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. KST’s Freshworks Program Supports Local Performances in Progress Exploring Diaspora and Bodily Autonomy

    Caroline Yoo / Davine Byon and Anna King Skeels in April and May

    East Liberty, Pittsburgh, PA—Kelly Strayhorn Theater welcomes audiences to KST’s Alloy Studios for artists Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon’s new performance in progress, Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots on Friday and Saturday, April 5 – 6 at 7:30pm and Anna King Skeels’ unstitch on Friday and Saturday, May 3 – 4 at 7:30pm. Each performance includes a post-show discussion. The events are parts of KST’s Freshworks program, a creative residency offering an exciting glimpse into emerging artistic endeavors. 

    Freshworks first debuted at KST in 2013 and has been supporting innovative exploration in performance through interdisciplinary work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia. 

    Each season, we proudly present two projects from promising Pittsburgh-based artists and support them with two months of guidance, studio time, financial resources, and encouragement for creative risk-taking. The goal of the residency is for the artist to experiment and explore early iterations of ideas and share a draft of these concepts in front of an audience. 

    Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots is an experimental performance comprising movement, text, music, sound, smell, and media. Artists Yoo and Byon guide the audience through three distinct vignettes, exploring the intricacies of their cultural identities, communal memories, and perceptions of belonging.

    Yoo and Byon begin their exploration with an intimate conversation about their relationship with food, the Korean diaspora, and each other. They then lead an interactive satirical diversity exercise, prompting the audience to question the societal narratives imposed on their bodies. Finally, community collaborators join them in collective movement and music, “creating a home for ourselves within ourselves,” as Yoo comments. 

    For their May presentation, Freshworks artist Anna King Skeels focuses on healing the relationship between one’s mind and body. Their performance, unstitch, is a big-hearted and unadulterated tour through the organs of a soft and scarred body being torn apart at the seams. 

    This new performance in progress examines the effects of our relationships with others and the trauma we have endured on vital parts of our bodies from the point of view of a fat queer person. With movement and fiber arts at its center, unstitch is a gutsy theatrical exploration of a person’s inner workings. 

    KST’s Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer talks about how both groups of artists got selected for Freshworks, “as artists, they have presented compelling new works which are relevant to our society in meaningful ways”. 

    At the same time, Gilmer emphasizes Freshworks’ mission: “We want to encourage the creative exploration of Pittsburgh-based artists and support them through their journey. They are all at pivotal moments in their careers as artists and we’re grateful to provide space for them to bring their ideas to life.”

    A site of community building and resistance, KST is a home for artists and a welcoming space for historically resilient people. We look forward to having you join the performance and stay for the post-show discussion

    Artists interested in future Freshworks opportunities can apply for the 2024/2025 cycle beginning May 6, 2024. Preview the application now in the application guidelines and sign up for the Info Session on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.


    Freshworks: Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon, Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots

    Friday & Saturday, April 5 – 6, 2024
    7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

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

    Tickets for Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots are available on a sliding scale, from $10 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.

    Freshworks: Anna King Skeels, unstitch

    Friday & Saturday, May  3 – 4, 2024
    7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

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

    Tickets for unstitch are available on a sliding scale, from $10 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    Caroline Yoo is an interdisciplinary artist working in performance, social practice, intimate gatherings, and video installations. She uses translation to map forgotten histories – to reveal psychological shadows haunting the diaspora – and performs contemporary translations of rituals for the living. She is a co-founder and leader of JADED PGH, Hwa Records, and Han Diaspora Group, artist collectives focused on the Asian diaspora experience. Yoo has performed, exhibited, and produced at Carnegie Museum of Art; Institute of Contemporary Art, San Francisco; University of Michigan Ann Arbor; McDonough Museum of Art; University of Southern California; LA Art Show; Kelly Strayhorn Theater and more.

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    davine byon

    davine byon is an artist learning to fall in love with awkwardness, koreanness, mistranslations, and herself; this project is a checkpoint in that endeavor. her recent work in theatrical media design and performance art have been featured at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Rivers of Steel, Quantum Theatre, the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art, Pao Arts Center, Lenfest Center for the Arts, the New Hazlett Theater, City Theatre Company, and The Andy Warhol Museum; BFA Carnegie Mellon University.

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    Anna King Skeels (they/them/theirs) is a playwright, actor, and big nerd originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and currently living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a recent grad of Point Park University Theatre Arts. With an objective of using theatre as a tool for social justice, they create work with the intent to empower marginalized individuals. Skeels believes that community liberation and healing is possible through theatrical strategy. A psychological movement enthusiast, Skeels is always looking for a chance to make your theatre experience as queer as possible and take every opportunity they can to celebrate fat and trans bodies.

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    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.

  2. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Simply the Best: A Tina Turner Tribute Concert Vibrates with Explosive Energy

    A black & white photograph of Tina Turner onstage, wearing a black dress. She is holding her microphone stand and singing passionately, looking off toward the side. Instruments are barely visible in the background, and there is a vintage-looking golden confetti-esque treatment over the image.

    East Liberty, Pittsburgh, PA—Kelly Strayhorn Theater is proud to present Simply the Best: A Tina Turner Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.

    Invoking Tina Turner’s magnetic energy and earthshaking talent, Simply the Best explores the singer’s star-studded half-century career. As Rolling Stone wrote in 1969, Turner “comes on like a hurricane. She dances and twists and shakes and sings and the impact is instant and total.” With musical direction by Dwayne Fulton, a celebrated Pittsburgh-based musician, pianist, and composer, Simply the Best features a host of talented local performers: Chanell C.J. Harris, Julia Flowers, J.R. Jones, Michael Davis, Zuliakha Mason, Krystyn Kirkland, and Gary Davis.

    “We are grateful to collaborate once again with Dwayne, who helps bring these larger-than-life musical legacies to the stage in full, vibrant color,” says Joseph Hall, KST’s Executive Director. “Our purpose is to uplift historically resilient communities and extend the legacy of artistry that Pittsburgh represents, ensuring that Black and queer folks in our city have space to create, express, and celebrate together. This program embraces Tina Turner’s effusive energy and astounding life story, demonstrating the power and value of artistic expression, joy, and fearlessness.”

