KST Blog

Welcome to the KST Blog!

The KST Blog serves as an alternative view of the KST programming, showcasing our artist talk series, press, and more!

  1. Honoring The Legacy of Black Cultural Spaces in East Liberty: New Exhibition Lifting Liberty by Njaimeh Njie

    Through looking at the past, Lifting Liberty imagines what the future of an arts-anchored East Liberty could be.

    Artwork by Njaimeh Njie

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is excited to welcome multimedia artist Njaimeh Njie and her latest visual art exhibition Lifting Liberty, displayed at KST’s lobby from Thursday, February 27 to Saturday, May 31. In the exhibition, Njie uses collages, photos, and text to meditate on the legacy of Black cultural spaces in East Liberty. The Opening Reception is on Thursday, February 27, from 6:00 – 8:00pm. 

    From Howe School of Dance to the Selma Burke Art Center to the Shadow Lounge, a constellation of creative places and people have shined bright for more than a century in East Liberty. Lifting Liberty highlights eight historical cultural spaces in the neighborhood. It pulls from archives and contemporary source material to amplify East Liberty as a hub of creativity, despite its history of cultural displacement. 

    Njaimeh Njie, Courtesy of the Artist

    “In my work, I tell stories about everyday life, particularly everyday black experiences through the lense of how the past shapes the present. That involves a lot of archival research, learning about the past through the people who have lived it”, said Njie. 

    Over the past 60 years, East Liberty, one of Pittsburgh’s most historically diverse and culturally vibrant neighborhoods, has undergone significant changes driven by the lasting effects of redlining, urban renewal, and the Great Recession. In the past 15 years, neighborhood redevelopment has fueled rising market forces, shifting culture and resident demographics, resulting in a 24% loss of Black residents between 2009 and 2018. Amid these developments, a commitment to safeguard Black centered spaces dedicated to arts and culture remains vital, honoring the neighborhood’s rich heritage and ensuring residents are celebrated. 

    Informed by the changes she has witnessed, the Pittsburgh-born and raised Njie uses her art as a celebration of the history of black cultural spaces in East Liberty: “I always want to center black communities’ sense of power and agency. I want to lift up this history of building community through making art. I want us to really think about and dream about how to continue that.”

    “We are in a pivotal moment of transformation across institutions, structures, and communities—an opportunity to reimagine our relationships with one another and our built environments, with culture leading the way. There is much to learn from the cultural spaces that have shaped and activated East Liberty over many storied years, placing creativity and community at their core,” said Joseph Hall, KST’s Co-Executive Director.

    The exhibition Lifting Liberty serves as a forerunner, building the excitement and setting the stage for KST’s upcoming Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership on Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18. KST is leading a groundbreaking national symposium that aims to reshape the future of accessible, equitable cultural spaces owned and anchored by BIPOC communities. During Lifting Liberty’s Opening Reception on February 27, there will be a special reveal, when the symposium’s detailed schedule and tickets become available. 

    Lifting Liberty is on view at KST’s lobby gallery. The gallery is open to the public during and one hour before every KST Presents event. Audience can arrive early and take a look.


    KST GALLERY | VISUAL ART
    Njaimeh Njie
    Lifting Liberty

    Thursday, February 27 – Saturday, May 31
    Opening Reception: Thursday, February 27, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
    Gallery Hours with Performance

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $20

    Click for more details…


    ABOUT THE ARTIST

    Njaimeh Njie is a multimedia artist working across photography, film, collage, installation, and public art. Her storytelling practice centers everyday people, narratives, and landscapes, with a focus on how the past shapes the present. Njie has exhibited at Carnegie Museum of Art and the Mattress Factory, and she has presented at spaces including TEDxPittsburghWomen and Harvard University. Njie earned her B.A. in Film and Media Studies in 2010 from Washington University in St. Louis.

  2. KST Reasserts Pittsburgh’s Commitment to the Legacy of Rev. Dr. King

    KST hosts a day of performances and activities on MLK Day, January 20.

    Artwork by Mingsi Ma

    On Monday, January 20, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) continues their 15th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King: An MLK Day Celebration Through Art & Advocacy and Let Freedom SingIn the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King presents an engaging Youth & Family program featuring performances by local artists and activities that connect participants to valuable community resources. Attendees will explore how Rev. Dr. King’s legacy of activism continues to resonate with today’s ongoing struggles for social justice. This event is part of Citizens Series: KST Presents Arts and Community Programs, sponsored by Citizens.

    In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King runs from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with local performances scheduled from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The day’s festivities culminate with the 18th annual Let Freedom Sing Concert at 7:30pm. In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King is hosted by KST’s board chair Alyssa P. Lyon, formerly the Director of the Black Environmental Collective.

    According to KST’s Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer, “Dr. King spoke of the interconnected struggles for justice, emphasizing the need to challenge inequality and champion dignity for all. This year’s celebration brings his words and other pioneers of justice to life through a program that explores pressing priorities like youth empowerment, reproductive justice, and the collective pursuit of peace.”

    This day of reflection, unity, and creative expression highlights performances from new local performance partners in addition to returning partner Hill Dance Academy Theatre. Student performers from Los Sabrosos Dance Company’s class “Breakin’ for Kids” will open the show. Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra, a creative performing ensemble composed of youth, young professional and established professional musicians, will perform three songs appointed for MLK Day.

    This year, In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King brings art and advocacy to the forefront through new and special collaborations. KST commissioned Bearing Life: A Dance Play on Black Women’s Reproductive Health from choreographer and teaching artist Rickia Davenport, featuring members of Alumni Theater Company’s professional ensemble.

    Inspired by Rickia’s first-hand experience facing Preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy, and child loss at birth, Bearing Life responds to the reproductive health challenges Black women face through dance.

    Research has shown that pregnancy-related mortality rates and morbility rate are higher for Black women compared to for White women. KST commissioned this work at this timing when historic, racial and socio-economic reasons force black women to have less access to prenatal care.

    KST is also excited to present a special pop-up gallery exhibition for MLK Day. Displayed in the lobby are the Oneness Dove, an interactive wooden art piece, and a special mural, both created in collaboration with the KSCI-ART Youth Initiative teens led by Kirsten Raglin-Smith. KSCI-ART Youth Initiative will facilitate event attendees decorating and adding their own circles to the Oneness Dove that will be on display in the KST Gallery until Sunday, February 16, 2025. Participants can also take home a 3D-printed circle to commemorate this inspiring tribute to Dr. King’s vision.

    Courtesy of Let Freedom Sing

    At the end of the day, the Let Freedom Sing Concert celebrates social justice through vocal and instrumental music, as well as spoken word. The concert features vocal solos by Anqwenique and choral selections by The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones. It concludes with a performance by the intergenerational MLK Festival Choir, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones and Nikki Porter, with a jazz trio accompanying the singers throughout the evening. KDKA-TV reporter Mikey Hood will serve as the celebrity emcee.


    In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King: An MLK Day Celebration Through Art & Advocacy

    Monday, January 20, 2025 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm Community Partner Activities | 2:00pm – 3:00pm Performance Program

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.

