FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KST Presents: B Kleymeyer Freshworks Presentation
i’m not done with this body (and i never will be)
EAST LIBERTY, PA — Kelly Strayhorn Theater is pleased to announce the final Spring 2023 Freshworks performance in process presentation, B Kleymeyer, i am not done with this body (and i never will be). Join us on Friday & Saturday, May 5 – 6, 8:00pm, at KST’s Alloy Studios for a look into this new work in development followed by a Q & A with the artist. Part archive, part resource guide, and part celebration, i’m not done with this body (and i never will be) is a multimedia performance about trans women and the sex hormone estrogen. In a time where access to trans healthcare is becoming ever more politicized, the multidimensional performance uplifts Pittsburgh’s trans community and gives shape and sound to the things trans women have felt and been unable to name: The truth that hormones change more than your appearance, and that the most shocking shift is in your brain.
“You start to think differently. Your whole perception of the world around you changes, little by little, until you can’t remember what it was like before.” — B Kleymeyer
Trans healthcare saves lives. Right now, the red tape, the waitlists, and the lack of accessibility makes transitioning in Pittsburgh without a strong support network a daunting task. i’m not done with this body (and i never will be) shouts the truths that doctors hide from and cis family and friends are afraid of. The work celebrates every part of transition, preserving the collective knowledge and experience of hormones toward collective understanding and, ultimately, protected access to life-giving care.
“I think we see transition as this deeply personal, individual experience. And it can be, it can definitely be a time of great inner reflection, growth, and change. But it could also be a time of celebration and community. What if we were to honor transition as another milestone of life?” — B Kleymeyer
Over the course of her residency, B has reached out to trans women living in Pittsburgh for their stories and experiences. About this communal writing process, B shares, “It’s an incredible experience to have a creative space with other trans women. This project started with a desire to share the stories of trans women in Pittsburgh. And as a result, I’m watching these really beautiful conversations between multiple generations of trans women occur. It’s become really clear to me that trans women have always kept each other safe, informed, and loved. My hope is that this project can be another link in that history.” — B Kleymeyer
This project was supported in part by funding from the Carnegie Mellon University Frank-Ratchye Fund For Art @ the Frontier. Join KST and B Kleymeyer for i’m not done with this body (and i never will be) Friday & Saturday, May 5 – 6 at 8:00pm at KST’s Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Ave. Tickets are Pay What Moves You: $10 – $25. For full season details, KST COVID policy updates, and tickets, go to kelly-strayhorn.org.
Access the PDF HERE
ABOUT THE ARTIST
B Kleymeyer is a white, Jewish, trans woman. She is a current MFA Candidate at Carnegie Mellon University’s John Wells Directing Program. She is a director and generator working at the intersections of theater, dance, multi-media installation, and film. B is a resident artist at Single Carrot Theatre where they facilitate the creation of community-based, site-responsive performances. Upcoming work includes; Kiss Me Mr. Musk (Single Carrot Theatre, August 2022), i’m not done with this body (and i never will be) (Kelly Strayhorn, November 2022), and Adult Things (Carnegie Mellon University, March 2023). B works to create sacred space through the communal witnessing of performative events. Her work is a collective prayer, a model of the world we wish to build, and a place of transformation.
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.
ABOUT FRESHWORKS
Freshworks is KST’s creative residency for artists and collaborators based in the greater Pittsburgh region. Freshworks made its debut in 2013 and supports playful exploration in performance through interdisciplinary work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia.The program provides artists with planning support and guidance, studio space, production staff, lighting and sound design 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.