural cohort of the KST HomeMakers Program on peformance unstich. HomeMakers is a committee of Pittsburgh Artists and community members that work with KST Staff to advocate for and support Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s programs and supported artists.

Anna King Skeels is a performer and playwright who brought us the experimental theater piece titled “unstitch”. They also star as the protagonist of the piece named Stell. unstitch was the final Freshworks piece of the Spring 2024 season. I was interested in writing about this work because I always want to show up and support other fat and trans artists.

When we walked in as audience members we were greeted by a large heart that looked very soft. You could see that it was fabricated from multiple different cloths. There was also a long woven ropelike structure representing lungs. When I see props on the stage my mind races and I wonder how they will be interacted with. I was excitedly awaiting what was to come.

Then the lights come on. Shifting my focus. The stage is illuminated with red light and that is where we begin our journey. We can hear the sounds of the heart beating and the main character, Stell is breathing in and out. There were multiple points throughout this performance where we were focusing on breathing. As a spectator I found myself trying to match their rhythmic pattern. 

Stell begins running around the lungs when a newcomer can be heard off stage telling them to slow down. This person ,Glass, is a new arrival to the heart as opposed to those who were already there, family and friends. This newcomer was entering a very fragile ecosystem in which Stell was already feeling apprehensive about.

Then there’s this gorgeous part that brings me to tears: Stell decides to expose and share their heart with Glass. They begin to play together, rolling around on the ground, giggling. The breath work comes back into play and I find myself going on along with them again. I wonder how many others in the audience are joining us to regulate our own bodily ecosystems at this moment. The lighting starts to shift and I can feel the music fill the air as I watch the two of them twirl around each other’s bodies. It’s this connection that so many of us long for. The lights are adding this emotional ambience for me. I start to have this visceral feeling of falling in love. It is such a beautiful thing to have the capacity to connect with other humans in this way. That’s when the tears start flooding my cheeks. I was very moved. That scene then shifts abruptly.

There is a major conflict in which Stell seems scared to be scared of abandonment by Glass. Stell is talking about how they know their brain and that it doesn’t look “like this”. You can feel how this person is completely terrified of what is happening. How they have given their heart to a new person. Stell shares their feelings of self doubt by proclaiming “I’m not amazing like you”. I feel that so many of us can relate to feelings of being inadequate for a lover or relationship of any variety. I always say that starting a new relationship brings all of my insecurities to the forefront. Dealing with existing mental health problems on top of a new relationship can feel so overwhelming, something I really resonate with.

We see this conflict represented after Stell opens up their heart when the other character, Glass dives into it head first, swimming around inside the heart. The audience members then watch along as Glass starts disassembling the heart on stage. Glass ends up leaving the stage with a piece of the heart in their hand. At this point Stell starts to close, or “stitch” their heart back up. To me it seems that it is an attempt at self preservation. Yet I feel that this act doesn’t do what it is intended to do. I think it has the opposite effect because you are then shutting out possible connections. And isolating from everyone hurts more in the long run. The fear of letting people in is so strong though. The fear of being vulnerable and opening yourself to being hurt by people you care for. Stell starts to shut this connection down and Glass out. They are fearing change in the upset of their “normal” life. Afraid of how this connection will potentially mess everything up.

Then we see the two of them joining forces to theoretically mend the heart. They are working together now to regulate the system again. There is so much power in relational connections and communal support. They begin to talk about scars as a metaphor of being hurt. They talk about how things will happen in our lives. That those experiences may be negative or ugly but that they are signs that we are alive. We don’t truly lose ourselves after sharing ourselves with people. Even if they leave us. 

I really enjoyed the performance. A big takeaway for me was the reminder that all of our experiences provide us lessons for our lives. That we have to navigate through things at times that seemingly feel like “the end”. But we are better off taking those chances then letting those fears isolate us. 

Photo Credit: Beth Barbis

RaiNE Brabender (they/them) is a queer artist and aspiring curator who grew up in West Virginia. They are now based in Pittsburgh, PA. RaiNE received their art degree from PSU in Oregon. They are very drawn to art that depicts everyday life. The joys, the sorrows and everything in between. Some major themes include living in a fat brown body and our connections to the earth. RaiNE creates self portraits, sculptures, video art, and performance. Often mixing multiple mediums. They are very inspired by traveling, meeting people, seeing different landscapes, and engaging in storytelling.

Photo Credit: Jahkobeen

Liberty in East Liberty: Exploring Edisa Weeks’ 3 RITES: Liberty

by Tara Fay Coleman

This is an editorial response written by a member of the inaugural cohort of the KST HomeMakers Program. HomeMakers is a committee of Pittsburgh Artists and community members that work with KST Staff to advocate for and support Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s programs and supported artists.

I have always considered performance one of the strongest mediums for exploring the layers of identity and societal constructs. Black performance art has historically served as a vital tool for resistance and cultural expression, dating back from spirituals sung by enslaved Africans, to contemporary performers making works to challenge stereotypes and assert their humanity and agency. Edisa Weeks and DELIRIOUS Dances 3 RITES: Liberty is a study of American identity and the politics of racism. The optics of 3 RITES, which include Weeks seated on a platform wearing red polka dot balloons, yellow kitchen gloves, and a red patterned smock reminiscent of Jim Crow era ‘mammy’ caricatures, immediately called to mind the work of Camille Billops and James Hatch, and their 1994 film The KKK Boutique ain’t Just Rednecks, where the audience is ‘toured’ through the contemporary landscape of racism that includes staging of similar visuals. Edisa’s performance functions as a call-back to this, as well as many other earlier works that seek to challenge, and both are a means to reflect on histories and traumas of the past, while urging the audience to reckon with the systemic racism that is still very much prevalent today.