    Dwayne Fulton is onstage playing the piano with a bright smile. He is a bald Black man, wearing sunglasses and headphones, dressed in a light blue suit jacket patterned with big white flowers. He is lit by an overhead stage light in front of a pink backdrop

    Since 2020 KST has been collaborating with Dwayne Fulton on a recurring series of tribute concerts honoring musical genres and artistic legends. From Black & Solid Gold: the Hits of Magnificent Motown in Fall 2021 to When Doves Cry, the sold out and spectacular Prince tribute in February 2022, to last year’s R.E.S.P.E.C.T. An Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert, these one of a kind concerts have brought some of Pittsburgh’s greatest musicians to the KST stage to celebrate musical greats of our time. For 2024 Fulton and KST are delighted to honor Tina Turner with Simply the Best.

    To embody the earthshaking talents of Turner, Fulton cast Chanell C.J. Harris, an established singer and recently returned Pittsburgh native who performs the Con Alma jazz club with Tempo Noir. Harris, who has performed and produced music on stage and sets across the country, finds inspiration in Turner’s versatile genre influences and later-career success story.

    “There are a lot of parallels in her story and mine,” says Harris. “She didn’t get her first real hit record until she was 44 years old, and I’m 45 years old. This industry can age a lot of people out, because they always want the new, younger talent. But sometimes they pass over some really dynamic individuals. The story we’re telling is all about Tina’s energy, energy, energy. It’s going to be nonstop from the time we hit.”

    KST’s 2023–24 season, Brave Actions, Bold Voices, celebrates the artists, audiences, and communities who call KST home. Throughout the season, KST has hosted new offerings from Mutual Aid Residents Dreams of Hope and PearlArts, visual art exhibitions in the KST Gallery, Freshworks: New Performance in Process, and premieres of Local and Global Performances from longtime Pittsburgh favorites and returning faces. As a site of community building and resistance, KST defines itself as a home for artists and a space of care for historically resilient people.


    SIMPLY THE BEST: A TINA TURNER TRIBUTE CONCERT WITH DWAYNE FULTON

    Saturday, March 16, 2024|  7:30pm – 9:30pm

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater  |  5941 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206

    Tickets for Simply the Best: A Tina Turner Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton are Pay What Moves You, $25 – $65 per attendee, and can be reserved at kelly-strayhorn.org.


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    With over 30 years of experience as a pianist, music director, and composer, Dwayne Fulton fully understands the power of the arts and its influence on the earth. Dwayne is the founder and Chief Executive of Kingdom People Productions and The SouLyfe Cafe. Dwayne has had the honor of accompanying Grover Washington, Jr., Roger Humphries, Sean Jones, and Nathan Davis. He has also shared the stage with Keith Sweat, Guy, Fred Hammond, Bobby Jones, Kirk Franklin, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Michael Bublé. Prior collaborators include Pittsburgh Festival Opera, The Kuntu Repertoire Theatre, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, DeMaskus Productions, and the August Wilson Center.

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    Chanell C.J. Harris is a singer-songwriter, performer, and executive music licensing manager. Since recently returning to her native city of Pittsburgh, Chanell has curated and created original music for “The Writer’s Landscape”, a permanent exhibition at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. Chanell is a ASCAP FILM & TV Award winner for her original work on the BET hit show Real Husbands of Hollywood where she also served as Music Supervisor. Chanell performs regularly in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Con Alma with the band Tempo Noir. Having spent 10 years in the Music to Picture industry, Chanell is now focusing her talents on creating a music catalogue for underserved markets and emerging streaming and media platforms.

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    Julia Flowers, a native of Pittsburgh, PA., has been singing since the age of 11. Julia has been a faithful member of the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Praise Team for the past 15 years. She has sung with artists including Trini Massie and 4 The Caz of Christ, Travis Malloy, among others. Julia has also sung Background vocals for artists including Anita Wilson, Tod Galberth, Kelontae Gavin, Geoffrey Golden, Stevie Wonder, and Common. Julia is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management. And most importantly, Julia is the proud parent of the beautiful and precious Gia Rose.

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    J.R. Jones, a dedicated member of Mount Ararat Music Ministry since 1998, contributes his musical talents to local choirs and groups. Noteworthy achievements include drum accompaniment on live recordings like Patrick Polk & Worship’s, “An Awesome God” and Mount Ararat Music Ministry’s, “Called to Relationship”. In 2014, J.R. and his bandmates from The Brydge released their debut album, “Livin Lyfe: The Experience, Vol. I”, this year celebrating their 10th anniversary with new music and a concert. Grateful for the opportunity to share his gift through drumming, J.R. remains committed to enriching the world through his musicianship.

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    Michael Davis, a versatile guitarist, excels in lead and rhythm across diverse genres including classical, gospel, and musical productions. Formerly an instructor at the Afro-American Music Institute under Dr. James Johnson, he contributed to gospel recordings for artists like Anita Levels and groups like Kingdom People. His stage presence extends to gospel musicals like “Forgiven” and “From Chains To Gains”. Michael performed in Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Prince musical tribute concert, “When Doves Cry”, in 2022.  Currently, Michael’s musical journey continues with residencies at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and performances with groups like The Brydge and Spirit-Filled, showcasing his enduring passion for music.

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    Krystyn Kirkland, a Pittsburgh native, has been singing since childhood. Her passion for music began at Rogers Creative and Performing Arts middle school, nurtured by her musically talented parents. She’s collaborated with local and national artists, specializing in professional background singing while also adept as a lead vocalist. Married to producer Jerome O. Kirkland Jr., they co-own Vivid Music Group, striving for excellence in musicianship. As a mother of three, Krystyn balances her music career with nurturing her children, Christian, Sydney, and Nia.

