Kelly Strayhorn Theater

01/13/2025

😆 We have a great news to share! Our long-time friend Adil Mansoor's Amm(i)gone is going to premiere Off-Broadway, co-presented by Kelly Strayhorn Theater, PlayCo The Play Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and The Flea Theater. Running March 13 to April 7 at The Flea, the piece has been in development for several years. It's extremely meaningful for us to see Amm(i)gone has gone so far! 👏

Developed by Hatch Arts Collective, Amm(i)gone was commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater (Pittsburgh, PA), The Theater Offensive (Boston, MA) and the National Performance Network (New Orleans, LA) between 2019 – 2023.

🎉 Congrats to Adil Mansoor and his artist team, Davine Byon, Joseph Amodei, Lyam B. Gabel, and more.

Read more: https://playbill.com/article/adil-mansoors-ammigone-to-premiere-off-broadway

01/10/2025

Help us celebrate our namesakes, Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, by nominating them for the New Pittsburgh Walk of Fame! Find instructions in the article below. Nominations are open through January, with the inaugural 10-member class set to be inducted this fall.

It’s time to formally nominate names for the inaugural 10-member class of the new Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.

01/10/2025

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved colleague, Matt Washil, on December 28, after a courageous battle with cancer. Matt was a dedicated and talented member of our production team whose contributions to KST are immeasurable.

For nearly a decade, Matt was the person behind the scenes making the theater magic work seamlessly—whether it was ensuring the flower petals fell just right in Luke Murphy's Drenched, or making sure there were no kiddos in the way of the grand drape closing safely during Dance Africa or KST's MLK Day youth performances. Matt handled quick changes, focused lights 25 feet in the air, and kept everything running smoothly with his unmatched skill and quiet dedication. He led his crew with a passion for design and creativity, and an inclusiveness, not just a tolerance, of those working with him.

Matt joined KST around 2011/2012 as a deck crew member and quickly expanded his role into electrics/lighting operator. In 2022, we were proud to promote him to Production Coordinator, where he took great pride in creating a safe, welcoming, and professional environment for everyone. Matt was more than just a colleague—he was a friend, a mentor, and someone we could always rely on to get the job done with a smile.

J.R. Shaw, our Production Manager who worked closely with Matt, said, "When I started here, I relied on Matt, especially for his knowledge of the theater's history and legacy. Everyone who came through knew that he was there for them. He loved what he did and wasn't shy about sharing it. You knew you had done right when you heard him say, 'That's so cool!' It was an enthusiasm that kept us all moving forward."

Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, and to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. The KST family won’t be the same without him, but we will carry his spirit forward in everything we do, knowing that Matt’s quiet brilliance was a part of the heart of this place. As the curtains close, we honor him with a standing ovation and thunderous applause. Matt, we will miss you deeply.

01/09/2025

Don’t go for second best baby, Put your love to the test - Madonna 💖

It’s almost time for the NYC premiere of Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater from January 10 - January 13, co-presented with Live Artery & New York Live Arts! 🌆

Don’t miss Queen Martha’s first chasses in The Big Apple! 💋

We are also excited to elevate events from Pittsburgh artists and KST x NYC alumni, Adil Mansoor, slowdanger and PearlArts Movement & Sound. Don’t miss their showcases at artXnyc. New York City Center Studios and Ailey Citygroup Theater respectively. 🔥

More info on these events are available via the link in our bio. 🎟️

***rdance

01/02/2025

Kelly Strayhorn Theater is proud to honor the lasting legacies of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with our annual day of reflection, unity, and creative expression. Our Board Chair Alyssa P. Lyon will host the event this year! 🫂

Join us on Monday, January 20 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm for activities in the KST lobby with our tabling partners (The Kingsley Association, Healthy Start Inc. Youth Initiative, True T PGH, Landforce, Assemble, Allegheny Reproductive Health Center) and performances from Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) Home of Ju.B.Lation Spirit Filled Feet faculty, Guardians Of Sound Hip Hop Orchestra, and students from Los Sabrosos Dance Co.

And don’t miss KST’s newest commissioned performance, Bearing Life: A Dance Play on Black Women’s Reproductive Health, choreographed by Rickia Davenport. 💗🌍

Learn more 🫶🏽: https://bit.ly/KSTMLKDay2025

This event is kindly sponsored by Citizens.