    Tickets for In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King are Pay What Moves You, $0 – $25 per attendee, and can be reserved here.


    Let Freedom Sing

    Monday, January 20, 2025 | 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


    IN THE SPIRIT OF REV. DR. KING – ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Astounded by socio-economic disparities in Pittsburgh, New York native and KST Board Chair Alyssa P. Lyon (Host) works to level the playing field. With degrees from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, she promotes sustainable solutions for Black communities. Formerly Director of the Black Environmental Collective, Alyssa has played a crucial role in initiatives such as the Wilkinsburg TRID study, the City of Pittsburgh’s Comprehensive Plan, and collaborations with the EPA. She is a key driver of efforts to address environmental injustice and racism.Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT), a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure will celebrate 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

    Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra aims to inspire and nurture the creative and intellectual curiosity of today’s youth through music. The orchestra is composed of instrumentalists, singers, emcees and rappers who work with a variety of music genres, including hip hop, rock, popular, classical, and jazz. This approach not only enriches modern music-making but also builds a stronger, younger, and more diverse audience for musicians. Visit gosound.org to learn more.

    Los Sabrosos Dance Company is a dance and fitness organization whose mission is to help individuals find freedom, passion, self-expression, and self-confidence through movement. They offer group and private dance classes in a variety of styles including Salsa, Bachata, Ballroom classes (Waltz, Jive, Rumba, etc), Yoga, Hip-Hop, Bellydance, Zumba, fitness classes, and many more. They also offer services for weddings, quinceañeras, sweet sixteens, bachelorette, and more. For information on upcoming classes and other services visit lspgh.com.

    A native of Pittsburgh’s Hill District and South Hills neighborhoods, Rickia Davenport attended Potomac State College in West Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Arts Education director with K-Theatre Dance Complex, is a lead Dance Instructor for Propel Charter Schools and is CEO and Owner of KaiFiTT. She has also cultivated dance partnerships with Voices against Violence, Gwen’s Girls, Dance Junction, Be Healthy Be Smart Fitness, and more! @rickia_lynn


    IN THE SPIRIT OF REV. DR. KING – ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

    The Kingsley Association is your hub for community connection and growth. We offer health and wellness programs, enriching after-school activities, youth and teen events, and family resources to uplift and inspire. Our newly modernized facilities serve as a vibrant space for gathering, learning, and empowerment. Together, we build meaningful relationships and create opportunities for everyone. Discover how you can engage with our mission to enhance lives at KingsleyAssociation.org.

    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.

    Youth Initiative, led by Kirsten Raglin-Smith, empowers adolescents in Pittsburgh’s East Side through arts, STEM, and life skills programming. Partnering with local organizations, they foster creativity, mentorship, and community-building activities like cooking, sports, and intentional conversations. At KST’s annual MLK Day celebration, Youth Initiative will facilitate the Oneness Dove project, a collaborative sculpture symbolizing unity and peace. Participants can also take home a 3D-printed circle to commemorate this inspiring tribute to Dr. King’s vision!

    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

    Landforce is committed to building a just world where everyone belongs, lives in a healthy environment, and surpasses their greatest dreams. By combining employment opportunities with environmental stewardship, Landforce recruits, trains, educates, employs, and supports adults who have faced structural barriers to stable employment. Their skilled crews transform greenspaces through creative work like garden installations, trail building, and reforestation, blending environmental restoration with artistry. Visit landforcepgh.org to learn more about their upcoming projects and opportunities.

    Assemble envisions a world where learning and creating are transformative experiences. We use learning to build a more equitable future for youth and learners in Pittsburgh and beyond. Through making, we build confidence, connect learners and creators, and nurture agency. We offer free programs for kids, camps, and adult programs. Visit us at 4824 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, assemblepgh.org, or @assemblepgh.

    Allegheny Reproductive Health Center has provided compassionate, patient-centered abortion care in Pittsburgh since 1975 and has expanded in recent years to offer gynecology and trans care. As a small but dedicated team, we are committed to supporting our community with personalized care and resources. Through educational outreach and collaborative events, we focus on advancing reproductive health and justice, ensuring accessible, informed choices for all individuals seeking comprehensive reproductive health services. alleghenyreproductive.com


    LET FREEDOM SING – ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Founder and Director of The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, Dr. Herbert Jones has cultivated a multifaceted career as a choral conductor, educator, scholar, operatic bass, liturgical dancer, orator, pastor.  He has taught middle school through university levels, performed across the United States and Europe.  Dr. Jones holds degrees in Music, Psychology, Education, Dance & Drama, culminating with a doctorate in Choral Conducting & Music Education, and with additional study in Ethnomusicology.

    A versatile vocalist and teaching artist specializing in opera, classical music, jazz, and soul, Anqwenique is heard all over the Pittsburgh region. She grew up in Pittsburgh, steeped in jazz as her father was a musician. A frequent teaching artist, Anqwenique is on the faculty of CLAZZ International Music Festival in Italy. She was named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40 in 2017 and serves as director of programs for Arts Education Collaborative. @sopranowing

    Internationally recognized singer, songwriter, teacher, choir director, and actress, Rev. Nicol “Nikki” Porter is Minister of Music at Eastminster  Presbyterian Church.  Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University where she studied with Maureen Budway and founded Duquesne’s Gospel Choir.  Rev. Porter performs as soloist, teacher and choir director with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Gospel Connection conference in Italy and was named Bynums Marketing & Communications’ 2024 Circle of Courage awardee. nikkiportermusic.com

    ​​Kenny Peagler is an award-winning, multi-genre pianist, composer, and musical director celebrated for his virtuosic technique and ability to weave intricate melodies and lush harmonies that evoke deep emotion. Originating from Pittsburgh, he received a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, where he honed his craft and caught the attention of industry insiders, leading to performances at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide. kennypeagler.com

    Pittsburgh native Mikey Hood joined KDKA in March 2019. Mikey has had a public presence in Pittsburgh for quite some time through her online show PghSpot, a platform she created to highlight the movers and shakers in the Burgh! Mikey grew up in the East End of Pittsburgh and graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Writing and Communications. @mikeyhoodkdka

     The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic ensemble founded by Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones. The Chorale specializes in the performance and preservation of African-American Sacred Choral Music, Sacred Choral Music, Spirituals, Anthems, and Gospel Music. The Chorale has a seven- member Board of Directors and includes, in its Mission, collaborations with other choral and instrumental ensembles, organizations and musical entities. thgcpgh.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 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.

  3. RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Announces Winter / Spring 2025 Season

    Activism can be the journey rather than the arrival.”
    ― Grace Lee Boggs

    Pittsburgh, PA – Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is thrilled to announce their Winter/Spring 2025 season, offering an exciting lineup of Youth & Family programs, visual arts exhibition, tribute concert, and Freshworks work-in-progress showcases. The season culminates in May, where KST hosts their special national symposium, Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership. Tickets are now available for purchase at kelly-strayhorn.org.

