Thriving Where We Live: Kelly Strayhorn Theater Adopts Co-Leadership Model
KST Deepens Capacity as It Becomes the Preeminent Model for Arts Organizations on the Regional and National Stages.
East Liberty, Pittsburgh, PA—Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) announces it has adopted a co-leadership model, with former Deputy Director Melanie Paglia joining Executive Director Joseph Hall to guide the performing arts organization into its next era of regional and national growth.
“I often envisioned a co-leadership structure for KST,” says Hall. “When I was with BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, which has had a co-leadership structure since the 90s, I participated in a rich relationship where we collaborated, supported each other, and led the organization to great accomplishments. Melanie and I enable each other to lean into our strengths and achieve the best outcomes for KST’s communities.”
Hall, who became Executive Director in March of 2020, led KST through the pandemic and shepherded the organization’s ambitious 2022–25 strategic plan, Owning Our Future. Thriving Where We Live. During his tenure, KST has incubated hundreds of artists and performers, engaged local artists and community members through HomeMakers, developed a shared services model through programs like its Mutual Aid Residency with PearlArts and Dreams of Hope, revamped hallmark programming like the Suite Life jazz concert, and been recognized as a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure by the Heinz Endowments and Ford Foundation.
Paglia joins Hall as Co-Executive Director during a landmark year. This January, KST hosted its second annual KST X NYC, an ambitious initiative to share new works commissioned and developed in Pittsburgh by KST in collaboration with national partners. These works included the New York City premieres of two dance works from Pittsburgh-based artists, slowdanger’s SUPERCELL and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos’s (SPdp&SS) CIRCLES: going in. This spring, another KST-incubated project will reach national stages: Pittsburgh creator and performer Adil Mansoor’s Amm(i)gone, which premiered at KST in 2022, will debut in Washington, D.C., at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Leaders with a Shared Vision
To advance KST’s mission to be a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people, the co-leadership structure uses collaboration and resilience as its guiding principles.
“Our strategic vision of owning our future and thriving where we live is not just a memorable slogan—it guides every decision, from how we are structured to the artists we feature on stage,” says Hall. “Melanie has been critical to our ability to thrive during such a complicated period for the arts. Her operations expertise and caring approach to leadership have been indispensable to our success so far. As she joins me in leading KST, I look forward to sharing this vision and ensuring that we continue to model excellence, joy, and innovation in our partnership.”
Paglia was first hired by Hall in 2011 during his initial engagement with the organization. In this tenure at KST, Paglia rose through several progressive leadership roles in technical theater and general management. In 2017 she departed KST to serve as Music Hall Director at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie where she optimized rentals and programming operations and innovated outdoor, pandemic “parking lot” performances. A decade later, Hall hired Paglia a second time to return to KST as Deputy Director in 2021; since then she has restored operational systems and expanded staff capacity throughout the uncertainties of the theater’s pandemic reopening. She has also been a strategic partner for Hall as KST pursues the opportunity to manifest their vision of a multidimensional arts space that meets the modern day needs of arts patrons and artists.
“KST simply would not be what it is today without Joseph’s compassionate leadership, artistic brilliance, and profound love for the work,” says Paglia. “Inspired by the groundbreaking work of his predecessor, janera solomon, Joseph has built upon that foundation to further ensure a promising future. Under his guidance, KST is thriving. I am eager to embrace the collective energy of the co-leadership structure and ensure that we continue to create a home for Black and queer people in Pittsburgh.”
KST joins many other arts and nonprofit organizations in adopting the co-leadership model. This is a trend that reflects the value of collaboration within executive roles that are often described as isolating. Other arts organizations often have an Executive Director and Artistic Director, however, KST embodies the flexibility and mutuality of co-leadership.
Expanded Capacity for KST’s Thriving Future
With a unique mix of performing arts programs, collaborative organizational practices, and bold social justice engagement, KST stands out among its peers in the region as a unique model for nurturing local talent and creating a thriving infrastructure for art-making in the 21st century. As the organization continues to reimagine arts practices to meet contemporary needs and evolving audiences, KST is making structural investments to ensure its long-term success in the East Liberty neighborhood.
“One of our greatest challenges and opportunities in the coming years is the question of where KST will make its permanent home,” says Paglia. “East Liberty has always been our community, and we plan to remain here. We are exploring our options in the neighborhood to ensure that our audiences, staff, artists, and partner organizations have a physical space where they can fully thrive long into the future.”
Since becoming a presenting organization in 2008 under former Executive Director janera solomon, KST has evolved into a versatile and influential member of the Pittsburgh arts ecosystem. KST nurtures early-career artists and emerging arts groups, hosts boundary-breaking arts experiences, and upholds the historic legacy and vibrant future of Black and queer artists in Pittsburgh. KST has played a role in growing many significant artists and arts groups in the Pittsburgh region: Alumni Theater Company was a resident company at KST for years before becoming an independent nonprofit with its own venue; Staycee Pearl dance project & Soy Sos/PearlArts were founded at KST in 2009 and now are Mutual Aid Residency partners that are touring around the world; KST has incubated and presented many new performances from movement duo slowdanger, which is now touring nationally with KST’s support. These collaborations reflect the vital role that KST plays in cultivating diverse local artists who tell the 21st-century story of Pittsburgh beyond the city.
“I returned to Kelly Strayhorn Theater in 2020 because I am truly inspired by KST’s unique impact on both the local community and the arts on a regional and national level,” says Hall. “Now, with a co-leadership approach, we will answer the call to create KST’s future state of the art space. Our goal is to provide a platform for East Liberty and beyond where artists and emerging groups will shape the story of a 21st-century Pittsburgh. Together we will Own Our Future and Thrive Where We Live.”
ABOUT THE CO-LEADERS
Joseph Hall is the Co-Executive Director of Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. Previously, as the Deputy Director of BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Hall helped expand the theater’s budget and staff, forging partnerships, and raising its national profile as a BIPOC LGBTQIA+ institution. He co-curates TQ Live! at Carnegie Museum of Art, serves on the National Performance Network’s Partner Advisory Council, Office for Public Arts Advisory Committee, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting’s Community Advisory Council, and PearlArts’s Board of Directors. Hall has been recognized through awards such as 40 Under 40, Three Rivers Business Alliance Excellence in the Arts, and City Paper’s Pittsburgh’s People of the Year in Performing Arts.
Melanie Paglia is the Co-Executive Director of Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. She is a seasoned arts administrator with more than a decade of experience in theater management and community engagement. Throughout her career, Paglia has taken on progressive leadership positions in technical theater and general management. Notably, she was among the pioneering women in technical theater in the region to hold the role of Director of Production. Paglia is also a committed educator and finds fulfillment in guiding aspiring arts administrators through mentorship. Her return to KST in 2021 underscores her dedication to community enrichment and promoting inclusivity within the cultural sphere.////////////////////////////////
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.
Anna King Skeels
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.
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.
, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
YOUTH & FAMILY | MUSIC | DANCE | THEATER
YOUTH & FAMILY | MUSIC | COMMUNITY
YOUTH & FAMILY | THEATER | DANCE | VISUAL ART
KST GALLERY | VISUAL ART
SPECIAL EVENTS | MUSIC
FRESHWORKS | THEATER | DANCE
LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | COMMUNITY 
LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | WORKSHOP
LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | THEATER | DANCE
FRESHWORKS | THEATER | DANCE
LOCAL & GLOBAL PERFORMANCE | WORKSHOP
