Tickets & Events

House Party

KST Presents

A Benefit For Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Saturday, July 13, 2024

7:00pm – 9:00pm Immersive VIP Reception SOLD OUT
9:00pm – 12:00am Dance Party

Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
Pay What Moves You: $50 – $250

Get YOUR TICKETS HERE! 

access the digital program

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Step into a captivating world of immersive performance and dance at House Party. KST’s annual summer benefit promises a night of the delicious and the unexpected — from the neon-noir VIP Reception to the down and dirty Dance Party. This year, we transform our historic theater into a hazy cabaret with media design by Scott Andrew and VIP performances from choreographer Jesse Factor and musician Clara Kent. Artist Quaishawn Whitlock showcases his talent through a captivating printmaking demonstration, while tattoo artist Zhen Lee offers a fun experience with temporary tattoos. Get ready to feel that good-good energy only you can bring to Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Your good time supports our fall season of diverse arts events in East Liberty. So, as always…

BRING YOUR LOOKS!

Immersive VIP Reception Tickets: $150 – $250 SOLD OUT
Guests experience exclusive open bar access all night, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and live performances in an immersive environment before we roll up the rug and throw down the beats.

Dance Party Tickets: $50 – $100 
Top DJs, ROJO and DJ QRX raise the roof and turn up the heat to ignite a dance party in classic KST fashion. Dance Party tickets include one complimentary beverage from the cash bar with curated cocktails, wine, and beer.

HOST COMMITTEE
Demeatria & J.G. Boccella
Melanie Marie Boyer
Orlana Darkins Drewery
Stephanie Flom
Pam Golden
Justin Gunther
Gregg Kander & Anna E. Hollis Kander
Kendra Whitlock Ingram & Ben Ingram
County Executive Sara Innamorato
Anne & Vincent Lackner
Amanda Markovic
Cathy McCollom
Gwendolyn Moorer

Clarissa Morales & Brandon M. McGurer
Gerald Morosco
Nadyli Nuñez
Kris Rust
Jennifer Sciullo
Felicia Snead, MD

Megan & Adam Sukhia
Tammy Thompson
Chaton Turner
Elise Walton

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
Adam Golden, Chair
Alyssa P. Lyon, Vice Chair
Richard C. Smith, Secretary
Joseph Decker, Treasurer
R. Yvonne Campos
Martell Covington
Kyle Crawford
Caitlin Green
Melinda Maloney
Cardell Velez

VIEW THE 2023 PHOTO ALBUM

Thanks to our 2024 House party Sponsors:

Jesse Factor trained at the Martha Graham School and danced with Graham II, and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Jesse’s solo creative work, which playfully explores the Martha-verse and other legendary divas, is frequently presented in the context of dance, theater, and nightclub performances. Factor’s work-in-progress Show Queen was recognized as a 2023 National Dance Project finalist.  jessefactor.com/about 

 

Clara Kent is an Afro-Indigenous multidisciplinary artist, a community liaison from Homewood, Pa, and the host of More Bounce on WYEP. Whether the medium is music, canvas, or curation, Clara uplifts the creative community, especially Black artists and youth, through her actions in mentorship, her raw & vulnerable artistry, and her arts advocacy work. Clara was named Pittsburgh City Paper’s “Person of the Year” for Music in 2019 and has performed across many stages. www.wyep.org

 

Scott Andrew (he/him/they/them) b. 1982, Waynesburg, PA, is a multimedia queer-oriented video, installation, performance artist, media designer, educator, and curator. Media Design projects include ’Suite Life’ at KST, ‘Underland x Alice’ at the New Hazlett Theater, and ‘Show Queen’, a 2023 NDP finalist and ongoing collaboration with Dance Artist Jesse Factor that grew out of a Freshworks presentation of ‘I Am A Haunted House’ at KST Alloy Studios. scottnandrew.com

 

DJ QRX a.k.a. Austin Bey was born and raised in Homewood, PA. QRX Went to college at IUP, becoming their very own resident DJ. He loves the culture and art of DJing. He started DJing in 2012 and had his first gig in 2014. He has DJ’ed some very notable events, including the Three Rivers Art Festival, Picklesburgh, Slappers’N’Bangers, and IUP Homecoming where he opened for Lil Uzi Vert, DaBaby, Young M.A, Lil Yachty, Offset, and PnB Rock. @social_qrx on Instagram.

 

Born and raised in New Kensington, PA, ROJO was introduced to Pittsburgh nightlife as a teen. ROJO’s passion for music is deeply personal. HIs taste is rooted in soul, funk and disco and is inspired by his mother who regularly played cassette tapes around the house and reminisced about growing up in the disco era. ROJO believes in the healing power of music and views DJing as a means of performance, artistic expression and storytelling. During his DJ sets, you’ll experience a mixed bag of various genres including House, Techno, Club, Funk, R&B and more. ROJO

 

Zhen Lee is a tattooer, a performing artist, and illustrator. They have tattooed in Pittsburgh since 2017. They have performed in City of Play’s Greenfield Bridge Opening, Intimate Subjects, solo piece Emotional Landscapes, Glitterbox’s Pink Potatoes, and Big Storm’s Or Forever Hold your Peace.  Their comics can be found in anthologies Drawn To Home, Chutz Pow Vol. 4, Love and Monsters, and Overgrowth and Underbrush. Their tattoo work can be found @yangzhenlee on instagram. 

 

Quaishawn Whitlock is an artist, educator, and business owner in Pittsburgh, PA. Having held teaching positions at many Pittsburgh institutions including the Andy Warhol Museum and Artist Image Resource. Currently collaborating in partnership with Boom Concepts and ACH Clear Pathways – as owner and director of 1st Layer llc, a small business specializing in print and design. Quaishawn has directed many workshops and classes for elementary, middle, and high school youth – in addition to programming to engage adult and experienced learners. qultivate.org