12/31/2024

.....and we're back with Part 2 of the Top Ten Accomplishments from Kelly Strayhorn Theater in 2024! 💜

Let's jump right back in... 💥

5.) KST Adds Ten New and Talented People to Our Team ✍🏽

In 2024, KST is proud to have welcomed Marketing Coordinator Kiearra Williams, Production Coordinator Piper Clement, and Finance & Operations Coordinator Intern Rachael Gunning to our full-time staff.

4.)Citizens awards KST $100,000 in Program Support 💚

Citizens announced a $100,000 two-year grant to support KST as a presenting sponsor through 2026. As part of this partnership, KST launched The Citizens Series featuring youth & family events, intimate community dinners with recognized artists and professional development workshops

3.) Melanie Paglia named KST Co-Executive Director 🌟

This April, KST announced Melanie Paglia would join Joseph Hall as Co-Executive Director. Melanie returned 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 as KST pursues the opportunity to manifest our vision of a multidimensional arts space

2.) Alyssa P. Lyon succeeds Adam Golden as KST Board Chair; Six New Directors join the Board 🎉

KST welcomed leaders from across Pittsburgh to apply to join our Board of Directors, and this year successfully invited six new directors to help steer our organization as we pursue our vision to Own Our Future and Thrive Where we Live.

1.) YOU joined us in celebration of KST 🫵🏽

Thank you for joining us on this journey into a brighter future for artists and activists in Pittsburgh and beyond. Before the year is out, please consider contributing to the next great year of KST impact in our community, in our region, and beyond.

Happy New Year's Eve and cheers to a successful and joyful 2025! 🍾

***rarts

12/30/2024

2024 brought Kelly Strayhorn Theater lots of unforgettable moments this year! We are very excited and humbled to share our top 10 (in no particular order) accomplishments for the year with you. 🤗

Read on to find out more...👀 🙌🏽

10.) KST Presents Artist Shamel Pitts Named MacArthur Fellow 🏆

Local & Global Performance veteran Shamel Pitts was awarded a MacArthur Fellowships by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

9.) KST Mutual Aid Alumni Open Studio; Named People of the Year 💃🏽

We are overjoyed to celebrate the next chapter for PearlArts Movement & Sound, who moved into their permanent studio space in Braddock. This week, founders Staycee and Herman Pearl were named People of the Year in Arts and Culture by Pittsburgh City Paper.

8.) KST Hosts the 1Hood Power Up Fest, Feat. Common & More 👊🏽

1Hood Power, presented the Power Up Fest at KST. Common, Lupe Fiasco, Redman, and Method Man joined local talent to activate the packed crowd around voting in SWPA.

7.) Local Businesses support KST with In-Kind Donations 🙌🏽

KST supports local businesses by contributing $2.2M to our economy annually through our activities and audiences. Throughout 2024, local businesses returned the favor with in-kind donations ranging from custom artwork to subsidized printing to absolutely delicious empanadas.

6.)The 2024 House Party Host Committee Helps Raise $75,000 🤑

With 29 members, the 2024 House Party Host Committee was the largest since 2013 and included leaders across the non-profit, government, tech, banking, real-estate, healthcare, and arts sectors. With their help, KST smashed both ticketing and donation goals:

Stay tuned for part 2...coming soon to your feed! 📲
***rarts

12/26/2024

Kelly Strayhorn Theater's Summer / Fall 2024 Recap. 🌞🍁

The summer heat didn’t stop us from throwing down at House Party. The VIP reception was complete with stellar performances from Clara Kent and Jesse Factor.

The chill brisk air of Fall brought us the visual art exhibition Sister Soul Spectrum that featured beautifully provocative work from the , and a chance to uplift emerging artists Yusef Shelton Da First and Arnita Simone through their works Barbershop Talk and Heavy Is The Crown. 🖌️

The November rain brought us a chance to journey through The Marthaodyessy with Jesse factor while dancing through time and space leaving you wanting to express yourself!