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    Zuliakha Mason, originally from Philadelphia, who has been active in Pittsburgh’s music and theater scene since 2001. From church solos to backing up local and major recording artists, her heart is in every note she sings. When she is not on stage, she enjoys quality time with her family, mentoring, teaching adults, children and youth in her field of Early Childhood Education.

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    Gary Davis, also known as “Down Home”, has performed with many local and national artists. Davis is the bass player for Pittsburgh’s House of Soul band which has opened for high profile stars such as Aretha Franklin, the Commodores, the Dramatics, the SOS Band, Janet Jackson, Kool & the Gang, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Bobby Womack, 112, and the Whispers.

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    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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KST and Let’s Get Free Give Incarcerated Artists Their Moment with Abolitionist Expressions

    EAST LIBERTY, PA – On Thursday, February 29, the visual arts exhibition Abolitionist Expressions opens at Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST), featuring art made by people in prison as well as artists in solidarity from outside of prison.

    The exhibition will run from Thursday, February 29 to Saturday, June 8 at KST’s lobby gallery, with an opening reception on February 29 at 6:00pm. The gallery is open to the public during and one hour before every KST Presents event. Arrive early and take a look!

    The exhibition is curated by Let’s Get Free, a Pittsburgh-based organization that works to end perpetual punishment and build a pathway out of the prisons and back into our communities. It draws from their permanent collection and chronicles the current moment of abolitionists through drawing, paintings, prints, cross-stitch, banners, and poetry.

    The artworks explore personal stories that express political yearnings and aspirations for the future. Instead of punishment and governmental institutionalization, Let’s Get Free works to shift the culture to transformative justice, responding to violence without creating more violence.

    According to Let’s Get Free, “art as a tool for liberation has been a central element of our work since its inception. The art shows have steadily built advocacy for the release of deserving individuals from Pennsylvania state prisons and have created conversations and collaborations that invite meaningful reciprocity between the prison walls.”

    At KST, our mission is deeply rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. We celebrate diversity in voice, thought, and expression, and uphold a firm commitment to inclusion. KST provides a welcome space for dialogue and artistic expression for all who enter.

    In a society grappling with issues of justice and incarceration, Abolitionist Expressions at KST stands as a testament to the power of art in fostering conversations around transformative justice.

    For full details on Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s upcoming Winter/Spring 2024 programming, click HERE.

    Download the .pdf HERE. 


    ABOUT LET’S GET FREE

    Let’s Get Free: The Women & Trans Prisoner Defense Committee is a Pittsburgh-based organization working to end perpetual punishment, build a pathway out of the prisons back to our communities through commutation reform, support successful possibilities for people formerly and currently incarcerated, and shift to a culture of transformative justice.

    Let’s Get Free’s Creative Resistance committee works on the annual art show, public service announcements, social media graphics, films, Daughters magazines and newsletters and all things creative. Let’s Get Free has used art as an organizing tool since its inception, raising awareness about excessive sentencing while prioritizing the voices of women and trans people in prison.

    For more information on Let’s Get Free:

    letsgetfree.info

    Creative-resistance.org

    letsgetfreepa@gmail.com


    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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Presents: Justice in Action

    EAST LIBERTY, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) celebrates Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by gathering performers and community partners who honor his legacy of empowerment, education, and justice in action. On January 15, celebrations at Kelly Strayhorn Theater begin with Justice in Action from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. KST is grateful to partner with community organizations True T Pittsburgh, Repair the World, Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens (YBMKQ), Ksci-Art Initiative Partnership, City of Asylum, and Assemble, all of whom will offer family friendly activities in the KST lobby, and actively work to make Pittsburgh a more just and loving place to live and thrive. 

    From 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Justice in Action centers performances that recognize the civil rights legacy of Dr. King and Pittsburgh activists past and present. Hosted by Jacquea Mae, an international vocalist, actress and creative artist, performance will be presented by Hill Dance Academy Theatre, K-Theatre Dance Complex, Alumni Theater Company, and Jacquea Mae and Byron Nash. Tickets for Justice in Action are Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25.

    “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” —Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. 

    KST recognizes that MLK Day is not only a day for celebrating Dr. King, but a day for recognizing how he is a part of a larger collective movement towards Black liberation. From historical figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Audre Lorde to contemporary icons like Mari Copeny (Little Miss Flint) and Kylar W. Broadus, KST recognizes the “tireless exertions and passionate concern” of the very people who often have the most to lose in the fight for justice.

    In the evening at 7:00pm the 17th annual Let Freedom Sing concert celebrates the social justice legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with The Heritage Gospel Chorale and MLK Festival Choir. The event is an intergenerational and all-gender inclusive vocal workshop focused on vocal performance, social justice, and mental & physical health, led by Herbert Jones, Anqwenique Kinsel, and Nikki Porter. Tickets for Let Freedom Sing are Pay What Moves You: $2 – $50.

    Download the .pdf HERE. 

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


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS FOR JUSTICE IN ACTION

    Jacquea Mae is an international vocalist, actress & creative artist that has graced the mic at many venues, festivals, open mics & more, throughout the city of Pittsburgh, Switzerland, Ghana & beyond. Ms. Mae continues to rave reviews for her powerful and soulful performances. Jacquea’s talents, mixed with her passion for teaching and working with youth has blessed her to mentor, care and support youth throughout the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh for over fifteen years. Ms. Mae is a dedicated community activist, determined to create what she doesn’t see. Jacquea continues teaching youth, advocating for the people & asserting her creativity with a voice and spirit that soars! @fearlessmae1023_

    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 @alumnitheatercompany

    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 

    Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT), a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in the Historic Hill District of Pittsburgh, PA., 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 ages 3 – 18 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. 5678hdat.org

    ABOUT THE ARTISTS FOR LET FREEDOM SING

    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. 

