Suite Life: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly
KST Presents
Saturday, November 28, 2026
6:00pm – 7:00pm VIP Soundcheck Reception & Awards
7:30pm – 9:00pm Concert
Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
VIP Reception & Concert: Pay What Moves You, $100 – $200
Concert Only: Pay What Moves You, $35 – $65
The beloved holiday tradition Suite Life returns with a VIP Soundcheck Reception and the inaugural Suite Life Paradigm Awards. With musical direction by notable Pittsburgh-based saxophonist Yoko Suzuki and direction by the incomparable Monteze Freeland, this year’s production features youth artists from Alumni Theater Company, who share fresh perspectives on the legacies of Strayhorn and Kelly. Joining Yoko is an all-star band featuring Carolyn Perteete (vocal), Cliff Barnes (organ), Mark Strickland (guitar), and James Johnson III (drums).
The concert uplifts Pittsburgh as a home for today’s remarkable young artists, and the city that once inspired two of its greatest cultural visionaries, Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly. Through dance, live music, singing, and original spoken word, Suite Life reimagines timeless favorites for today.
Image Credit: Mingsi Ma
The Suite Life VIP Soundcheck Reception debuts the inaugural Suite Life Paradigm Awards, celebrating two creative visionaries shaping the future of dance and music in the spirit of Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly.
Join the Host Committee
Champion Suite Life and the artists who bring it to life: Purchase two $200 VIP tickets and you’ll be welcomed as a member of the Suite Life Host Committee and receive special recognition and admission for two to the VIP Soundcheck Reception and Honors Ceremony.
- ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Now in its 19th season, Alumni Theater Company (ATC) creates bold, theatrical work that gives a fresh voice to the experience of young Black artists and highlights their rich contributions to our community. Through high-quality training, performance experience, mentorship, and workforce development, we empower our members to thrive in the arts and beyond. Our year-round programming spans education, performance, mentorship, and community engagement, centered around our three Ensembles: Young Artist (grades 6-9), Teen (grades 10-12), and Professional (post-high school).
Monteze Freeland (Director) is the Artistic Director of Alumni Theater Company and an award-winning actor, director, writer, producer, and arts educator. A Point Park University graduate and Arena Players alum, he has held artistic leadership roles at City Theatre, Quantum Theatre, and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. Recognized for his artistic excellence and advocacy, Monteze is dedicated to developing the next generation of artists through bold storytelling and transformative arts education.
Carolyn Perteete (Vocal) is a native of Pittsburgh where she completed her degree in music education at Duquesne University. Her one official teacher, Maureen Budway, introduced Carolyn to a wide range of improvised singing styles and encouraged her to pursue performance. Carolyn recorded on Sean Jones’ album, Kaleidoscope, released in August 2007. She toured nationally and internationally with Sean Jones in 2007. Carolyn can also be heard on Sean’s album The Search Within which was released in 2009. Her solo album, Insomnia, was released in 2011. Currently, Carolyn serves as an assistant principal at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy in Wilkinsburg.
Yoko Suzuki (Music Director) is a Pittsburgh-based jazz saxophonist, currently teaching at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research projects explore the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in jazz performance through the lenses of feminist theories. Through her research and performance projects, she aims to shed light on the musicians and their work that deserve wider recognition.