    This season, KST presents a range of impactful events that inspire, challenge, and uplift: from An MLK Day Celebration and Let Freedom Sing concert honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to Lifting Liberty, a visual arts exhibition by artist Njaimeh Njie that celebrates the creative spirit of East Liberty. KST is also thrilled to support two new Freshworks artists and their work-in-progress with residencies: Singer Zuly Inirio’s La Voz Que Soy and choreographer Anya Collins’ Fugue, which explore themes of identity, history, and the present moment. Additionally, the overwhelming community excitement surrounding WHITNEY: A Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton continues to be a highlight.

    In 2022, KST shared their strategic plan, Owning Our Future, Thriving Where We Live, with a bold vision for KST to become a national cultural destination—a creative home for bold voices, rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. Now, in 2025, KST is stronger than ever and ready to build upon this foundation. But KST can’t do it alone.

    In these uncertain political times, KST is called not only to reflect but to act. The theater has an opportunity to reimagine a future shaped by art in a world that is constantly shifting. Despite the volatility around us, one truth remains clear: through the arts, there is always a path forward.

    Looking ahead, KST invites everyone to join the Owning Our Future Symposium in May 2025, which will explore BIPOC institutional ownership and envision a new future for equitable, accessible cultural spaces owned and anchored by BIPOC communities. Together, KST will pave new avenues toward cultural justice.

    The future is ours to shape. With the support and participation of the community, KST will continue to build a space where art, creativity, and community thrive—where every voice matters and every story is honored. The work is just beginning, and the best is yet to come.


    YOUTH & FAMILY| DANCE | MUSIC
    In The Spirit of Rev. Dr. King
    An MLK Day Celebration

    Monday, January 20
    1:00pm – 4:00pm Community Partner Activities

    Kelly Strayhorn | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25

    Click for more details…


    MUSIC | COMMUNITY
    Let Freedom Sing Concert
    Celebrating Social Justice in Song

    Monday, January 20 
    7:30pm – 9:00pm

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $2 – $50

    Click for more details…


    KST GALLERY | VISUAL ART
    Njaimeh Njie
    Lifting Liberty

    Thursday, February 27 – Saturday, May 31
    Opening Reception: Thursday, February 27, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
    Gallery Hours with Performance

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $20

    Click for more details…


    SPECIAL EVENT | MUSIC
    Whitney
    A Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton

    Saturday, March 15
    5:30pm – 7:00pm: VIP Reception

    7:30pm – 9:00pm: Concert

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave
    Pay What Moves You: $35 – $65

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS | MUSIC
    Zuly Inirio
    La Voz que Soy

    Friday & Saturday, April 4* – 5* *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm 

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS | DANCE
    Anya Collins
    Fugue

    Friday & Saturday, May 2* – 3* | *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Click for more details…


    SPECIAL EVENT 
    Owning Our Future
    A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership

    Friday May 16 – Sunday, May 18
    All Day Programming: Discussions and Performances

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Tickets on sale in February 2025

    Click for more details…


    THEATER | COMMUNITY
    theatriQ
    Creative Sessions

    Wednesdays, January 8 – April 23
    5:30pm – 8:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    FREE

    Click for more details…


    THEATER | COMMUNITY
    theatriQ
    An Original Theater Production

    Friday – Sunday, April 25 – 27
    Times Vary

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $10 – $40

    Click for more details…


    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

  4. Kelly Strayhorn Theater tells the story of Pittsburgh; presents New York Premiere of Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey

    KST X NYC 2025 presents the New York premiere of Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey as part of Live Artery Festival January 10-13, 2025.

    Jesse Factor, Photo by Anita Buzzy Prentiss

    ​​PITTSBURGH, PA — As part of Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s (KST) ongoing Owning Our Future, Thriving Where We Live strategic direction, KST is thrilled to announce the third year of KST X NYC, a special initiative to share new works commissioned and developed in Pittsburgh by KST in collaboration with national partners. This year, KST is proud to present the New York premiere of Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey, co-presented with Live Artery | New York Live Arts in association with Martha Graham Dance Company Friday, January 10 – Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 9:30pm and Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11:00am.

    Dancing across gender, time, and bodily differences, The Marthaodyssey is a solo evening-length speculative fantasy through which dance artist Jesse Factor animates “the high priestess of modern dance” to the sonic landscape of “the queen of pop.” The work siphons the rich physicality of Martha Graham’s archive, reinterpreting and recontextualizing classic works as they are set to excerpts of Madonna’s 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour setlist with deep reverence and playful humor.

    This NYC premiere presentation coincides with GRAHAM 100, an initiative of Martha Graham Dance Company celebrating its hundredth year. Part dance concert, part pop concert, part drag show, The Marthodyssey’s aesthetic presentation moves Graham’s tradition of lights and tights into pop spectacle and genderfuck lip sync. Performances take place at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater at 10 West 64th Street and tickets are Pay What Moves You: $25 to $40. Tickets on sale soon!

    KST X NYC 2025 also highlights the work of three additional Pittsburgh-based artistic entities. Theater Artist Adil Mansoor, will be in conversation with The Flea Artistic Director Niegel Smith for the Under the Radar festival’s Coming Attractions at artXnyc on Saturday, January 11, 2025 from 12:00pm – 2:00pm. The pair will discuss Amm(i)gone, Mansoor’s recent work that employs Greek tragedy Antigone as a tool to locate love across faith in a Pakistani immigrant family. The work will see its New York premiere in April 2025 produced by PlayCo, Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, Kelly Strayhorn Theater and The Flea at The Flea.

    Non-binary dance duo slowdanger shares material from STORY BALLET as a part pf Pentale’s showcases at New York City Center Studios on Saturday, January 11 from 2:10pm – 2:30pm. Set to premiere at KST in Fall 2026, the surreal dance theater performance examines Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, re-contextualizing the tale into an exploration of mental health de-stigmatization and perception.

    PearlArts Movement & Sound shares an excerpt of the company’s newest creation, sum of y’all, with artistic collaborator Marvin Touré for Pentacle’s showcases at the Ailey Citygroup Theater, Sunday, January 12 from 2:45pm – 3:15pm. The new work invites audiences to reflect on the delicate impermanence of community. Tracing back to memories of historically Black spaces that have been erased over time, sum of y’all highlights the constant and inevitable state of expansion, change, and transformation. Premiering Spring 2026 at KST.

    “KST X NYC brings KST’s vision of ‘Owning Our Future. Thriving Where We Live.’ to a national stage, highlighting the importance of artists and culture in creating a lively community in Pittsburgh,” says KST’s Co-Executive Director Joseph Hall.

    KST’s Programming Director, Ben Pryor notes, “In January, The Association of Performing Arts Professionals conference hosts an unprecedented opportunity for national and international exposure and exchange. In bringing these works to New York City during APAP, we are telling KST’s story to our national and international colleagues and creating an opportunity for exposure that most Pittsburgh-based artists don’t get to experience.”

    The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater is ADA-accessible and Kelly Strayhorn Theater is happy to further address any accommodations that will enrich your visit. Please reach out to KST’s Box Office team at 412.363.3000 x213 or boxoffice@kelly-strayhorn.org to let the team know in advance. For more details, please visit kelly-strayhorn.org.