    Director of The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh since its founding, Dr. Herbert Jones is one of the nation’s foremost figures in choral conducting and pedagogy.  Dr. Jones has cultivated 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 and has received many accolades for his work and achievements.  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 Wingfield Kinsel is heard all over the region, from Andy’s at the Fairmount downtown, to the New Hazlett Theater, to residency performances at the Westmoreland County Museum of American Art. 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.

    Singer, songwriter, teacher, choir director, actress and recording artist, Rev. Nicol “Nikki” Porter is Minister of Music at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where she founded an after-school music program, The Judah Project, in 2005.  She sings and teaches in the US and Europe.  Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Duquesne University where she also studied piano and voice (with Maureen Budway) and founded Duquesne’s Gospel Choir.  An activist, Rev. Porter has worked with various local and national groups. In 2019, Pittsburgh’s YWCA awarded Rev. Porter with their Racial  Justice Awards Common Ground Award for her work in racial reconciliation. 


    ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

    Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens (YBMKQ) is a community-based organization made up of dedicated young people in Pittsburgh. In the face of constant discouragement and scrutiny, a group of young men and women have chosen to stand apart and show the community that young black kings and queens are active, motivated, and empowered to be the change. Our primary mission is engaging middle and high-school-aged youth in becoming the leaders of tomorrow while serving the community. In addition to providing enriching opportunities for youth, we plan events for community members to come and build strong connections with the youth, and network. ybmkq.org @ybmkq.412

    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. Join us at KST for a day of craft, community, and celebration this MLK Day with True T’s Unique Jewelry Workshop! truetpgh.com @truetpgh

    Repair the World mobilizes Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. Repair the World Pittsburgh has been connecting neighbors to show up for non-profit partners in Pittsburgh since 2013, strengthening communities and building connections across lines of difference: rpr.world/volunteerpgh   

    Ksci-Art Initiative Partnership with East Liberty Ministry Hub is an after school program dedicated to intentional time with teens in a variety of areas, including STEM, art, cooking, mentoring, sports, games, life skills and intentional conversation.

    City of Asylum builds a just community by protecting and celebrating freedom of creative expression. We provide sanctuary to endangered writers and artists, so that they can continue to create and their voices are not silenced. We offer a broad range of free literary, arts, and humanities programs in a community setting to build social equity through cultural exchange. And by transforming dilapidated properties into homes for our programs, we anchor neighborhood economic development. Learn more at cityofasylum.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.


    ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

    Named after 20th century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is reflective of the passion that its founders had for the arts. Today,  Kelly Strayhorn Theater carries on the legacy of its founders by fostering bold and innovative artistry with a global perspective. KST celebrates diversity in voice, thought, and expression, and upholds a firm commitment to inclusion. Furthermore, KST provides a safe and welcome space for dialogue and artistic expression for all who enter.

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

  5. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Announces Winter/Spring 2024 Season

    Give me a lifetime of promises / and a world of dreams /Speak a language of love / like you know what it means

    – Tina Turner

    EAST LIBERTY, PA— The Winter/Spring 2024 KST Presents season promises to bring you simply the best! From a Tina Turner tribute concert to Abolitionist Expressions, a visual art exhibition showcasing incarcerated artists, KST continues to celebrate the Brave Actions and Bold Voices in our community. 

    The season features exciting offerings from Mutual Aid Residents Dreams of Hope and PearlArts, a visual art exhibition in the KST Gallery, two Freshworks performances-in-progress, and two week-long series of Local and Global Performances from new and returning faces. 

    We begin the year with Youth & Family Programming. Justice in Action: A Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gathers performances and family activities centering social justice on MLK Day, followed by the Let Freedom Sing concert in the evening. Later in February, The Alloy School returns with new recreational classes for all ages.

    Our partnerships with Mutual Aid Residents PearlArts and Dreams of Hope continue throughout the Winter/Spring. We encourage you to partake in PearlArts’ Adult Ballet and Adult Jazz/Heels classes, as well as Dreams of Hope’s theatriQ Creative Sessions tailored to nurture the creativity of Queer and Trans youth. 

    Drawn from the Let’s Get Free permanent collection made by people in prison as well as artists in solidarity from outside of prison, art exhibition Abolitionist Expressions at our gallery space explores personal stories that express political yearnings and aspirations for the future.  

    In March, we have Simply the Best, A Tina Turner Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton, a highly anticipated concert that brings the explosive energy and unforgettable classics of the legendary artist. We welcome you to wear comfortable shoes for this one you’ll be spending little time in your seat!

    Our Winter/Spring Freshworks Residencies support new performance in process from three local artists. First, Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon present Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots, an experiment in storytelling that spans from the past, present to future. They move through three vignettes, using projections, sculpture, music, and the exchange of dreams, to piece together a precious home in the diaspora. 

    Then, Anna King Skeels brings unstitch, taking us on a journey through the experiences of a fat queer person. This new performance examines our relationship to our bodies through movement and fiber arts. 

    The Local & Global Performance series welcomes two weeks of programming from multi-disciplinary artists Edisa Weeks and Mita Ghosal. After a movement workshop, welcome dinner & artist talk, Edisa’s April engagement culminates in the Pittsburgh premiere of 3 RITES: Liberty. Edisa alternates between blackface, whiteface, storytelling, and visceral dance to dig into the pathologizing of African Americans and the foundations of Liberty in America.

    Mita Ghosal’s weeklong May programming brings Lost on a Loom to KST’s Alloy Studios, examining lost South Asian histories through Indian textiles and movement. Weaving together a Bengali protagonist with the stories of fabric from Bengal, the dance piece draws parallels to the movement of material, the movement(s) of people and economic and social disparities that continue to remain in modern history.

    We can’t wait to journey through the winter into the spring with you, feeling warm, inspired, and part of a brave, bold community

    Download the .pdf HERE.