Weeks’ exploration of Liberty is not just an abstract concept, but a deeply personal and embodied experience. “Liberty” is a character that she uses to navigate the landscape of racism while implicating the audience as collaborators. 3 RITES highlights the complexity of racial identity, and asks viewers to confront their own biases and assumptions, which, expectedly, can bring up a number of complicated emotions. I left this performance unable to fully process what I had experienced due to a lot of anger I was feeling. The irony of this piece being performed in East Liberty, where vulnerable Black residents have been either forcibly removed or priced out, is not lost on me, and the juxtaposition of Weeks’ piece against the backdrop of gentrification underscores the tension between displacement and belonging, while the setting of the performance, the historic Kelly Strayhorn Theater, lends an added layer of complexity to Weeks’ work. In this context, the performance becomes not only a work of art, but also a powerful act of resistance and reclamation of space in a city burdened by the weight of inequality and discrimination. 

Central to Weeks’ performance is an exploration of the Black female experience. It is especially poignant to see it performed in Pittsburgh, ranked as one of the worst cities in the country for Black women in every indicator of livability. Through her embodiment of a Black woman artist connected like a puppet to objects symbolizing the Black experience, she navigates the complexities of race, gender, and agency while highlighting the ways in which Black women have been manipulated and controlled throughout history. Her connection to these specific objects represents facets of Black identity, but also stereotypes, and thus can be interpreted through multiple lenses. Liberty is a puppeteer manipulating the strings, and Weeks becomes intertwined with these objects; I interpreted the bible as spirituality and resilience, reflecting the enduring faith that has sustained Black communities through centuries of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the profound role religion has played in shaping the Black experience in America, but could also symbolize how Christianity has been used as a tool to oppress. A black dick represents the dehumanizing legacy of slavery and objectification, and symbolizes the exploitation and commodification of Black bodies, challenging perceptions of sexuality and agency within the context of racial oppression. The blonde wig, a symbol of Eurocentric beauty standards, represents the relationship between race, beauty, and self-image. It prompts reflection of the societal pressures to conform to a whitewashed ideal and the impacts of internalized racism on Black identity. The gun evokes the specter of violence and systemic injustice that has plagued Black communities throughout history, and serves as a reminder of the pervasive threat of police brutality and gun violence faced by Black Americans. In contrast, for me the lightbulb symbolizes illumination, but also calls to mind the legacy of figures like Benjamin Franklin, a founding father who contributed to discovering uses for electricity, but who owned slaves and benefited greatly from their labor prior to embracing abolitionist practices. The sneakers for me represent urban street styles popularized by Black youth, but also, the myth of shoe tossing as it relates to gang and drug activity, and what it symbolizes in the context of communities that are considered ‘unsafe’ – another important parallel when considering the history of Black residents in East Liberty, and what remains. Finally, the watermelon, with its layers of stereotypes and stigma, represents the legacy of racial troupes, but also endurance. For the closing of the performance, Weeks cut the watermelon and shared the story of how, following emancipation in 1865, African Americans earned financial independence from its growth and sale, turning the fruit into a symbol of their economic self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial spirit. She then invited the audience to share the watermelon, another gesture that reads as reclaiming and redefining cultural symbols. It confronts and transforms the historical stereotypes associated with African Americans and watermelon, turning it into a gesture of community. 

Another central theme in this piece is the usage of Blackface and whiteface. During the post-performance audience talk-back with Dr. Kevin Jarbo, a guest shared their discomfort with Weeks usage of Blackface while telling a story about ‘buck breaking’, which is the act of publicly punishing a male slave, typically by first flogging him, and subsequently sexually assaulting or raping him in front of other slaves, in order to humiliate him. The use of Blackface historically perpetuated harmful stereotypes and reinforced systems of oppression, serving as a tool for dehumanization and caricature. Conversely, the adoption of white face challenges conventional notions of race and privilege. I believe that by embodying both Black and white personas, Weeks is actually highlighting the performative nature of race, and the ways in which it is constructed and manipulated within society. By shifting between Black face and white face, Edisa blurs boundaries of race and questions the inherent hierarchies and inequalities that exist within our society using humor to provide moments of levity amongst the weighty subject matter. 

Immediately after the 3 RITES: Liberty performance, Dr. Kevin Jarbo guided a town hall-style conversation to provide a moment of communal digestion, and to discuss what was resonating with people after experiencing the Liberty rite.

Ultimately, 3 RITES: Liberty challenges viewers to confront the foundational myths of liberty and freedom in the United States, exposing the contradictions and inequalities that have long plagued society at large. This piece is a fearless exploration of race, identity, and power that invites us to imagine a more just and equitable future, and the importance of it being performed in a city where racism has been declared a public health crisis, and where rapid gentrification threatens to erase the cultural heritage and livelihoods of its Black residents cannot be understated. Edisa’s storytelling is deeply important, transcends traditional boundaries, and embodies the contradictions and complexities of Black identity in America. 

Photo Credit: Delaney Greenberg

Tara Fay (she/her) is a mother, conceptual artist, curator, writer, and arts worker from Buffalo, NY. She currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA. Fay’s work consists of a multidisciplinary praxis that is an exploration of identity, motherhood, Black womanhood, and taking up space. Through her practice, she mines her own lived experiences for subject matter, with a goal to intertwine her life with her work. Fay’s work has been exhibited at Carnegie Museum of Art, SPACE Gallery, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, and here Gallery.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KST Presents Suite Life, A Theatrical Jazz Benefit Concert Celebrating Icons Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly

EAST LIBERTY, PA, October 18, 2023 — Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) invites you to celebrate our namesakes with the music of composer Billy Strayhorn and the imagery of performer Gene Kelly at our unforgettable theatrical jazz benefit concert Suite Life on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 7:30pm at Kelly Strayhorn Theater (5941 Penn Ave.). Starting two hours before Suite Life, we hold our VIP Reception at our generous sponsor Duolingo’s East Liberty Headquarters (5900 Penn Ave.) at 5:30pm. The reception features specially crafted cocktails, sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, and meaningful opportunities to connect with Pittsburgh’s leading jazz enthusiasts. 