    Jesse Factor, The Marthaodyssey
    Co-Presented with Live Artery | New York Live Arts
    in association with Martha Graham Dance Company

    Friday – Sunday, January 10 – 12, 2025 | 9:30pm – 10:30pm
    Monday, January 13, 2025 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
    The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater | 10 West 64th Street, NYC 

    Tickets for The Marthaodyssey are Pay What Moves You, $25 – $40 per attendee, and go on sale soon!


    Adil Mansoor, Amm(i)gone in UTR’s Coming Attractions
    Produced by PlayCo, The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company,
    The Flea and Kelly Strayhorn Theater

    Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm
    artXnyc | 409 West 14th Street, NYC

    Admission for Coming Attractions is FREE | RSVP 


    slowdanger, STORY BALLET
    Showcase produced by Pentacle’s Tour Ready Lab*

    Saturday, January 11, 2:10pm – 2:30pm
    New York City Center, Studio 5 | 130 West 56th Street, 5th Floor, NYC

    Admission is reserved for performing arts professionals |  RSVP
    Members of the general public may be admitted if space allows

    *Showcases are part of the Dance Managers Collective.


    PearlArts Movement & Sound, sum of y’all
    Showcase produced by Pentacle Roster*

    Sunday, January 12, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
    Ailey Citigroup Theater | 405 West 55th Street, NYC

    Admission is reserved for performing arts professionals |  RSVP to sandyg@pentacle.org
    Members of the general public may be admitted if space allows


    ABOUT THE MARTHAODYSSEY

    This presentation of The Marthaodyssey is supported by the Ford Foundation and Heinz Endowments America’s Cultural Treasures initiative. The Marthaodyssey was created with support from National Center for Choreography Akron, The Space Upstairs, Point Park University, Martha Graham Center, Slippery Rock University, and Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Jesse Factor was a 2023 and 2024 NDP Finalist Grant Award recipient. Support was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project with funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation in support of The Marthaodyssey and to address continued sustainability needs.

    Jesse Factor, Concept and Performance
    Robert Ramirez, Director
    Andy Hasenpflug, Sound Editing and Remixes
    Scott Andrew, Projections, Lobby Installation
    Julianna Waechter, Jesse Factor, Tony Allgeier, Costumes
    Travis Klingler, Aurora Borealis, Wig Designs
    Tucker Topel, Set Designer
    Madeleine Steineck, Lighting Designer
    Anya and Mitsuko Clark-Verdery, Creative Consultants


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Jesse Factor trained at the Martha Graham School and danced with Graham II and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Born in Sharon, PA, Jesse grew up in Quito, Ecuador and Bangkok, Thailand before earning a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Factor’s work has been presented at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, OUTsider Festival (Austin), Milton Art Bank, RADfest (Kalamazoo),  St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery (NYC), Fresh Fruit Festival (NYC), Queer Spectra (Salt Lake City), and House of Yes (NYC). Factor holds an MFA from the University of Iowa and completed additional studies at the American Dance Festival and 92 St. Y’s Dance Education Lab (DEL). Jesse currently serves in the Modern Dance Unit at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. 

    Robert Ramirez (Director) works across the country as a director, actor, recorded voice artist, and vocal coach. His professional credits include the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, The Alley Theater in Houston, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Public Theater in New York City. Recently, he performed here in Pittsburgh with Quantum Theater in Scenes from an Execution. Robert is a member of the National Theater Conference, Actors Equity Association, and currently serves as the Head of the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University.

    Scott Andrew (Media Designer) b. 1982 in 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

    Andy Hasenpflug (Composer/Music Editor) started his career with the drum set, obtaining a master’s degree in classical percussion. Mr. Hasenpflug currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he freelances and works as the music director for the dance department of Slippery Rock University. In the summers, Andy is the musical director for the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC.

    Tony Allgeier (Costume Designer) uses his 14+ years of design expertise creating projects ranging from full service interior design, luxurious upholstery, and high caliber costuming. Allgeier is artist-in-residence at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and competed on HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen – reinforcing their brand of ‘Streamlined Androgyny’ and the notion that design has no gender.

    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, MCG Jazz, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, New Hazlett’s CSA Program, Texture Contemporary Ballet, STAYCEE PEARL dance project, fireWALL dance theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, and City Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival. She has also toured with Philadelphia artist Raphael Xavier.

    Tucker Topel (Scenic Designer) became a Pittsburgh-based scenic designer and theater maker after growing up in the southern Wisconsin area. He is an alum of Point Park University.  Tucker’s most recent local design credits include: Andy Warhol’s Tomato (Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre), Angels In America (ELSEWHERE Theatre Company), Three Penny Opera (Mercyhurst University), and The Height of the Storm (FUSION Theatre).

    Creative Consultants Anya Clarke-Verdery (Long Island University, BFA) and Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery (Carnegie Mellon University, BFA) are the co-founders and artistic directors of MICHIYAYA Dance—a femme-centric contemporary dance company based in NYC and Pittsburgh. The duo created MICHIYAYA to honor contemporary dance and to center the experiences of queer women and nonbinary folx. Their work has spread nationally at Yale University, Brooklyn Museum, and the Andy Warhol Museum and been featured in Art Forum, Thinx, Vice i-D, and Medium.

     

     

     


    ABOUT LIVE ARTERY | NEW YORK LIVE ARTS

    Live Artery Festival is a dynamic platform featuring new and recent works by Live Arts resident commissioned artists and curated guests. New York Live Arts, guided by the leadership of visionary artist Bill T. Jones, collaborates with boundary-pushing artists, advocates for their vision, and fortifies a creative future. Visit NewYorkLiveArts.org to learn more.

    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.

  5. Suite Life: KST’s Favorite Holiday Tradition Gets a Latin-Jazz Makeover


    Hugo Cruz, Photo by Jefferson Evans

    The November 30 Celebration of KST Namesakes Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn Features Musical Direction from Hugo Cruz.

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) invites audiences to experience a sizzling new take on the art of KST’s legendary namesakes at SUITE LIFE: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly. This year’s annual benefit on Saturday, November 30, will begin with an exclusive VIP Soundcheck at 5:30pm, followed by a 7:30pm concert offering Afro-Cuban riffs on Strayhorn’s beloved jazz classics. Suite Life will be directed by Pria Dahiya, with musical director Hugo Cruz leading an outstanding ensemble of musicians, including Degnis BofillChantal JosephMike TomaroJoe Sheehan, and Brian Stahurski.

    An annual high point of the long weekend in the East End, Suite Life is both a popular holiday tradition and an opportunity to invest in a pillar of Pittsburgh’s creative community. KST is excited to welcome Musical Director and percussionist Hugo Cruz in bringing Strayhorn’s jazz staples to life. Cruz is a Cuban-born composer and musician who has performed at venues including Havana’s Fábrica de Artes, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. His Cuban musical background influences his adaptation of Strayhorn’s music, highlighting rhythmic percussion and joy from Latin beats. Recently, Cruz performed at KST with the #notwhite Collective — a group of women artists who use art to reject colonialism — in their mixed media art exhibition Sister Soul Spectrum.