    YOUTH & FAMILY | MUSIC | DANCE | THEATER
    Justice in Action
    A Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    Monday, January 15
    12:00pm – 3:00pm

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

    Click for more details…


    YOUTH & FAMILY | MUSIC | COMMUNITY
    Let Freedom Sing
    Celebrating Social Justice in Song

    Monday, January 15
    7:00pm

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

    Click for more details…


    YOUTH & FAMILY | THEATER | DANCE | VISUAL ART
    The Alloy School
    Ten-Week Session

    Saturdays, February 3 – April 6
    Times Vary

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $10 – $220

    Click for more details…


    KST GALLERY | VISUAL ART
    Abolitionist Expressions
    Let’s Get Free Permanent Collection

    Thursday, February 29 – Saturday, June 8
    Opening Reception: Thursday, February 29 at 6:00pm

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

    Click for more details…


    SPECIAL EVENTS | MUSIC
    Simply the Best
    A Tina Turner Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton

    Saturday, March 16
    7:30pm – 9:30pm

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $25 – $65

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS | THEATER | DANCE
    Caroline Yoo & Davine Byon
    Prophesies & Soy Sauce Shots

    Friday & Saturday, April 5* – 6* 
    *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

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

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | COMMUNITY 
    Welcome Dinner & Artist Talk 
    with Edisa Weeks

    Monday, April 22
    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
    Precision & Abandonment
    With Edisa Weeks
    Co-Presented with PearlArts

    Wednesday, April 24
    9:00am – 10:15am 

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

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | THEATER | DANCE
    DELIRIOUS Dances / Edisa Weeks
    3 RITES: Liberty

    Friday & Saturday, April 26* – 27*
    *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $15 – $35

    Click for more details…


    FRESHWORKS | THEATER | DANCE
    Anna King Skeels
    unstitch

    Friday & Saturday, May 3* – 4*
    *with discussion
    7:30pm-9:00pm (including discussion)

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

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | COMMUNITY
    Welcome Dinner & Artist Talk
    with Mita Ghosal

    Monday, May 13
    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
    Material of a Story
    with Mita Ghosal
    Co-Presented with PearlArts

    Wednesday, May 15
    9:00am – 10:15am

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

    Click for more details…


    LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | DANCE 
    Mita Ghosal
    Lost on a Loom

    Friday & Saturday, May 17* – 18 
    *with discussion
    7:30pm – 9:00pm (including discussion)

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $35 – $200

    Click for more details…


    MUTUAL AID RESIDENCY | THEATER | COMMUNITY
    theatriQ
    Creative Sessions
    Co-Presented with Dreams of Hope

    Wednesdays, January 17 – May 1
    5:30pm – 8:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    FREE

    Click for more details…


    MUTUAL AID RESIDENCY | THEATER | COMMUNITY
    theatriQ
    Mainstage Production
    Co-Presented with Dreams of Hope

    Saturday & Sunday, May 10 – 12
    Times Vary 

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

    Click for more details…


    MUTUAL AID RESIDENCY | DANCE
    Adult Ballet Club
    with Andrew Blight
    Co-Presented with PearlArts

    Tuesdays, January 9 – June 4
    6:00pm – 7:00pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $10 – $190

    Click for more details…


    MUTUAL AID RESIDENCY | DANCE
    Adult Jazz/Heels Club
    with Arnita Thompson
    Co-Presented with PearlArts

    Tuesdays, January 9 – June 4
    7:30pm – 8:30pm

    KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
    Pay What Moves You: $10 – $190

    Click for more details…

  6. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KST brings Slowdanger, STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos to NYC this January

    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 second 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 announce the New York City premieres of two new dance works from Pittsburgh-based artists, slowdanger’s SUPERCELL and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos’s (SPdp&SS) CIRCLES: going in from Thursday, January 11 to Sunday, January 14, 2024 in New York City. 

    slowdanger’s SUPERCELL, an ​​evening-length multidisciplinary quintet responding to the climate crisis and media sensationalism, is presented on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 6:00 pm and Friday, January 12, 2024, at 2:00pm. STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos’s CIRCLES: going in is presented on Saturday and Sunday, January 13-14, 2024 at 6:00pm. All performances take place at The Flea Theater at 20 Thomas St, NYC. Tickets are Pay What Moves You: $20 to $35. You can access tickets for SUPERCELL and CIRCLES: going in beginning Monday, December 11. 

    KST X NYC was first launched in January 2023 as a special presentation of Pittsburgh-based theater artist Adil Mansoor’s solo lecture performance, Amm(i)gone, at the Performance Project at University Settlement, to open the pathways for Pittsburgh-based talents to thrive through national touring. 

    “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 Executive Director Joseph Hall.

    Co-commissioned by KST, The Theater Offensive (Boston, MA) and the National Performance Network Creation and Development Fund (NPN), Mansoor’s performances launched a US Tour with upcoming presentations at a growing list of institutions including Woolly Mammoth Theater (Washington, DC), and Long Wharf Theater (New Haven, CT). KST hopes to extend the life of slowdanger’s SUPERCELL and SPdp&SS’s CIRCLES: going in, through these special NYC premiere performances.

    KST’s Programming Director, Ben Pryor notes, “In January, The Arts Presenters 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.”

    slowdanger’s SUPERCELL draws inspiration from the awe-inspiring yet ominous supercells—large storms with deep, persistent updrafts often leading to tornadoes. The terrifying supercells are harbingers of substantial damage. This natural effect is also similar to sensationalist media, instantly amplifying catastrophic events for insatiable public consumption. SUPERCELL therefore is informed by the natural effect, finding parallels and addressing environmental collapse and sensationalism in media. 

    According to anna thompson and taylor knight of slowdanger, “KST has been a beacon of support for slowdanger since our inception and has become a cherished home and community for us in Pittsburgh. Their support as development partners for SUPERCELL and conviction towards placing Pittsburgh artists on the national stage has been pivotal in our growth.

    CIRCLES: going in, was co-commissioned by KST in collaboration with The Joyce Theater (NYC) and the National Performance Network (New Orleans, LA) via NPN’s Creation and Development Fund. The work premiered at The August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Pittsburgh, PA), and has toured to the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago (Chicago, IL). It will be presented at Bates College (Lewiston, ME) in February ‘24. 