We warmly welcome music director and pianist Dr. Alton Merrell, as well as band members: Dwayne Dolphin (bass), James Johnson III (drums), and Colter Harper (guitar). The concert features jazz singer and Billy Strayhorn aficionado Joshua Banbury, along with Suite Life veterans kelsey jumper and Treasure Treasure. KST reunites our friends, media artist Scott Andrew, and lighting designer Madeleine Steineck for a dazzling visual experience. 

“Strayhorn has inspired me to bring theatrics into jazz,” classically trained jazz singer and opera librettist Joshua Banbury explains, “in recent years, I have attempted to get very close to Strayhorn and his work. Being near his work, his story has greatly impacted my own. I’ve also fallen in love with his music because his ballads in particular are so akin to arias and art songs. To be able to sing his music in a theater dedicated to him is so special to me”. 

This year’s event marks KST’s 16th annual celebration of Gene Kelly’s energetic and athletic dance style and Billy Strayhorn’s longing and artful tones. Billy Strayhorn, born in 1915, lived in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh while Gene Kelly, born in 1912, grew up in East Liberty. 

“While there is no written record showing the two ever met, it is documented that they both attended shows at Pittsburgh venues like the Stanley Theatre, where Strayhorn met Duke Ellington in 1938. Through the mixing of music and visuals, Suite Life imagines how their lives might have crossed paths right here, at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, back when it was the Regent Theatre,” according to Joseph Hall, KST’s Executive Director. We commemorate the duo’s artistic and social legacies while cheering the communal and creative spirit embedded in our locality.

Suite Life travels back in time and delivers an immersive visual and sonic experience with dance, live music, monologue, and storytelling. “This will be my third year performing in Suite Life, and I’ve loved witnessing the shift from pure concert format to a dramaturgically grounded production,” said vocalist and dancer kelsey jumper. The theater lighting and multimedia projection create a lush atmosphere. As media artist Scott Andrew comments, “This event is a fun chance to generate live visuals that complement the work of the musicians, offering a vibrant backdrop to the performance.” 

Let’s dress for jazz and “sing in the rain,” immersing ourselves in the shower of rich and lush harmonies. 

Download the .pdf. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Scott Andrew (media artist) is a queer multimedia video, installation, performance artist, media designer, educator, and curator. His works have been exhibited at Ballroom Marfa (Marfa, TX), The Hammer Museum (LA), The J. Paul Getty Museum (LA), Whitechapel (London, UK), among others. Media Design and VFX projects include ‘Show Queen’, a collaboration with Jesse Factor, ‘Suite Life’ and ‘House Party’ (KST), and the documentary ‘Workhorse Queen’ by Angela Washko.  Scott is a Visiting Lecturer in Studio Arts at the University of Pittsburgh, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University, and co-curates TQ Live! (CMoA). www.scottnandrew.com/

Joshua Banbury (vocalist) is a classically trained jazz singer and opera librettist with Texas roots. At twenty-eight, his collaborations include solo performances with many of the most respected musical organizations in the country, including The Apollo Theatre, The Phillips Collection, The New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz at The Ballroom, National Sawdust, and The National Black Theatre. In 2022, Joshua also served as Librettist in Residence with the American Lyric Theatre, considered to be one of the country’s premier mentorship initiatives for promising operatic writers. His work has been commissioned and presented by The Kennedy Center, Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, and Fort Worth Opera. Joshua is a graduate of The New School and The Austin School for Performing and Visual Arts. 

Dwayne Dolphin (bass) is a Pittsburgh-born bassist, bandleader, and educator who has been an essential member of the jazz scene and a major artistic force for many years. He is a world-class acoustic and electric bassist, and in the late 1990s Dwayne began playing the electric piccolo bass. His piccolo band played strictly in an R&B funk setting for years, and now Off Minor features Dwayne playing his electric piccolo bass in a straight ahead, acoustic jazz setting. Something he’s never done before! Repertoire includes music from the jazz and American songbook catalog, and a few surprises.  

Colter Harper (guitar) is a guitarist and ethnomusicologist whose creative and scholarly work explores jazz, American nightlife, and the music of West Africa. Harper served as a Fulbright Scholar in the University of Ghana from 2018 to 2020 and has performed as a guitarist, including with the rock band Rusted Root. His forthcoming book Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood (University Press of Mississippi, 2024) delves into the intersections of jazz, entrepreneurialism, placemaking, labor organizing, and critical listening in Pittsburgh’s Hill District from 1920 to 1970. 

James Johnson III (drums) adapts comfortably to various genres, excelling in Jazz. He began his musical journey playing drums at five years old. His father, Dr. James Johnson Jr., a nationally known pianist and educator sparked his passion for music. Prior to his worldwide career, he attended Pittsburgh’s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), where he was mentored by jazz great Roger Humphries. This laid the foundation for a stellar career that has included performing as a regular member with legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. His musical adventures have led him to play in prestigious venues and with respected artists worldwide. 

kelsey jumper (vocalist, dancer) is a Brooklyn-born, rustbelt-reared performance artist. She’s joined celebrated PGH theater companies including The Public, Quantum, Pittsburgh CLO and Carnegie Mellon Drama in musical storytelling, as well as local bands Afro Yaqui Music Collective, Bindley Hardware Co. and Ames Harding & the Mirage. She’s been honored to perform at favorite local venues as well as internationally acclaimed stages including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Studio Museum of Harlem, MoMA and The Shed. Her duo with Treasure Treasure, The Cookie Table, is currently in residency at The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and is honored to return for another year of Suite Life.