    “I have always been surrounded by music and those who love music — especially Cuban music,” says Cruz. “My background and identity as moro or indio in Cuba, meaning someone of African, European, and Taino descent, gives me a unique place in this topic — my ancestry is mixed, as are many Cubans. Culturally, I have been exposed to multiple genres and styles of music that influence my work.”

    Hugo Cruz will bring these influences to Suite Life with a talented roster of musicians. The lineup of performers will include Chantal JosephBrian Stahurski, pianist Joe Sheehan, vocalist and percussionist Degnis Bofill, and saxophonist Mike Tomar.

    Joining Hugo in leading Suite Life is returning director Pria Dahiya, a director, writer, and visual artist who was most recently part of Fall 2023’s Freshworks program, a creative incubator for Pittsburgh-based artists. Dahiya’s performance project, You and Me and the End of the World, offered an insightful take on youth and desire in the digital age.

    Audience members from Suite Life 2023, Photo by Chad Isaiah 

    Prior to the concert, attendees can gain exclusive, behind-the-scenes insights into the making of Suite Life at the VIP Soundcheck. The theme of the VIP event, a Flower is a Lovesome Thing, takes its name from a classic Strayhorn tune. From 5:30pm – 7:00pm KST welcomes VIP sponsor &flowers, who will lead a collaborative flower pressing activity in the lobby. Anyone who participates will take home their one-of-a-kind print, courtesy of &flowers and VIP gift sponsor BonBon Press, who designed and printed the edition on an original Heidelberg Windmill letterpress. VIP patrons will have the opportunity to mix and mingle over a signature seasonal cocktail and mocktail from TLC Libations and elevated hors d’oeuvres before a VIP-only performance from Hugo Cruz and his ensemble.

    In 2023, KST invited people through its doors on 348 days out of the year and created opportunities for 224 local and nationally recognized artists. At Suite Life, music lovers, business leaders, and community members can support this anchor arts organization, which continuously activates the Penn Ave corridor. According to Co-Executive Director Joseph HallSuite Life is fundamental to KST’s mission of elevating Black and queer artists in the Pittsburgh community.

    “When you support Kelly Strayhorn Theater, you are saying YES to this city,” says Hall. “Every gift and sponsorship we receive helps build a home for creatively experimental work that uplifts, entertains, and opens space for crucial community dialogue. Your generosity helps ensure that KST remains the soul of East Liberty, where artists and Pittsburghers of all backgrounds can thrive.”


    SUITE LIFE: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly

    Saturday, November 30, 2024 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm VIP Soundcheck | 7:30pm – 9:30pm Concert

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.

    Tickets for Suite Life are Pay What Moves You, $35 – $200 per attendee, and can be reserved here.


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Musical Director/Percussionist Hugo Cruz Machado is a Cuban-born, award winning, internationally renowned drummer and composer who has performed in South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela. Hugo is the leader of Caminos, who fuse rhythms and melodies of Afro-Cuban, Cuban, American jazz and funk styles. Caminos released their first original album Punto de Partida in 2022, and have made appearances at Fábrica de Artes in Havana, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, among others.

     

     


    Pria Dahiya is a director, visual artist, and writer exploring internet culture through literary adaptation, movement, and media design. With a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and humanity, Pria’s work transcends the boundaries of traditional art forms, seamlessly blending literary adaptation, movement, and media design.

     

     

     

     


    E. Lieu Wolhardt is a multi-cultural/multi-media/multi-disciplinary artist, as well as a lighting and projection designer. A child of globalization, their work addresses themes of violence, non-bodies, exilic spaces, self obsession, self repulsion, and the existential nature of being everything & nothing at all.

     

     

     

     


    Degnis Bofill is a Cuban percussionist, vocalist, and composer based in Havana. Degnis is well versed in an array of Latin percussion instruments and a connoisseur of Cuba’s unique rhythmic tradition. He has toured the world, performing alongside Arturo O’Farrill, Orlando Valle “Maraca”, Néstor Torres, Bobby Carcassés, Dave Weckl, Blondie, and Roberto Fonseca. Degnis directs his own ensemble, Golpes Libres (Free Hits), mixing Afro-Cuban traditional music and modern jazz, combining intricate textures, improvisation, and elaborate harmonic work.

     

     

     


    Chantal Joseph is a dynamic and versatile musician and educator based in Pittsburgh, PA. Originally from Cape Cod, Chantal has played at the Newport Jazz Festival and with renowned ensembles such as the Boston Pops and Cape Symphony. She continues to perform with New York-based Perry Rossi Orchestras. Since relocating to Pittsburgh, she has continued to captivate audiences and was even named Best R&B Performer by the Pittsburgh City Paper.

     

     

     


    Mike Tomaro is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, and jazz educator. He is the Jazz Studies Program Director at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Mike is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Vandoren Diamond Artist. He has many credits to his name on nationally-released CDs, including 5 of his own and over 200 published compositions and arrangements.  Mike is co-author of the textbook, Instrumental Jazz Arranging: A Comprehensive and Practical Guide.

     

     

     


    Brian Stahurski received his formal education at Duquesne University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance in 1989 while studying with Jeffrey Mangone, and a Master’s degree in Performance in 1992 while studying with Anthony Bianco. Since then he has performed with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, major Broadway touring productions, the Wheeling Symphony, WQED’s Live from Studio A on PBS television, and various Jazz, Blues, Salsa, Pop and Rock artists around Pittsburgh.

     

     

     


    Joe Sheehan is a composer, pianist, and educator immersed in three music environments: jazz, classical, and global folk traditions. His music and performances embrace a diversity of music traditions and perspectives, woven together to express ideas of tolerance, unity, and wisdom. He has performed with jazz masters, folk musicians, classical ensembles, and rappers; his music has been heard in Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, Uganda, and throughout the U.S. He teaches Musicianship at Duquesne University.

     

     

     


    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.

  6. Madonna Meets Modern Dance in Jesse Factor’s Queer Fantasia, November 8 – 9 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater

    Modernist Pop Spectacle Features Opening Night Performance by Queer DJ Collective Jellyfish, Plus a Community Dinner (Nov. 4) and Dance Class (Nov. 6).

    Jesse Factor, Photo by Anita Buzzy Prentiss

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is delighted to present dance artist Jesse Factor in a three-part program blending pop music and modern dance. Factor’s solo performance, The Marthaodyssey, running Friday & Saturday, November 8 – 9, will re-interpret musical icon Madonna and legendary choreographer Martha Graham through clever use of remix. KST will also revive a beloved tradition with an opening-night afterparty featuring local queer DJ collective Jellyfish. Prior to the performance, patrons are invited to engage with Factor’s creative history at the Citizens Community Dinner on Monday, November 4, and dance workshop, Yielding and Radiating, on Wednesday, November 6. 