    Layering dance and visual arts with pulsing beats and bass lines, CIRCLES: going in presents snapshots of popular culture through choreographer Staycee Pearl’s lens as a Black woman. With an ensemble of five dancers, CIRCLES: going in is a colorful, unapologetic, and daring path to self-reclamation. Central to the work is an original sound score of hip-hop, house, techno, and ballroom music samples – bringing the joy, spontaneity, and uncensored freedom of self-expression from the club to the stage. 

    “We first developed our artistic voice and organizational mission during our time as the resident dance company from 2010 to 2013 at KST,” Staycee Pearl fondly remembers, “KST’s support has played a huge part in propelling our work onto the national stage.”

    Join KST before and after each performance for light refreshments in The Flea Theater’s lobby. You’re also invited to a special reception on Friday, January 12 at 12:30pm with the artists.

    The Flea 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 about each performance, please visit kelly-strayhorn.org. 

    Download the .pdf HERE.


    slowdanger
    SUPERCELL
    Thursday, January 116:00pm 

    Friday, January 12
    2:00pm

    The Flea Theater | 20 Thomas Street, NYC
    Pay What Moves You: $20 – $35

    SUPERCELL is an evening-length multidisciplinary quintet performance responding to climate consciousness, media sensationalism, desensitization, and environmental collapse. The title refers to supercells, large storms of deep, persistent updrafts often resulting in many tornadoes. While supercells are terrifying, ominous, and harbingers of great damage, they are simultaneously breathtaking environmental events when witnessed from afar. The effect is similar to sensationalist media, instantly amplifying catastrophic events for an insatiable public consumption. The work begs the question, how do we cultivate hope during continually uncertain times?

    This presentation of SUPERCELL is supported by The New England Foundation for the Arts’s National Dance Project and America’s Cultural Treasures, a program of the Ford Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. SUPERCELL is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. SUPERCELL is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and NPN. SUPERCELL is also supported by the Opportunity Fund, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The PNC Charitable Trusts, and The Heinz Endowments, with additional residency support from NCCAkron, The Space Upstairs and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dance. 


    CREDITS
    Direction by taylor knight and anna thompson
    Performance Collaborators: AJ Libert, Christian A. Warner, kira shiina
    Process Collaborator: Nile Harris
    Scenic Design by ProjectileObjects
    Lighting Design by Harbour Edney
    Costumes by Mad Recital
    Sound Design by slowdanger in collaboration with cast
    Choreography/Direction by slowdanger in collaboration with cast
    Dramaturgical Support, Collaborating Media Design, and Collaborating Sound Design by Jasmine Hearn
    Run Time: 75 minutes, no intermission 


    slowdanger, taylor knight (they/them) & anna thompson (they/them) are co-founding artistic directors of slowdanger, a multidisciplinary performance organism based in Pittsburgh, PA. slowdanger uses a systematic approach to movement, integrative technology, found material, electronic instrumentation, vocalization, physiological centering, and ontological examination to produce their performance work, which utilizes continual practice to delve into circular life patterning including effort, transformation, and death. Through the process of making each piece, slowdanger works with an ever deepening understanding of energy, synergy, action, gender, time, and storytelling. As a queer, non-binary led organization, slowdanger is committed to deconstructing the binaries of how performance and performers are viewed onstage through their performances, workshops and public facing engagements.


    STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos 
    CIRCLES: going in 

    Saturday & Sunday, January 13 – 14
    6:00pm 

    The Flea Theater | 20 Thomas Street, NYC
    Pay What Moves You: $20 – $35

    Black Joy. Femme. Cycles of Life and Love. CIRCLES: going in is a full-length dance work celebrating #BlackGirlMagic #BlackLove #BlackJoy. Layering dance, visual arts, with pulsing beats and bass lines, the work presents snapshots of popular culture through choreographer Staycee Pearl’s lens as a Black woman. With an ensemble of five dancers, CIRCLES: going in is an unapologetic, and daring path to self-reclamation. Central to the work is an original sound score of hip-hop, house, techno and ballroom music samples mixed live throughout the performance – bringing the joy, spontaneity and uncensored freedom of self-expression from the club to the stage.

    This presentation of CIRCLES: going in is supported by The New England Foundation for the Arts’s National Dance Project and America’s Cultural Treasures, a program of the Ford Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. CIRCLES: going in is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Joyce Theater, and NPN. CIRCLES: going in was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Co-commissioning Partners are Kelly Strayhorn Theater, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and The Joyce Theater. The development of CIRCLES: going in is made possible in part by the National Center for Choreography at The University of Akron (NCCAkron). CIRCLES: going in is supported in part by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Fund, The Heinz Endowments, and The Opportunity Fund.


    ​CREDITS
    Choreography: Staycee Pearl
    Sound Designer/Engineer: Herman B. Pearl
    Music Collaborators: DJ Haram, DOTGOV, Geña, Ixa, Kha’DJ, Kilamanzego, Madame Dolores, Meejah, Queen Jo, Yah Lioness
    Visual Collaborations: Bekezela Mguni, Kitoko Chargois, sarah huny young
    Lighting Design: Scott Nelson
    Costume Design: S. Ruth
    Set Design: Rob Hackett
    Dancers: LaTrea Derome Rembert, Chandler Bingham, Cameron Waters, Nia Goodman, Joy Holder
    Tour Coordinator: Joanna Futral
    Exclusive USA Tour Representation: Pentacle, Sandy Garcia 
    Running Time: 60 minutes, no intermission.


    Staycee Pearl, Executive/Co-Artistic Director Staycee Pearl is the Staycee Pearl Headshotco-artistic director of PearlArts Studios and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos, where she creates artful experiences through dance-centered multimedia works in collaboration with her husband and artistic collaborator, Herman Pearl. In 2009, STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos (SPdp&SS) debuted at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Since then the duo has produced several works including …on being…, OCTAVIA, and FLOWERZ, and has recently premiered their National Dance Project supported CIRCLES: going in, presented by the Kelly Strayhorn Theater and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. Staycee is passionate about sharing resources and creating opportunities for the arts community by initiating project-generating programs including the Charrette Series, the In The Studio Series, and the PearlDiving Movement Residency. 