Dr. Alton Merrell (musical director, piano) is a world-class pianist, Hammond B-3 organist, composer, author and educator. He has performed and taught throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and parts of the Caribbean. Merrell’s musical artistry is a unique blend of lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and fluid technique that spans multiple music genres including jazz, gospel, classical, pop, and rhythm and blues. Merrell’s musical interpretations take listeners on spirit-filled excursions that deeply touch the soul. Currently the Professor of Jazz Piano at West Virginia University, Merrell has taught students all over the world and continues to train musicians worldwide through his online school Minstrel School of Music. www.altonmerrell.com / www.minstrelschool.com 

Treasure Treasure (vocalist, dancer) (she/her) is a performing artist, comic, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. She recently starred as the title role in Hamlet with Quantum Theatre. Other appearances: Broadway, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, Atlantic Theater Company, PCLO, PICT, Hangar Theater, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Squonk Opera. Treasure’s original score for The Tempest made its premiere with Southwest Shakespeare Company and her debut EP, Hypnerotomachia, is available on all platforms. Instagram: @beingtreasure

Madeleine Steineck (lighting designer) has been working as a lighting designer and master electrician in western Pennsylvania since 2011. Companies she has designed for include: Mercyhurst University’s MIAC and Theatre Programs, MCG Jazz, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, off the WALL Productions, the New Hazlett’s CSA Program, Texture Contemporary Ballet, fireWALL dance theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, and various local schools. She also works as a stagehand for IATSE Local 3. Her design for PPTCO’s production of Miss Julie, Clarissa, and John was seen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. She has also toured with Philadelphia artist and choreographer, Raphael Xavier.

ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

Named after 20th century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is reflective of the passion that its namesakes had for the arts. Today, KST carries their legacy by fostering bold and innovative artistry with a global perspective. KST celebrates diversity in voice, thought, and expression, and upholds a firm commitment to inclusion. 

KST has a dynamic footprint in Pittsburgh, with two venues running along Penn Avenue. KST’s Alloy Studios is a cultural hub in the heart of Friendship, and the historic Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located in the thriving business district of East Liberty. More than 20 years after the founding of the theater, KST continues to use its broad reach to impact the contemporary arts and the community.

PC: Heidi Wiren Bartlett, Courtesy of the Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Welcome to Pumpkin Palooza, An East Liberty Halloween Adventure at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Saturday, October 28, 2023

EAST LIBERTY, PA, September 27, 2023 — Kelly Strayhorn Theater cordially invites all local community members to one of our most beloved annual family programs, Pumpkin Palooza! This year, we are thrilled to offer candy, crafts, and performances from our fantastic community partners. From 1:00pm – 4:00pm, The Alloy School, Assemble, Phase 4 Learning Center, Youth Enrichment Services, Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, and Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation offer family friendly activities in the KST lobby. From 2:00pm – 3:00pm, DS Kinsel hosts performances on the KST mainstage from K-Theatre Dance Complex, Alumni Theater Company, The Obama Marching Band, and Afro-American Music Institute’s Jazz Lab. Celebrate a fun, spooky, and costume-filled Halloween with KST on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Join us in your favorite costume, or come as you are!

We have celebrated Halloween with our East Liberty community for over a decade. Compared to previous iterations, “this year, we’ve renamed KST’s annual Halloween event from ‘Halloween Mayhem’ to ‘Pumpkin Palooza’ to make sure folks know it’s fun for the whole family,” said Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer.

On the date of the event, our cause-driven community partners come together to provide an array of Halloween-themed activities for children and caretakers of all ages. These include candy distribution, pumpkin decorating, face painting, and even a DIY station for trick-or-treat bags.

Everyone can immerse themselves in the Halloween spirit by participating in the costume contest. Come and capture memorable moments in front of an interactive green screen, and vote for your favorite costumes. There are plenty of boo-tiful opportunities for children to create, interact, and discover. 

During the performances, Afro-American Music Institute’s Jazz Lab introduces a rising six-piece student bands while Alumni Theater Company captivates the audience with a blend of dance and original writings. K-Theatre Dance Complex creates a Ghostbusters-themed dance for this special occasion, transforming the stage into a mysterious alleyway. We are delighted to have The Obama Marching Band conclude the day with boisterous celebratory energy. 

Our Development and Communications Director, Liz Rudnick, fondly recalled her memories from last year: “The lobby was full of tables with unique activities. The children moved in excited groups, hurrying from one table to another with high energy — Taking photos with friends and showing off their costumes, everyone had a great time!”

We can’t wait to see little spidermen, unicorns, and pumpkins gather in the theater for a spooktacular trick-or-treat!

Download the .pdf HERE.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Founded by Dr. James Johnson and Mrs. Pamela Johnso in 1982, the Afro-American Music Institute (AAMI) provides music programs of excellence under the guidance and tutelage of its committed, professional staff and board members. Under the supervision of Howie Alexander III, the ensemble provides performance opportunities for youth who have studied instruction in composition, improvisation, basic theory, chart reading and ear training. With a foundation of jazz, the Jazz Lab explores Gospel, R&B and Pop and the way in which jazz traditions contribute to modern musicality. afroamericanmusic.org

Alumni Theater Company (ATC) is a year-round program providing talented Black youth in grades 6-12 with high quality performing arts training and a platform to express their ideas. ATC is currently in its 15th season of creating bold theatrical work that gives fresh voice to the experience of young Black artists and highlights their rich contribution to our community. alumnitheatercompany.org 