    Part pop dance concert, part drag show, The Marthaodyssey harnesses the rebellious legacy of Graham and Madonna’s work, dancing beyond gender into a space of queer freedom. Contrasting a hyper-feminine mask and hair with an exposed masculine chest, bulge, and hairy legs, the work summons a third space that is neither “masculine” nor “feminine.” 

    Jesse Factor is a performer, educator, choreographer, and notable alumnus of KST’s Freshworks program. Factor trained at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the University of Iowa, and the Martha Graham School and danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company; his award-winning works have been presented at dance festivals across the country. His project with media designer Scott Andrew, I am A Haunted House, was the last in-person show at KST before the Covid-19 lockdown, making this a particularly apt setting for KST to revive the afterparty event (not seen since before the pandemic). 

    According to KST’s Artistic Director Joseph Hall, The Marthaodyssey is characteristic of the innovative works that the organization seeks to cultivate. Says Hall, “I am extraordinarily proud that we have established KST as a sacred space rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. Like so many of the artists we support through our Local & Global Performance Program, Jesse Factor’s work experiments joyfully with the gendered traditions of his art form, celebrating this community’s intrinsic beauty and brilliance. The Marthaodyssey envisions new possibilities, adding visual flair and critical nuance to the current dance landscape.” 

    Jesse Factor, Photo by Anita Buzzy Prentiss

    As an alumnus of both the Martha Graham School and the Martha Graham Dance Company, Jesse Factor was deeply inspired by the ways that Graham — like his idol, Madonna — unapologetically carved out space for innovations in her work. The Marthaodyssey was born of Factor’s attempts to reconcile the gendered roles that stifled him as part of the dance company with the genderless expressivity of Graham’s class (where everyone dances every part regardless of gender). 

    The 3-part program at KST offers a breadth of opportunities for audiences to join this conversation. At the free Citizens Community Dinner, patrons can hear from Factor about his practice and the cultural phenomenon of the diva. Those who are interested in a more embodied approach can explore contraction/release and shift of weight with Factor at the all-level dance class Yielding and Radiating, which is inspired by Martha Graham’s technique. The opening night afterparty will celebrate contemporary queer music and dance courtesy of Jellyfish, while the closing night post-performance discussion will foster a direct dialogue with the artist. 

    Jesse Factor, KST House Party 2024, Photo by Matt Huggins

    This performance marks a return home for Factor, who has performed with KST several times — most recently at KST’s summer benefit House Party, which offered audiences a sneak peek of The Marthaodyssey. KST has served as a fiscal sponsor during the development of the work, helping garner funding from the New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project, with funds from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. Additional support is provided by the National Performance Network’s (NPN) Artist Engagement Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron.


    The Marthaodyssey
    Friday & Saturday, November 8* – 9^, 2024  |  7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Kelly Strayhorn Theater  |  5941 Penn Ave.
    *Afterparty with Jellyfish
    ^Post-performance discussion

    Tickets for The Marthaodyssey are Pay What Moves You, $20 – $35 per attendee, and can be reserved here.

    Citizens Community Dinner
    Monday, November 4, 2024  |  6:00pm – 8:00pm
    KST’s Alloy Studios |  5530 Penn Ave.

    Tickets for the Citizens Community Dinner are Pay What Moves You, $0 – $25 per attendee, and can be reserved here.

    Yielding and Radiating
    Wednesday, November 6, 2024  |  10:00am – 11:30am
    KST’s Alloy Studios |  5530 Penn Ave.

    Tickets for Yielding and Radiating are Pay What Moves You, $10 – $25 per attendee, and can be reserved here.


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Jesse Factor trained at the Martha Graham School and danced with Graham II and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Born in Sharon, PA, Jesse grew up in Quito, Ecuador and Bangkok, Thailand before earning a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Factor’s work has been presented at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, OUTsider Festival (Austin), Milton Art Bank, RADfest (Kalamazoo),  St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery (NYC), Fresh Fruit Festival (NYC), Queer Spectra (Salt Lake City), and House of Yes (NYC). Factor holds an MFA from the University of Iowa and completed additional studies at the American Dance Festival and 92 St. Y’s Dance Education Lab (DEL). Jesse currently serves in the Modern Dance Unit at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. 

    Robert Ramirez (Director) works across the country as a director, actor, recorded voice artist, and vocal coach. His professional credits include the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, The Alley Theater in Houston, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Public Theater in New York City. Recently, he performed here in Pittsburgh with Quantum Theater in Scenes from an Execution. Robert is a member of the National Theater Conference, Actors Equity Association, and currently serves as the Head of the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University.

    Scott Andrew (Media Designer) b. 1982 in 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

    Andy Hasenpflug (Composer/Music Editor) started his career with the drum set, obtaining a master’s degree in classical percussion. Mr. Hasenpflug currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he freelances and works as the music director for the dance department of Slippery Rock University. In the summers, Andy is the musical director for the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC.

    Tony Allgeier (Costume Designer) uses his 14+ years of design expertise creating projects ranging from full service interior design, luxurious upholstery, and high caliber costuming. Allgeier is artist-in-residence at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and competed on HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen – reinforcing their brand of ‘Streamlined Androgyny’ and the notion that design has no gender.

    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, MCG Jazz, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, New Hazlett’s CSA Program, Texture Contemporary Ballet, STAYCEE PEARL dance project, fireWALL dance theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, and City Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival. She has also toured with Philadelphia artist Raphael Xavier.

    Tucker Topel (Scenic Designer) became a Pittsburgh-based scenic designer and theater maker after growing up in the southern Wisconsin area. He is an alum of Point Park University.  Tucker’s most recent local design credits include: Andy Warhol’s Tomato (Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre), Angels In America (ELSEWHERE Theatre Company), Three Penny Opera (Mercyhurst University), and The Height of the Storm (FUSION Theatre).

    Creative Consultants Anya Clarke-Verdery (Long Island University, BFA) and Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery (Carnegie Mellon University, BFA) are the co-founders and artistic directors of MICHIYAYA Dance—a femme-centric contemporary dance company based in NYC and Pittsburgh. The duo created MICHIYAYA to honor contemporary dance and to center the experiences of queer women and nonbinary folx. Their work has spread nationally at Yale University, Brooklyn Museum, and the Andy Warhol Museum and been featured in Art Forum, Thinx, Vice i-D, and Medium.


    ABOUT THE MARTHAODYSSEY

    KST’s presentation of The Marthaodyssey is supported by the National Performance Network’s (NPN) Artist Engagement Fund, with support from the Doris Duke Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support has been provided by the New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project with funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation; and The National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron.


    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.

  7. Pumpkin Palooza, East Liberty’s Favorite Halloween Adventure is Back on Saturday, October 26

    With community partners and family-friendly performances | Sponsored by Citizens

    Photo Credit: Randall Coleman, Artwork: Mingsi Ma

    BOO! As the crisp air of fall sets in, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is excited to host this year’s Pumpkin Palooza, An East Liberty Halloween Adventure, on Saturday, October 26. Families can enjoy candy, crafts, and eerie-fun activities with KST’s community partner organizations in the KST lobby from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. The spirited performances at 2:00pm are set to enchant kids and grown-ups alike.

