KST Blog

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

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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

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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

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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.