DS Kinsel (Host) is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and cultural agitator who expresses his creativity through various mediums, including painting, printmaking, curating, and public art. D.S. is a former AmeriCorps Public Ally member and Awardee of the Pittsburgh Courier Fab 40. D.S. is also the co-founder of BOOM Concepts, a Pittsburgh-based creative hub dedicated to advancing black and brown artists. Since its establishment in 2014, BOOM Concepts has curated 50 on-site exhibitions, paid over $150k in artist fees, and produced 200+ events across the country. BOOM Concepts is recognized as a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure through The Heinz Endowments and The Ford Foundation. boomuniverse.co

K-Theatre Dance Complex (KTDC), is a dance academy that provides quality dance instruction in several major areas of dance, which include Ballet, Contemporary, Modern and Hip Hop. Led by Artistic Director Kontara Morphis, and Arts Education Director Rickia Davenport, KTDC curriculum incorporates dance theory, terminology and dance theater. KTDC has largely impacted the physical, academic, creative, and personal development of its students. facebook.com/ktheatredancecomplex 

The Obama Marching Band (OMB) was first established in 2011. The band is comprised of interested music students in grades 7 through 12. Student musicians represent the high-achievement and excellence modeled by our school Pittsburgh Obama Academy. In 2023, OMB represented the City of Pittsburgh as ambassadors in the 2023 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. We collaborated with Pittsburgh Allderdice HS, Pittsburgh Brashear HS, and Pittsburgh Obama Academy to form Pittsburgh’s “One Band One Sound” All-City Marching Band. The marching band performs at parades, pep rallies, football games, and other community-wide events. Visit our website to learn more: pghobamaband.com

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Youth Enrichment Services (YES), based in East Liberty, provides socially and economically at risk youth the opportunity to achieve success through participation in mentorship, education, and enrichment programs. Through mentoring partnerships, peer assisted tutoring programs, and — when needed — monitoring and mentoring programs for juvenile offenders, YES invests its talent, energy, time, and resources in empowering and enriching the lives of children and teens. YES provides responsive, innovative, and youth-designed programs that offer young people unique academic, enrichment, and employment experiences. Youthenrichmentservices.org 

Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation raises health with LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in and around Western Pennsylvania. Our team offers a variety of resources and supports including youth and family services, school based programming, Hugh’s Kitchen pantry program, civil legal aid, wellness programming and all ages special events, as well as training and consultation for organizations to improve their skills and capacity to serve LGBTQ+ clients and staff. Some of our most popular programs for youth and families include our youth AFFIRM series, parent mentoring & support groups, Big Sibs mentoring, student LGBTQ+ groups, online QChats and Discord server, social activities, and so much more. hughlane.org 

Assemble envisions a world where learning and creating are transformative experiences and where all people are equipped with the tools to make a difference, together. At Assemble, we use learning as a tool to create a more equitable future for youth and learners in the Pittsburgh region and beyond. We build confidence through making; connect learners, makers, technologists, and artists; and nurture agency in learners. We offer free afterschool, Saturday programs, camps, and more for kids as well as adult programs. Visit us at Assemble 4824 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. assemblepgh.org  

Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse is a non-profit that inspires creativity, conservation, and community engagement through reuse: We operate a non-traditional art supply shop located at the intersection of Wilkinsburg, Homewood, and Point Breeze, where people can donate used art and craft supplies, as well as shop for these unique items all in the same location. We also facilitate hands-on creative programming that educates the public about the benefits of reuse for the environment, community, and self. We see reuse as a vehicle for boosting self-confidence, learning new skills, and creating opportunity for all. For more information, visit our website at pccr.org.

Phase 4 Learning Center offers a safe and caring learning environment for historically underserved students in grades 6 – 12 to earn a high school diploma and gain work experience. Phase 4 focuses on four phases of development: academic, social, behavioral, and future employment. Although based in Pittsburgh, Phase 4 operates at six locations in Allegheny and Beaver County including The Best Buy Teen Tech Center (BBTTC) located at 5850 Centre Ave. The BBTTC is a member of The International Clubhouse Network and winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring. To learn more about Phase 4 visit their website at phase4learningcenter.org.

ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

Named after 20th century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is reflective of the passion that its namesakes had for the arts. Today, KST carries their legacy by fostering bold and innovative artistry with a global perspective. KST celebrates diversity in voice, thought, and expression, and upholds a firm commitment to inclusion. 

KST has a dynamic footprint in Pittsburgh, with two venues running along Penn Avenue. KST’s Alloy Studios is a cultural hub in the heart of Friendship, and the historic Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located in the thriving business district of East Liberty. More than 20 years after the founding of the theater, KST continues to use its broad reach to impact the contemporary arts and the community.

PC: Liz Rudnick

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Announces Suite Life, A Night of Music Celebrating Pittsburgh Legends Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly

EAST LIBERTY, PA (October 21, 2022) — Suite Life is Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s annual celebration of its two namesakes and Pittsburgh legends, jazz composer Billy Strayhorn and polymath performer Gene Kelly. The highly anticipated staple of KST’s Fall season, Suite Life offers KST patrons a night of illuminating performances during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the tradition, and Suite Life 2022 promises to live up to its name with concept by Con Alma’s John Shannon and a VIP reception hosted by Duolingo.

Suite Life 2022 will be under the stage direction of Monteze Freeland (Co-Artistic Director of City Theater) and musical direction of Akron-based Theron Brown. Lead vocalists Anita Levels and Billy Mason (Both Pittsburgh favorites) will have the audience swooning through an unmissable evening of sultry flare, as media design by artist Scott Andrew and lighting design by Jonathan Bucci Productions suffuse the East End tradition with sizzling atmosphere.

Director Monteze Freeland is a multidisciplinary artist from Baltimore, MD whose talents include acting, directing, writing, producing, and teaching. Monteze is the current Co- Artistic Director of City Theatre Company and was named City Paper’s Person of the Year for Theatre in 2021, in addition to being named the Performer of the Year in 2017 by the Post-Gazette. 