    This year’s Pumpkin Palooza brings together both new and familiar faces, as KST proudly partners with Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Assemble, Youth Enrichment Services, Phase 4 Learning Center, Urban Impact, and Dreams of Hope to present a vibrant lineup of community activities. These collaborations reflect KST’s commitment to connecting families with essential services, from mental health support and education to financial literacy and LGBTQ+ resources. In the lobby, guests can enjoy pumpkin crafts, face painting, bracelet making, and exciting giveaways. Adding to the festivity is a specially curated Halloween music playlist that is sure to set the wicked vibe.

    Hosted by Jacquelin Walker, the youth performance program features K-Theatre Dance Complex, Alumni Theater Company, the Obama Marching Band, and Urban Impact Jazz Band. They will bring Halloween-inspired music, dance, and performances to the stage. According to KST’s Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer, “We have been working with most of these youth ensembles for years now, and it’s always a treat to welcome them back. The students never fail to deliver inspiring performances, and all the fun Halloween vibes they bring really create a vibrant experience. In return, we’re thrilled to offer these talented young performers a stage to shine.”

    On the day of the event, all audience members are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume or come as they are for a fun afternoon of tricks, treats, and groovy beats. At the end of the performance, all the kids in the audience seats will be invited to the stage for a “soul train” costume parade, showcasing their best whimsical Halloween outfits.

    Photo Credit: Sarah Gilmer

    Every year, KST decorates its historic lobby, dressing it up with fall colors. This time, besides sparkling fringe, straw bales, and spider webs, the lobby will be decorated with a special centerpiece, a vibrant community-painted pumpkin mural. The mural’s first brushstrokes were beautifully started by attendees of Larimer’s Back 2 School Summer Jam in August. It is now open to all to add the finishing touches at the Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party on Tuesday, October 8, at 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Whether you’re an experienced painter or simply love to create, everyone is welcome to leave their mark on this collective masterpiece along with KST staff and volunteers.

    “We love seeing little people walking up to the theater in their costumes. Darth Vader hanging out with Hulk? What could be better than that? For us, Pumpkin Palooza is a place where the whole community comes together, cheer in the theater, and get to know and support one another. We can’t wait to welcome everyone,” said Sarah fondly.


    Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure

    Saturday, October  26, 2024 | 

    1:00pm – 4:00pm: Activities with Community Partners | 

    2:00pm – 3:00pm: Youth Performance Program

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25

    Tickets for Pumpkin Palooza are available on a sliding scale, from $0 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.

    Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party

    Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25

    Tickets for Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party are available on a sliding scale, from $0 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.


    ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

    Jacquelin Walker (Host) is a lawyer, arts organizer, yoga instructor, and advocate for equity in arts and entertainment. She uses storytelling to transform American culture, creating agency for marginalized voices. Starting in television production, she moved to talent representation, then legal roles before founding Fete-Fete Ltd. in 2016, showcasing underrepresented artists. In 2020, she launched her law office, focusing on Arts and Entertainment, and promoting access to justice. Her yoga practice centers on anti-racism, joy, rest, and healing.

    Led by professional multi-instrumentalist Lorenze Jefferson, the Urban Impact Jazz Band is a part of the Christian missionary organization, Urban Impact. Based in the North Side of Pittsburgh, Urban Impact’s Performing Arts programs give children, middle school, and high school youth the opportunity to develop and share their talents by singing, dancing, acting, playing an instrument, and creating artwork in local venues. Visit uifpgh.org to learn more about other Urban Impact programs and events.

    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  

    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. pghobamaband.com.


    ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

    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.

    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 or @assemblepgh on social media. 

    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 @yes.pgh

    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

    Urban Impact was founded in 1995 by Pastor Ed and Tammy Glover after they felt a calling to reach youth on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Over the past 25 years, we have grown to a staff of 45+ missionaries who all reside on the North Side and run programs in Athletics, Education, Performing Arts, and Options. This past year, we reached 2,282 students and 750 people gave their lives to Christ during our programs or events. Visit uifpgh.org to learn more about other Urban Impact programs and events. 

    Dreams of Hope empowers the region’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, and allied (LGBTQA+) youth through the arts, creating a welcoming environment where they grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders. Serving primarily ages 13-26, we also offer intergenerational spaces for community members. Visit dreamsofhope.org to learn more about our upcoming programs and events, including theatriQ, our weekly performing arts youth ensemble that meets on Wednesdays from October to April.


    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.

  8. RELEASE: KST’s Freshworks Residency Program Invests in Pittsburgh’s Emerging Artists

    Barbershop Talk by Yusef Shelton (Ys1) and Heavy Is The Crown by Arnita Simone Honor Black History and Culture Through Music and Dance

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is thrilled to support performances in progress from local artists through the theater’s ten-week Freshworks residency program. In the program’s 11th year, KST will present two shows: Yusef Shelton (Ys1)’s Barbershop Talk on Friday & Saturday, October 4 – 5, at 7:30 pm, transports the audience into the heart of Black barbershop culture with music. On Friday & Saturday, November 1 – 2, at 7:30 pm, Arnita Simone’s Heavy Is The Crown honors the beauty of Black hair and the Black diaspora through dance. Immediately after each performance, the audience is encouraged to respond to the work and share feedback with the artists at a post-show discussion.

    Each season, KST incubates two Freshworks performances by artists based in the greater Pittsburgh region. The theater provides artists with planning support and guidance, studio space, production staff, lighting and sound design, an honorarium, and a resource budget. In weekly meetings, artists exchange ideas with KST’s Programming team and receive administrative and technical support across various departments. Facilitating a space for the first iteration of the artist’s project to develop as they collaborate with others is at the heart of the program.

    Ys1 and Simone learned about Freshworks through their past engagement with KST’s programs and felt drawn to apply. Ys1 previously participated in Fully Expressed: The Lyricist’s Journey (2022) as a Hip-hop artist. Simone has been a teaching artist for the Adult Jazz Heels class at KST’s Alloy Studios in partnership with PearlArts and has also collaborated with Fall 2023 Freshworks artist Andraya Rand-Mathis. Ys1 and Simone have grown creatively inside the KST community over the years and are now bringing their ideas and experiences to the next level.

    “After working with both Ys1 and Arnita Simone in various capacities over the past two years, as a next step in our relationship and their career trajectory, the residency allows for a more focused developmental period towards building a new production, which the artist can continue to incubate on their own or in collaboration with KST following the residency. The program helps lay out the steps towards a sustainable career,” said Ben Pryor, Programming Director at KST.

    The 2024-2025 Freshworks application cycle attracted a record number of applicants, marking the most interest KST has seen since the program’s inception in 2013. Recent Freshworks artists have explored themes like internet culture, self-care, and ancestral memory. This season, KST is pleased to present two new works by Ys1 and Arnita Simone that coincidently complement each other and reflect on aspects and histories of Black hair culture in different artistic forms.