Kelly Strayhorn Theater traditions continued to live on through our family friendly Halloween event Pumpkin Palooza and our honoring of our namesakes Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn through our holiday concert Suite Life. ⭐

***rarts

12/24/2024

Wow! What a year 2024 has been? We are eternally grateful for the support we received this year that allowed us to continue to uplift black and q***r artists. With your help we were able to cultivate an environment where artists, activists and community members were able to thrive where they live. Today, we look back at some of our amazing programming, while keeping our eyes open to the future of Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 💫🎆

Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s 2024 kicked off on a national level with another successful edition of KST x NYC. This year’s event was empowered by a neon-scientific multidisciplinary expression on climate consciousness called SUPERCELL from Slowdanger and CIRCLES: going in, a full length work from Staycee Pearl Dance Project & Soy Sos celebrating .

Once back home our work continued with preparing for the visual art exhibition from Abolitionist Expressions: Let’s Get free which showcases artwork made by incarcerated artists as well as artists who support them on the outside.

The year kept on turnin and our hearts kept on burnin as our Tina Turner tribute concert allowed the art community to come together and pay homage to the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The excitement didn’t stop there as the spring introduced two new Freshworks residencies Prophecies and Soy Sauce Shots from C. Ryu and Davine Byon and unstitch from Anna King Skeels.

Edisa Weeks used thought provoking story telling and visceral movement to educate on the Black experience in America, while Mita Ghosal examined lost South Asian histories through Indian textiles and fabrics.

…and with that it was a wrap on the Winter/Spring season of 2024…but what did the Summer and Fall season have in store for us?

***rarts

12/19/2024

It's TIIIMMMMEEE to announce our Winter / Spring 2025 performance season. ☃️

This season is complete with an exciting lineup of Youth & Family programs, visual arts exhibition, a tribute concert, and two new Freshworks residencies! ✨

Our season begins with an impactful MLK Day Celebration and Let Freedom Sing Concert, followed by an opening reception for Lifting Liberty - a visual art exhibition exploring the creative spirit of East Liberty from Njaimeh Njie.

Then it will be time to dance with somebody and enjoy the presence the community that we will always love during WHITNEY: A Tribute Concert with Dwayne Fulton. 💜

The season also brings to life the works in progress La Voz Que Soy from singer Zuly Inirio and Fugue from choreographer Anya Collins.

Don't forget to save the date for our symposium Owning Our Future on May 18 which will explore BIPOC institutional ownership and envision a new future for equitable, accessible cultural spaces owned and anchored by BIPOC communities. 📣

We can't wait to envision and create with you all this season! 🤩

More info 🎟️: https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/

12/05/2024

12/03/2024

We're still buzzing with excitement from Suite Life this past weekend! 🎹

For this we warmly ask you to consider donating to Kelly Strayhorn Theater! ❤️

As a vital institution in the Pittsburgh arts community, Kelly Strayhorn Theater has long provided a safe space for q***r and Black artists to express themselves and explore creative freedom. Generous donations from our friends, artists, and community members will help sustain our mission and enable us to continue fostering artistic voices and community connections. 🤗

Thank you so much for being a part of our journey! Your support means the world to us, together we can continue to uplift and celebrate the power of art!☀️

Support today 🫶🏽: http://bit.ly/3VlRIoI

📸 Chad Isaiah

11/29/2024

SUITE LIFE is tomorrow! Do you have your tickets?

11/26/2024

Thank you to BonBon Press four supporting our annual holiday tradition Suite Life! 👏🏽

✔️ Fun Fact: The Heidelberg Windmill that BonBon Press used to create the flower pressings was built in 1914, which is the same year the Regent Theatre came into existence.

Come check out Suite Life VIP Soundcheck THIS Saturday November 30 at 5:30pm to create art of your own with a botanical watercolor activity by &flowers and BonBon Press. 🌻🎶

Don't miss the chance to mix and mingle with the artists and fellow jazz lovers! VIPs will take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art commemorating the evening, inspired by Strayhorn’s A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing. 🖌️

🎟️ Secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/suitelife2024

11/21/2024

Congratulations to Freshworks artist Arnita Simone for TWO sold-out performances of Heavy Is The Crown at KST's Alloy Studios! 👑

Arnita and her team cultivated a dynamic performance, using their hair and intriguing dance moves to captivate the audience and educate on the importance of black beauty trends in today's society. 💞

📸 Check out the full photo: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=KellyStrayhornTheater&set=a.1130508892291670