    Herman Pearl, Co-Artistic Director Herman Pearl (Soy Sos) is the head engineer and owner of Tuff Sound Recording, as well as the sound designer and co-artistic director of PearlArts Studios. Through PearlArts, Herman creates soundscapes to serve as a component to contemporary dance. As a sound designer, Herman’s repertoire includes a wide variety of projects and collaborators. His work has been featured in various independent films and documentaries, video games, and advertising. He has designed soundscapes for numerous choreographers. He has collaborated with many visual artists to create installations and touring exhibits. He has recorded and produced work for a plethora of recording artists across genres and techniques. Herman has performed, created, and recorded his own music for over 25 years.


    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.

    Photo Credit: Mariah Miranda, Heather Mull, Mariah Miranda, Joshua Freznos, Beth Barbis

  7. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pittsburgh Duo slowdanger Responds to Climate Crisis and Sensationalism with Performance SUPERCELL

    EAST LIBERTY, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater is thrilled to present Pittsburgh-based performance duo slowdanger and their new work SUPERCELL, with an exciting week-long program during the first week of December.

    At KST’s Alloy Studios, on Monday, December 4 at 6:00pm, artists anna thompson and taylor knight of slowdanger share their artistic ideas and creation process with audiences at our informal Welcome Dinner & Artists Talk, kicking off the week. Following the talk, on Wednesday, December 6 from 9:00am to 10:15am, slowdanger offers a 75-minute workshop De-Mystifying the Box co-presented with PearlArts, engaging participants to sense deeper into the micro-ecosystems of our bodies. 

    The week reaches its crescendo at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9 with the Pittsburgh premiere of the evening-length quintet performance SUPERCELL at 7:30pm. Kelly Strayhorn Theater co-commissioned this performance as a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project in collaboration with The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (College Park, MD) and NPN (New Orleans, LA). SUSPERCELL was developed with support from the prestigious National Dance Project, a program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, and additionally supported by residencies at the National Choreographic Center (Akron, OH), The Space Upstairs (Pittsburgh, PA) and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dance (New York, NY) . 

    The work draws inspiration from the awe-inspiring yet ominous supercells—large storms with deep, persistent updrafts often leading to tornadoes.

    The terrifying supercells are harbingers of substantial damage. This natural effect is also similar to sensationalist media, instantly amplifying catastrophic events for insatiable public consumption. SUPERCELL therefore is informed by the natural effect, finding parallels and addressing environmental collapse and sensationalism in media

    Through seamless integration of corporeal mime techniques, contemporary and improvisational dance frameworks, live vocalization, electronic and sample-based music, and interactive set design, SUPERCELL is a multidisciplinary adventure by nature. The synchronized and amplified breaths and vocalizations of the dancers serve as a motif, articulating the effects of toxic natural and media environments on our bodies.

    “Throughout the creation process, we formed and consulted with advisory cohorts in Maryland and Pittsburgh, composed of scientists, climate activists, anthropologists, sustainable design experts, and a dramaturgical advisor,” said slowdanger. 

    The collaborative nature of the project allows for multiple truths to emerge in the reception and interpretation of SUPERCELL. Through a dinner conversation and a workshop with the general public, slowdanger opens the floor for diverse discussions and decentralizes the creative process.

    SUPERCELL is the final event of KST’s Fall 2023 Season. Information about the Winter/Spring Season will be released on Thursday, December 14 at kelly-strayhorn.org

    This presentation of SUPERCELL is supported by the National Performance Network Artist Engagement Fund, The New England Foundation for the Arts’s National Dance Project and Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation’s ArtsConnect programs. SUPERCELL is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. SUPERCELL is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and NPN. SUPERCELL is also supported by the Opportunity Fund, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, with additional residency support from NCCAkron, The Space Upstairs and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dance.

    Download the .pdf HERE.


    ABOUT THE ARTIST

    slowdanger, taylor knight (they/them) & anna thompson (they/them) are co-founding artistic directors of slowdanger, a multidisciplinary performance organism based in Pittsburgh, PA. slowdanger uses a systematic approach to movement, technology, found material, vocalization, and physiological centering to produce their performance work. Through the process of making each piece, slowdanger works with an ever deepening understanding of energy, synergy, action, gender, time, and storytelling. As a queer, non-binary led organization, slowdanger is committed to deconstructing the binaries of how performance and performers are viewed onstage. 

    Harbour Edney | Lighting Designer (they/he) is a freelance lighting designer and installation artist who is currently nested in the Philadelphia area. Recent designs include Always the Hour (Annie Wilson), The Wild Party (Eagle Theatre), a hit dog will holler (Azuka Theatre Company), Chaat (Usiloquy Dance Designs), Papa (The New Hazlett Theatre) and Bruise & Thorn (Pipeline Theatre Company). They have designed for other companies such as Obvious Agency, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, The Pillow Projects, The Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre, Alumni Theater Company and INTAR NYC. Harbour has a special love for dance and is thrilled and grateful to be working on SUPERCELL with this team.

    Nile Harris | Performer (he/him) is a performer and director of live works of art. He has done a few things and hopes to do a few more, God willing. 

    Jasmine Hearn | Dramaturgical Support, Collaborating Media Design, and Collaborating Sound Design (they/them) is an internationally-touring interdisciplinary artist, director, performer, choreographer, organizer, doula, and teacher. They are committed to performance as an expansive practice that includes a spectrum of dance and somatic traditions and techniques, sound design, garment design, cooking, and the archiving of matrilineal memories. They give gratitude to Spirit, their mothers and aunties, and all the mothering Black people who have supported their moving, remembering body.