    Yusef Shelton (Ys1), Photo by Tosin Adebayo

    Barbershops have long been centers of economic prosperity and societal transformation, serving as safe havens for Black folks and homes for the early hip-hop scene. Through original live music, spoken word, and dance, Barbershop Talk by Ys1 immerses the audience in Black barbershop culture, bringing to life the candid conversations and shared experiences that make these spaces transformative.

    Artist Arnita Simone in black top posing in front of camera

    Arnita Simone, Photo by Jenna Taddeo

    Heavy Is The Crown is a celebration of African American culture and the beauty of the Black diaspora. In this contemporary dance performance in progress, Arnita Simone explores the interconnected, sacred histories of Black hair traditions, honoring them while educating audiences about the fascinating origins and revolutionary applications of these styles.

    KST’s Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer facilitates the program: “Both performances honor Black culture, specifically relating to hair, and invite audiences to engage with some of the rich histories and communal practices that shape the Black experience. I’m excited for us to explore and celebrate the strength, identity, and vulnerability brought forth in these new works by artists from Pittsburgh.”

    KST remains committed to fostering creative experimentation and supporting emerging artists. We look forward to introducing Ys1 and Arnita Simone’s powerful new works to our community.


    Freshworks: Yusef Shelton (Ys1), Barbershop Talk

    Friday & Saturday, October  4 – 5, 2024 | 7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Tickets for Barbershop Talk are available on a sliding scale, from $15 to $30 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.

    Freshworks: Arnita Simone, Heavy Is The Crown

    Friday & Saturday, November  1 – 2, 2024 | 7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Tickets for Heavy Is The Crown are available on a sliding scale, from $15 to $30 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Yusef Shelton (Ys1) is a multidisciplinary artist known for his innovative blend of music, storytelling, and visual aesthetics. With a passion for exploring cultural narratives, Ys1 creates immersive experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. From humble beginnings, Ys1 has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Mellon University and the August Wilson Center. He recently launched his merchandise line, “Da First,” and his new album Ignite, which showcases his boundary-pushing resilience and commitment to purpose-driven art.

    Arnita Simone is a choreographer, and creative director from Pittsburgh. After earning a Psychology degree from Clarion University in 2019, she pursued the arts, holding positions such as teaching artist for Propel Schools, Manager of Residential Programs for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and dance instructor for various studios, including KST’s Alloy Studios. Inspired by the human psyche, history, and cultural influences, her mission is to express through movement and art the unspoken and often overlooked nuances of life. She aims to leave her audience with new insights and perspectives.


    ABOUT FRESHWORKS

    Freshworks is KST’s creative residency for artists and collaborators based in the greater Pittsburgh region. Freshworks made its debut in 2013 and supports playful exploration in performance through interdisciplinary work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia.

    The program provides artists with planning support and guidance, studio space, production staff, lighting and sound design, a stipend and resource budget, and encouragement for creative risk taking. Artists are invited to apply either as an individual or as a collaborative group.


    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.

  9. RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Announces Fall 2024 Season

    “When you become the image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.”
    ― RuPaul

    EAST LIBERTY, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) announces its Fall 2024 season that runs from September to December, featuring a full calendar of KST Presents Events that innovate, blend diverse influences, and advocate for freedom through individual expression.

    Fall 2024 marks the first season in which KST is led by two Co-Executive Directors, Joseph Hall and Melanie Paglia. They together critically expand the theater’s ability to thrive during a complicated period for the arts. Their progressive vision, operational expertise, and caring approach to leadership have been indispensable to KST’s success.

    “Through sustained and responsive low- to no-cost programming, KST facilitates one of a kind experiences, supporting emerging artists in launching their careers, empowering independent producers to realize ambitious projects, and celebrating the intrinsic and irreplaceable beauty and brilliance of our community. Above all, we have established a home, a sacred space rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. We are excited to continue our good works this season”, said KST’s Co-Executive Director Joseph Hall.

    The season starts with an opening reception on Thursday, September 19 for the visual art exhibition Sister Soul Spectrum by #notwhite collective. It showcases thirteen women artists of the global majority using powerful non-individualistic art to make their stories visible.

    The Local & Global Performance series will highlight The Marthaodyssey by choreographer Jesse Factor, creatively combines the dance influences of Martha Graham and Madonna. To add to the excitement, KST is reviving the pre-pandemic KST tradition of hosting parties after performances. We can’t wait to see our community gather in our space and call it home.

    KST is thrilled to support new performances in progress from two local Freshworks Artists in Residence. Yusef Shelton (Ys1)’s Babershop Talk on Friday & Saturday, October 4 – 5 transports the audience into the heart of Black barbershop culture and encourages holistic self-care. On Friday & Saturday, November 1 – 2, Arnita Smione’s Heavy Is The Crown honors the beauty of black hair and the Black diaspora.

    KST is also proud to celebrate fun and heartwarming holidays with the community through family favorites such as Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure on Saturday, October 26 and a Latin Jazz rendition of Suite Life on Saturday, November 30, which honors KST’s namesakes, Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn.

    For nearly 25 years, KST has envisioned and brought to life groundbreaking initiatives with Pittsburgh-based artists, youth, families, East End residents, and Black and queer communities. As KST Co-Executive Director Melanie Paglia describes, “Situated in the great neighborhood of East Liberty, our presence as an anchor institution has been instrumental in fostering cultural vibrancy and community cohesion. By harnessing the power of collective imagination, we have created this future in which we thrive”.

    KST believes the future is worth imagining. Now is the time for great imaginations to guide us toward new paths where we own our futures.


    KST GALLERY| VISUAL ART
    #notwhite collective
    Sister Soul Spectrum

    Thursday, September 19 –
    Sunday, December 15
    Opening Reception: Thursday, September 19, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

    Kelly Strayhorn | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $20

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS| MUSIC | THEATER
    Yusef Shelton
    Barbershop Talk

    Friday & Saturday, October 4* – 5*
    *with discussion

    7:30pm – 9:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Click for more details…


    YOUTH & FAMILY | DANCE | MUSIC
    Pumpkin Palooza
    An East Liberty Halloween Adventure

    Saturday, October 26
    1:00pm – 4:00pm: Activities with Community Partners
    2:00pm – 3:00pm: Youth Performance Program

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS| DANCE | THEATER
    Arnita Simone
    Heavy Is The Crown

    Friday & Saturday, November 1* – 2* *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm 

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $30

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | COMMUNITY
    Citizens Community Dinner
    with Jesse Factor

    Monday, November 4
    6:00pm – 8:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | WORKSHOP
    Yielding and Radiating
    with Jesse Factor
    Co-Presented with PearlArts

    Wednesday, November 6
    10:00am – 11:30am

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave
    Pay What Moves You: $10 – $25

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | DANCE
    Friday & Saturday, November 8* – 9^
    7:30pm – 9:00pm
    *Afterparty with Jellyfish
    ^Post-performance discussion

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You:  $20 – $35

    Click for more details…


    BENEFIT| MUSIC | PARTY
    Suite Life
    A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly

    Saturday, November 30, 2024
    5:30pm – 7:00pm: VIP Soundcheck
    7:30pm – 9:30pm: Concert

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $35 – $200

    Click for more details…


    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.

  10. 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