Kelly Strayhorn Theater

01/29/2025

💥 OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS 💥

Are you an artist in the greater Pittsburgh region doing interdisciplinary work in contemporary dance, theater, music, or multimedia? Apply for our 2025 / 2026 Freshworks Residency for an opportunity to develop your work in progress! The residency provides planning support, guidance, and more.

The residency includes...
✨ $1000 honorarium per artist
✨ $1500 Resource budget
✨ Studio time

🕒 Save the date: applications open Monday, February 10 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm!

Learn more about the Freshworks residency during the Zoom & Facebook Live Info session on Tuesday, February 25.

More info here: https://kelly-strayhorn.org/community/freshworks/ ✍🏽

01/28/2025

01/23/2025

Congrats to Anna King Skeels for their latest performance My Sister's Lipstick at New Hazlett Theater! Anna is a previous Freshworks artist and we are so excited to see their next artistic venture. 🎉

Don't miss the play at New Hazlett Theater on January 30 and 31!

About the work 💄

Inspired by isolation, q***r repression, and a Judy Garland obsession, My Sister’s Lipstick follows George, who locks themself up in their apartment to escape the troubles of the outside world. Their sister, Morrison longs for her sibling to come back into her life.

***rart

01/22/2025

Kelly Strayhorn Theater's MLK Day Celebration In The Spirit of Rev. Dr. King delivered emotions, hope, and understanding of the future through arts and advocacy. 🗣️ 🎶

Through out the day families were able to envision their dreams in a modern day society while relating to the fundamental movements that were taking place during Dr. King's time on this earth. 🌍

Our lobby was filled with community members learning about neighborhood resources to propel them into the future, and creating art to relax the mind. We would like to give a special thanks to our community partners The Kingsley Association, Healthy Start Inc, Youth Initiative, True T, Landforce, Assemble and Allegheny Reproductive Health Center for the wonderful lobby activities. 💥

Los Sabrosos Dance Co.used break dancing to advocate for self-expression. 🔥

Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) Home of Ju.B.Lation Spirit Filled Feet used their bodies to tell a story of embracing freedom. 👯‍♀️

Guardians Of Sound Hip Hop Orchestra advocated for speaking your truth through vocals and instruments. 🎻

Rickia Davenport with the love of Alumni Theater Company Professional Ensemble Members advocated for Black women reproductive health through a dance expression piece that tells the story of how a mother's love for her son can ascend to heaven from earth and isn't bound by the chains of time. 💙✨

We were also excited to share our stage with Pennsylvania leaders to learn how we can all come together to create a world that is built on the foundation of Rev. Dr. King's teachings and philosophy. 📣

Thank you to our sponsor Citizens 💚

📸: Randall Coleman
Full Photo Album: https://bit.ly/KSTMLKDayPhotos

Thank you to everyone who came through our doors, and into our theater and celebrated Rev. Dr. King's legacy with us! 💖

01/18/2025

Celebrate social justice in song during the 18th Annual Let Freedom Sing - Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Monday, January 20 at 7:30pm. 🎙️☀️

The event celebrates the social justice legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Pittsburgh through vocal and instrumental music, as well as spoken word.

The concert features vocal solos by Anqwenique and choral selections by The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones. It concludes with a performance by the intergenerational MLK Festival Choir, directed by Dr. Herbert Jones and Nikki Porter.

KDKA-TV reporter Mikey Hood will serve as the celebrity emcee.
Proceeds benefit the Let Freedom Sing Concerts, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and the Afro-American Music Institute. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a food item to donate to the EECM Food Pantry.

Secure your spot today via the link in our bio. 🎟️

01/17/2025

🕊️We're honored to spread the word about MLK Day celebration events at KST on WQED's Voice of the Arts podcast and KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh's Intersections! 📻🎥 Tune in to hear KST's Co-Executive Director Joseph Hall, Marketing Specialist Mingsi Ma, and choreographer/dancer Rickia Davenport. ✊🏾 These two interviews offer insights into why celebrating MLK is so important to us at KST, along with details on our latest commission Bearing Life with Rickia —a powerful dance piece advocating for reproductive justice for Black women.

Don't miss out—get your tickets for our Youth & Family program In the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King, happening Monday, January 20 from 1-4pm! Then join Let Freedom Sing - Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. concert at 7:30pm. https://bit.ly/42kevFJ

Voice of the Arts podcast is available via https://bit.ly/42kEEnY

Catch KST's Intersections segment on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 11:30 a.m. on KDKA+ (Ch. 19, formerly Pittsburgh's CW), streaming on CBS News Pittsburgh and kdka.com. It will re-air Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and again on Monday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. on CBS News Pittsburgh. https://bit.ly/4jwWdHA

01/17/2025

"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 🌍 📣

Spend Monday January 20, with us at Kelly Strayhorn Theater celebrating the spirit of Rev. Dr. King through art and advocacy. The day is complete with performances from Hill Dance Academy Theatre faculty, Guardians of Sound’s Hip Hop Orchestra, and students from Los Sabrosos Dance Company. The lobby will be filled with community building activities from our partners The Kingsley Association, Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, Youth Initiative, True T PGH, Landforce Assemble and Allegheny Reproductive Health Center.

This year’s event introduces Rickia Davenport’s dance play on Black Women’s Reproductive Health titled Bearing Life. The performance delves into the complex history of reproductive health, inspired by firsthand experiences and in response to the challenges Black women continue to face.

Secure your spot today via the link in our bio. 🎟️

This event is part of Citizens Series: KST Presents Arts and Community Programs, sponsored by Citizens 💚

01/16/2025

We’re speechless! 🔥 🫶🏽 🙌🏽 Together you've raised over $44,000 in support of artists and activists in 2025!

We wanted to take a moment to express our immense gratitude for your incredible support during our year-end campaign to keep artist voices heard in 2025.

Thanks to your generosity, KST not only exceeded our December goal of $12,000, but have raised an astounding $44,750 – bringing us to 90% of our individual giving goal for the ENTIRE year!

We are truly grateful for your commitment and belief in our vision. Together, we are making a significant impact,and we can’t wait to see what our community achieves in the coming year.

P.S. A huge thank you is due also to KSTs Board of Directors, who've pulled together to match an additional $15,700 of your gifts! 😍

***rarts

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