Musical Director and pianist Theron Brown currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he is the founder of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, which takes place in the city’s downtown historic district. A glimpse of gospel, jazz, and soul from the great legends is what inspires Theron’s sound. The artist is immensely involved in promoting the music scene and the arts, and takes pride in teaching musicians and volunteering his musical talent at community activities. 

This year, Duolingo will host the VIP Reception at their East End headquarters. Taking place in the hour and a half leading up to the Suite Life concert, the intimate affair will boast curated cocktails, elevated hors d’oeuvres, and an opportunity to mix and mingle with Pittsburgh’s foremost Jazz enthusiasts. 

KST presents Suite Life on Saturday, November 26 at 8:00pm at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave. VIP Reception at Duolingo, from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. More info at www.kellystrayhorn.org 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Theron Brown (musical director, piano) is a musician whose sound is inspired by glimpses of gospel, jazz, and soul from the great legends. But the reason he plays is to encourage and influence people through his talents. Originally from Zanesville, Ohio, Theron currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he is Professor of Practice at The University of Akron teaching jazz piano, and the program coordinator for Curated Storefront’s Artist Residency Program at the ‘I Promise School’. Theron also serves as an educator for the interactive piano learning app, Playground Sessions. Theron is heavily involved in the music community as the founder and artistic director of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, which takes place annually in Akron, Ohio’s downtown historic district. Theron performs and tours regularly with his trio that includes Zaire Darden on drums and Jordan McBride on bass. Theron received an amazing opportunity as he auditioned for and was cast as young Herbie Hancock in the 2016 film, Miles Ahead, directed by and starring Don Cheadle. In 2019, Theron released his debut album, No Concepts. Theron is currently working on his second album titled Spirit Fruit, which reflects on essential and fundamental characteristics that bring positive vibes to peoples lives. This was inspired by Galatians 5:22-23.

Monteze Freeland (director) is a multidisciplinary artist from Baltimore, MD whose talents include acting, directing, writing, producing, and teaching. Monteze is the current Co- Artistic Director of City Theatre Company and was named City Paper’s Person of the Year for Theatre in 2021, in addition to being named the Performer of the Year in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Select directing credits include: The Santaland Diaries, The Young Playwrights Festival ’17 & ’21, Claws Out: A Holiday Drag Musical, The Garbologists and Clyde’s (City Theatre); King Hedley II and Fences (Co-Director with Mark Clayton Southers), Savior Samuel, Miss Julie, Clarissa and John, Christmas Star, In The Heat of the Night and Poe’s Last Night (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company); I know Why The Caged Bird Sings (Prime Stage Theater); Hairspray, Shrek, The Addams Family, and Freaky Friday (CLO Summer Academy); readings of Trouble in Mind and The Coffin Maker (Pittsburgh Public Theater) and Flyin’ West (DEMASKUS). Many thanks to the incredible KST staff and creative team.

Scott Andrew (media design) is a multimedia queer-oriented video, installation,  and performance artist. He creates speculative fantasies that peer into otherworldly portals and voids. He has exhibited at MoMA (NYC), Ballroom Marfa (Marfa, TX), the Hammer Museum (LA), and the J. Paul Getty Museum (LA), among others. Scott is an educator, advising and teaching animation, video, concept, and performance courses as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University, a Visiting Lecturer in the Studio Arts program at the University of Pittsburgh, and with the CMU Pre-college program. Scott has taught at Youngstown State University, Seaton Hill University, The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, and has conducted workshops at the Andy Warhol Museum, Mattress Factory, and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Scott co-curates TQ Live! a yearly LGBTQ+ variety series that has been presented at the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Along with Angela Washko and Jesse Stiles, Scott organizes a National Endowment for the Arts funded performance series called Fail-Safe, which seeks to provide a supportive space for the presentation and potential failure of performative works-in-progress. Other previous curatorial projects include the drift and the Institute for New Feeling’s Felt Book.

Jonathan Robert Bucci (lighting design) is the founder and chief creative technologist of Jonathan Bucci Productions, LLC. Along with his team, Jonathan produces live, hybrid, streaming, and video production content with a theatrical flair. As an alum of Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts, Jonathan is especially at home working in music, dance, and theatre. In recognition of all of the mentorship he has received, Jonathan enjoys spending time paying it forward to young people entering the fields of lighting, audio, video, and management; especially to those who are walking non-traditional paths.

James Johnson III (drums) is described as a chameleon with a wide range of musical talents and began his musical journey playing drums at five years old. His father, Dr. James Johnson Jr., a nationally known pianist and educator sparked his passion for music. Soon Precursory to his worldwide career, he attended Pittsburgh’s high school for the creative and performing arts (CAPA) where he was under the tutelage of jazz great Roger Humphries and Greg Humphries. This laid the foundation for a stellar career that has included performing as a regular member with legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.  His musical adventures have led him to play prestigious venues around the world such as North America, Europe, Africa and Japan. As a part of his portfolio he has performed with  jazz masters Monty Alexander, George Coleman, James Moody, Geri Allen, Bob James, Kenny Garrett, Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, and Kenny Werner. James currently serves as a faculty member at University of  Pittsburgh School of Music, Chatham University and Afro American Music Institute—a Pittsburgh institution that preserves the heritage of African American music.  As a versatile percussionist, songwriter, composer and producer, James maintains a diverse freelance career.  Currently, he has two solo projects:  Between and Full Circle.