    AJ Libert | Performer (he/him), from Pittsburgh, PA, started his dance training at the age of three. He graduated from PBT’s full time program, and then attended Point Park University where he received a BFA in Modern dance. AJ enjoys the complexities that movement exploration has to offer. Combining his love for the natural world with his love for movement drives AJ to continue to find deeper connections between the two, in hopes to merge both worlds seamlessly. AJ would like to thank his two beautiful mothers, without them he would not be where he is today.

    ProjectileObjects | Scenic Designer and Technical Director (he/him) Cornelius Henke III is a multi-talented creative with a passion for video production and performance art. His work spans across various mediums, including music videos, motion graphics, live events, and interactive installations. Cornelius is an activist and partner at Merging Media, a boutique digital media production company based in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2021, ProjectileObjects formed an LLC that offers a range of services, including conceptual design, development, engineering, fabrication, and installations. With a wealth of experience and expertise, Cornelius continues to captivate audiences with his unique vision and exceptional talent.

    Mad Recital is an avant-garde fashion label established in 2010.  The designers involved in the label are Richard Ramirez (who started his own fashion label in 1997 prior) and Sean E. Ramirez-Matzus. Mad Recital focuses on deconstruction, repurposed garments, handmade techniques, alternative visions of beauty and unconventional designs. Drawing inspiration from nature, folk-lore, myths and legends, film and the arts as well as the history of avant-garde fashion, Mad Recital aims to create wearable art. The end goal, pieces that delight, unsettle, inspire and provoke. Their work has been sold at boutiques in Japan and France.

    kira shiina | Performer (they/she) is a dance and sound artist based on the unceded Lenape land known as Philadelphia, PA. kira shiina attended Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts, going on to receive their BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts. In 2019, they presented their first solo work, DID YOU / FALL APART in collaboration with painter Jameelah Platt. They were a founding company member of Mark Caserta’s Big Kid Dance and are currently a creative associate of choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans, and has been a company member of waheedworks  since 2019. kira shiina is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance at the UArts.

  8. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KST Freshworks Artist Andraya Rand-Mathis Reflects Healing Journeys in Diving Within, A New Performance in Process

    EAST LIBERTY, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Freshworks: New Performance In Process artist-in-residence, Andraya Rand-Mathis, is set to bring her original performance Diving Within to the stage on Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2, for the first time. This 30-minute showing commences at 7:30pm at KST’s Alloy Studios, followed by an engaging Q&A session with the audience.

    As a proud Black trans woman, Rand-Mathis draws inspiration from her personal recovery process after her gender transition, as well as the painful yet beautiful healing journeys of other people of color. Through dance, music, drag, performative storytelling, and audio from first-person interviews, Rand-Mathis breathes life into her impactful performance, Diving Within, and reflects on self-discovery and recovery from negative experiences.

    Rand-Mathis is a choreographer, dancer, and educator born and raised in Pittsburgh. When she began her gender transition, she decided to let go of social expectations. Her transition goes beyond her physicality, breaking through gender stereotypes cast on her free spirit. She uses dance as a powerful expression to convey her resistance. 

    “As a transgender woman still early in her process, I find myself questioning and reflecting on life on a daily basis, trying to understand the roots of my actions, habits, and perspective of life. I’ve spent years conforming and showing up in the ways that others expected me and told me to, but now I’m reclaiming my authentic self,” said Rand-Mathis. 

    Her past internal conflicts have informed her compassionate worldview and provided the origin point for Rand-Mathis’ latest work, Diving Within. The performance in progress revolves around a symbolic character’s life struggle, delving into their deep interiority and unveiling their innermost doubts, fears, anxieties, and pain.

    Rand-Mathis further expands the narrative by incorporating the voices of her interviews with five open-minded and forthright people of color sharing their lived experiences. These individuals share their burdens — healing from substance abuse, parental loss, misaligned gender identities, and single parenthood. Diving Within uses these interviews as a foundation, explores universal healing experiences, and embraces inclusivity that goes beyond her personal gender transition. 

    According to Rand-Mathis, “Hopefully their stories [in the performance] can encourage a warm, welcoming space free of judgment and open to vulnerability.”

    Download the .pdf HERE.


    ABOUT THE ARTIST

    Andraya Rand-Mathis is a choreographer, dancer, and educator who was born and raised in the city of Pittsburgh. She has choreographed several musical productions, which have won Gene Kelly Awards for Best Choreography. Even though Andraya started their dance training at a late age, she is a  force to be reckoned with for her generation and future generations to come. Since hitting the dance scene a little over 8 years ago, Draya has had the opportunity to work with some amazing artists such as Greer Reed, Staycee Pearl, Kontara Morphis, and Anthony Williams. 

     


    ABOUT FRESHWORKS: NEW PERFORMANCE IN PROCESS

    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 and encouragement for creative risk taking. Artists are invited to apply either as an individual or as a collaborative group.

    Freshworks artists are provided a $1,000 honorarium and $1,500 resource budget during the residency. This is to help offset the costs of creating new work. Each residency will take place over a two-month period. During these two months, artists will develop a 30-minute live showing that is a first draft of an original artistic project. The first month is intended for planning; this includes what form the project will take, securing collaborators, and brainstorming design. During this time, artists will meet weekly with KST Programming and Production Staff to chart out production and scheduling needs as well as utilize their outside perspectives. The intention is that KST Staff is present to pose questions that can help the artist think through various aspects of ideas.

    The second month is focused on in-studio rehearsal and creation of a 30-minute draft of their project. Weekly meetings with KST Staff continue and shift focus towards actualizing production needs.The goal of the residency is for the artist to experiment and explore early iterations of ideas and share a draft of these concepts in front of an audience. At the end of the process, they will have valuable insight into further developing their project.

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

    Suite Life Concert Project Image, with Pianist Sitting in front of a piano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Download the .pdf. 


    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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


    ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

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

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

    PC: Heidi Wiren Bartlett, Courtesy of the Artists

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Download the .pdf HERE.


    ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

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

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

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

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

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


    ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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

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

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

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

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


    ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER

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

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

    PC: Liz Rudnick