Anita Levels (vocalist) is a vocal artist, voice influencer, songwriter and producer who began singing at the age of 3 years old in Frankfurt, West Germany. Texas-born, being a preacher’s kid, and a member of a musical family from New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A, singing and performance are in her blood. Anita’s powerhouse, soulful, but lark-like vocals have graced national and international audiences. She has performed in London, England, has toured the country of Holland with world renowned ethnomusicologist, Dr. Portia Maultsby,  was featured in the NFL’s Super Bowl 50 commemorative commercial, has appeared in the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, and has performed in many, many other private, public and virtual events. Ms. Levels has a plethora of original music on all streaming music platforms and enjoys sharing the history and influence of Black American music on world and American culture. Anita Levels, MS, has a Masters Degree in Training and Development from Carlow University (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) and believes that instrumentation and the voice have the innate ability to vibrate truth, healing and thought.  Anita’s more recent venture is, Corn and Potatoes Are Good For You, a podcast exploring the soul’s journey through all things spiritual and sensual. She will always be the Mother of two magical daughters, put clorox in her water, powder her sheets, season her vittles, sing, laugh and cultivate spaces for communication and thought.

Billy Mason (vocalist), a multi-hyphenated artist, director and producer, and Pittsburgh Hometown favorite, is thrilled to make Pittsburgh his home once again. After spending nearly a decade traveling the country as front man and soloist to a 36 piece orchestra, Billy has returned to his Musical Theater roots and cabaret roots. Locally, you may have seen him in productions at Pittsburgh CLO, the Strand theater, Quantum Theater and a host of others, gracing the stages of the Byham theater, the Greer cabaret, the Benedum Center and many more. Splitting his time between Pittsburgh and NYC, Billy has changed the focus of his career from performing to producing and directing, creating opportunity and safe spaces for artists both in Pittsburgh and beyond. Billy is also the owner and operator of PennyJar Media, LLC, A digital arts and media company that will, after delays caused by the pandemic, debut in 2023. Peace and blessings.

Jordan McBride (bass) picked up the bass at age 12 and began to develop a sound influenced by the Philadelphia Jazz scene. There he joined a group of young jazz performers and began performing in and around Philadelphia. Jordan has studied with jazz greats such as bassist Andy McCloud, Mike Boon, Peter Dominquez and Gerald Cannon. As an artist, Jordan has performed with musicians across many genres. Jordan has shared the stage with the Sean Jones, Kenny Werner, The Theron Brown Trio, Dan Wilson, Jimmy Health, James Carter, Justin Faulkner, Jerome Jennings, Jamey Haddad, Paul Samuels, Jay Ashby, Chris Coles, Javon Jackson, The Admirables, Nathan Davis, and Tommy Lehman’s Squadtet. Jordan McBride holds an Artist Degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Jordan is a creative arranger and composer, as well, based in Akron, Ohio.

Kelsey Robinson (dancer) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn. She’s grateful to have worked with well-celebrated Pittsburgh theater companies including Quantum Theater, Bricolage Production Company, Carnegie Mellon University Drama and Pittsburgh CLO. She’s also played world-renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, MoMA, The Studio Museum of Harlem and The Shed. Kelsey was granted the opportunity to bring the words of MacArthur Fellow, Claudia Rankine, to life under their direction in the newly released White Card. Kelsey’s own project Talking with Ghosts About Freedom, which traverses the nation by bicycle in search of regional Black history, has been produced in residence with Kelly Strayhorn Theater and received the support of The Opportunity Fund, Advancing Black Arts, Cultural Trust and #notwhitecollective. Kelsey choreographed Point Park University Conservatory production Everybody at her alma mater where she studied Musical Theater. She’s a proud recipient of the SCALE Fellowship and was recently commissioned by The Carnegie Museum of Art to reinterpret songs for the opening of Working Thought. Kelsey has spent the last year touring North America with Squonk Opera and is thrilled to be home celebrating a new year’s Suite Life!

John Shannon (concept, guitar) is a guitarist and songwriter born in Pittsburgh, PA who grew up studying with local luminaries Dwayne Dolphin, Eric Kloss, and Mike Ross before attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. After college John moved to New York City, where he lived for over a decade, playing locally and touring the globe as a freelance guitarist for many prominent artists across many genres. John performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France, as well as internationally releasing three critically acclaimed albums of his own music under his name with French/NYC record label ObliqSound. After accepting an offer to run the music for a modern circus show in Australia for two years, John returned to Pittsburgh to tour relentlessly with his rock’n’roll band theSHIFT, whose song “Dreams” became a Number 1 hit in South America. While back in Pittsburgh and reconnecting to the jazz scene where he spent many formative years, John was part of the creation of Con Alma Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Born through the concept of giving the Pittsburgh jazz scene a new home, Con Alma celebrates its legacy in a space of great atmosphere, cuisine and cocktails. In the summer of 2021 Con Alma was named in Esquire Magazine’s “Best Bars in America of 2021” and is the only jazz bar to ever have been named on the prestigious list.

Treasure Treasure (dancer) is an artist and multi-instrumentalist working in music, comedy, film, and visual art. Theatre credits include Cabaret (Emcee, Hangar Theatre,) This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic Theater Company,) Agnus Teaches Acting (The Duplex,) Fiddler on the Roof (CLO). She made her Broadway debut in the revival of Annie Get Your Gun. She holds a BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Her debut EP, Hypnerotomachia, is available on all platforms. IG: @manifestingtreasure

Reggie Watkins (trombone) Pittsburgher, trombonist, pianist, arranger and composer has released three recordings as leader and has been featured on many others. From 1999 to 2006 he served as trombonist and musical director  for trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and with singer-songwriter Jason Mraz from 2008 to 2013. In 2003 Watkins was chosen as a semi-finalist in the “Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.” Watkins has performed and recorded with many great artists from various genres including  Aretha Franklin, Dave Matthews, Dianne Shuur, Warren Haynes, Beverley Knight, Jose Feliciano, Willie Nelson, The Backstreet Boys, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ariana Grande, Dumpstaphunk, Arturo Sandoval, Trombone Shorty, The Temptations and The O’Jays. Currently, in addition to leading the Reggie Watkins Trio, he is also a member of the Grammy nominated Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band, The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, Scott Bradley’s Postmodern Jukebox and a founding member of The Keystone Jazz Collective and Steeltown Horns. Reggie plays a Michael Rath trombone and David Monette mouthpieces.

KST Presents Visual Art Exhibition BOOM Capsule: Marking this Moment in Time

EAST LIBERTY, PA — Opening Saturday, September 17 at 6:00pm, KST Presents Marking this Moment in Time: BOOM Capsule, a visual art exhibition featuring work by J. Thomas Agnew, DS Kinsel, and J.L. Mallis. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Heinz Endowments created Marking this Moment: Pittsburgh Artists in 2020, an initiative to put money in the hands of artists and document their impressions of the rapidly changing reality facing us all. Through the initiative, BOOM Concepts supported the work of artists J. Thomas Agnew, D.S. Kinsel, and J.L. Mallis. These artists use agitprop, surveys, and mixtape as mediums to document and share images, music, sounds, and writing from artists in the Pittsburgh community. The works can be experienced in the Kelly Strayhorn Theater lobby through December 2022.

To better understand the effects of the pandemic on the music industry in Pittsburgh, J. Thomas Agnew and Jourdan Hicks created the survey A Moment In TIme: Musicians Working In Covid. The survey was administered and monitored by Agnew and Hicks to document what life thorough COVID looked like for artists and creative entrepreneurs. The work provided insight into artists’ awareness of funding opportunities, whether they had felt supported or overlooked by the arts and finance entities in the city, and how they felt the Pittsburgh creative and funding landscapes could better respond to the needs of the community going forward. 

DS Kinsel’s contribution to the exhibition, Sign O The Times: 2020 Protest Sign and Archive Reproduction identifies and reproduces protest signs from #blacklivesmatter protest and civil actions that happened across the country during 2020. The artist recreated a protest sign for each day of the year 2020. 

Marking This Moment In TIme: In Pursuit of Visual Engagement, An anthology organized by intermedia artist J.L. Mallis documents the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on local creatives. The artists and artist collectives reflected in the anthology have demonstrated new ways of utilizing visuals, video, and visual imagery to tell their stories. The anthology highlights the renewed focus on visual media within a larger audio-visual landscape, exacerbated by COVID-19, and how the pandemic affected our experiences of interaction, engagement, communication, and the intake of media. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

J. Thomas Agnew is a consultant based in Pittsburgh, PA. Agnew is Co-Founder of BOOM Concepts Gallery, a co-working and community arts space in Pittsburgh, and EIC of JENESIS Magazine, a media outlet focusing on youth culture lifestyle and young creative entrepreneurs. Through JENESIS Magazine and BOOM Concepts’ national networks, Agnew has produced numerous arts and culture events, in collaboration with high level partners such as the Carnegie Museum Of Art, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Thrival Festival, Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Project, and Love PGH Music and more. “My passion is to create forums of expression to represent and build up underrepresented voices in media, entrepreneurship, and art businesses.” Agnew is known for his track record of early start-up mentoring, design and marketing, operations management, and content creation/management targeted to young adult audiences.

DS Kinsel is a Black creative entrepreneur and arts administrator based in Pittsburgh, PA. He expresses his creativity through the mediums of painting, window display, installation, curating, action-painting, non-traditional performance and social media. While Kinsel’s primary practice is painting, he believes that experimenting in other disciplines will ultimately further his development as a painter. Kinsel’s work puts focus on themes of escapism, space keeping, urban tradition, pop culture, hip-hop, informalism and cultural appropriation.

J.L. Mallis is an intermedia artist and community leader based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are the Executive Director at Repair The World Pittsburgh, a Jewish social justice organization connecting communities in meaningful service-learning programs. In 2020, Mallis was honored with a 40 Under 40 award by Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP. Over the past 13 years in Pittsburgh, Mallis has been organizing creative endeavors and community programs. They perform live as a VJ and DJ and use digital media, paint, installation, performance, sound and audience interaction to create unique creative and enriching experiences. Their artistic production focuses on building community, audio-visual experiences and speaking truth. They utilize playfulness, maximalism, and imagined environments as critical elements in their work.

For full season details, KST COVID policy updates, and tickets, go to kelly-strayhorn.org.

Green Mountain Energy Presents: PennAve-BOO-looza, Saturday, October 16!

By: KST Staff

Green Mountain Energy Presents
PennAve-BOO-looza

Saturday, October 16
12:00pm – 6:00pm

Mathilda to Negley on Penn Ave
Green Mountain Energy Stage located at Winebiddle and Dearborn.

Celebrate small businesses on Penn Ave with a day of fall-tastic fun! See live art with performances by local youth, music, and dance artists, make crafts with Assemble, join the costume parade, play games and win prizes! Local businesses will be open with happenings as well! Stop by 5472 Penn Ave to see Glowing Glass with the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Hot Wheels! Hot Wheels is an outreach vehicle that allows furnace-fired fun and glassblowing demonstrations to travel far beyond the walls of our Penn Avenue building. Fun for all ages as artists make glass art right in front of you!

Schedule of Winebiddle Stage Events:
12:00pm: BOOM CONCEPTS Presents Music by Shade Cobain
1:00pm: Local Business Performances including Los Sabrosos
2:00pm: School Supply Giveaway with Games
2:30pm: Demonstration by KST’s The Alloy School
3:00pm – 6:00pm: BOOM CONCEPTS Presents Music from Local Youth organized by “From INEZ With Love LLC” featuring Mani Bahia, Anomaly The DJ and Cornell Collins

This event is sponsored by Boom Concepts, Green Mountain Energy, ZeroFossil Fuels, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, URA, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Explore BGL, Assemble, and Pittsburgh Glass Center.