Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Kelly Strayhorn Theater Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people.
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As the last of nine theaters from the 1950s heyday of East Liberty, the Kelly Strayhorn plays a key role in the transformation of East Liberty into a welcoming and dynamic town-within-a-city by using the arts as a catalyst for continuing community revitalization. Kelly Strayhorn Theater is an intimate, professionally-equipped, 350-seat multiple-use performance venue. With a commitment to support t

he burgeoning arts community in the city of Pittsburgh, the theater serves as an ideal place for emerging local artists, regional artists and arts organizations to take risks and present new work.

“Great music can transcend time, it can touch the hearts of people for generations to come” - Billy Strayhorn ⁠❤️⁠⁠This ...
06/19/2026

“Great music can transcend time, it can touch the hearts of people for generations to come” - Billy Strayhorn ⁠❤️⁠
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This Juneteenth, a holiday recognizing resilience, emancipation, and Black liberation, we celebrate and honor the brilliance, legacy, and creativity of 1 of KST’s 2 timeless inspirations, Billy Strayhorn. His dedication to his craft transformed American music through his groundbreaking compositions, sophisticated arrangements, and enduring partnership with Duke Ellington.⁠💚⁠
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As a Black, openly gay artist navigating a segregated America, Strayhorn's artistry challenged boundaries and created space for generations to come. His music reflects the vibrant jazz community of the Hill District⁠
Today, we reflect on the unfinished work of freedom and the lasting impact of artists like Billy Strayhorn, whose contributions continue to resonate across generations.⁠ 💛⁠
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Volunteers are still needed for House Party: Mic Drop!, KST’s annual benefit supporting our fall 2026 season on Saturday...
06/17/2026

Volunteers are still needed for House Party: Mic Drop!, KST’s annual benefit supporting our fall 2026 season on Saturday, July 11.

By joining our volunteer team, you’re becoming a part of the pulse-pounding spectacle! And if you need an extra incentive, our House Party volunteers will now be entered into a special drawing to win one of two prizes, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates!

Various volunteer slots are available during our fundraiser, as well as the week leading up to the event. Please sign up by Sunday, June 21 at 11:59pm if you are interested. Volunteers must be 18 or older to perform tasks for House Party.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0PAvv_Qmrpt7QmtHG14dm_kdnkgmI5hcdHAl_puyglnq6jQ/viewform

Photo Credit: Chad Isaiah

06/17/2026

Acclaimed choreographer Sidra Bell began her journey with Kelly Strayhorn Theater in 2009, at the suggestion of fellow choreographer Kyle Abraham.

In this video, Sidra explains the ways that KST contributes to the arts as an ecosystem, supporting collaboration opportunities both regionally and nationally.⁠
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You can help Kelly Strayhorn Theater continue this supportive energy by attending our 18th annual benefit, House Party: Mic Drop! on Saturday, July 11. Funds raised directly support KST’s fall programming of performances, artist residencies, gallery exhibitions, and youth programs. ⁠
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https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/houseparty-2026-mic-drop/

Dancers: Felix Bryan and Kimie Parker
Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership, 2025

House Party: Mic Drop! returns Saturday, July 11, with an immersive VIP reception from 7:00pm-9:00pm, celebrating the ar...
06/16/2026

House Party: Mic Drop! returns Saturday, July 11, with an immersive VIP reception from 7:00pm-9:00pm, celebrating the artists and supporters powering Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s fall 2026 season.

Starting at the VIP reception, guests will enjoy a special menu of Korean-American fare created by our Penn Avenue neighbors at Soju (), bringing bold flavors and warm hospitality to the party.

We’ll also be raising a glass with bespoke cocktails crafted with refreshing Tito’s Handmade Vodka (), our official liquor sponsor for the evening.

A special thank you to the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation () and Penn Avenue Arts & Commercial District () for helping make these neighborhood partnerships possible.

Good food. Great drinks. Unforgettable performances. All in support of KST.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

7:00pm – 9:00pm: Immersive VIP Reception
9:00pm – 12:00am: Dance Party

Pay What Moves You: $50 – $325
Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.

https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/houseparty-2026-mic-drop/

Photo Credit: Chad Isaiah

06/15/2026

From the mixer to the main stage...the countdown to House Party: Mic Drop! is live!

Our House Party Host Committee and Board Members came together to kick off the excitement for this amazing event! And now, it's your turn to join us! Meet us at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater on Saturday, July 11 for an incredible night of karaoke, community, dancing, and VIP performances for our 18th Annual Benefit.

Make sure to have your dancing shoes on and karaoke songs prepared because this is going to be a memorable night, featuring guest performances by Treasure Treasure, DS Kinsel, Bridgette Perdue, Anqwenique Kinsel, and amazing beats by the legendary dj Selecta! We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Thank you to all who came last week and contributed to the vibrant energy of the mixer. We share your excitement and enthusiasm for House Party: Mic Drop! and encourage you to keep practicing your song choices for karaoke!

https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/houseparty-2026-mic-drop/

Video Credit: Zion Joelle Ross

Congratulations to our Mutual Aid partner Dreams of Hope for being the cover of 's 2026 Pittsburgh Pride Guide!⁠ ⁠Throug...
06/13/2026

Congratulations to our Mutual Aid partner Dreams of Hope for being the cover of 's 2026 Pittsburgh Pride Guide!⁠
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Through the power of the arts, Dreams of Hope provides the region’s le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, questioning, asexual, and allied (LGBTQA+) youth a welcoming environment.⁠
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🫶🏽 In response to the challenges facing the nonprofit performing arts sector, KST has established the Mutual Aid Residency, partnering with like-minded organizations to share resources and work together to re-establish East Liberty as a hub for the Pittsburgh arts community.⁠
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In the article, Dreams of Hope's Artistic Director Bekezela Mguni shares, “We know that the work we do in schools and in the community is necessary because of the response that we receive from LGBTQ young people. We are often sought out by supportive educators or caregivers and parents who are looking to support young people in their lives.” 🌈⁠
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❤️ In April, KST also co-presented OH MY GOD!, an original show written and performed by Dreams of Hope's performing arts ensemble theatriQ. ⁠
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Read the QBurgh feature: https://qburgh.com/dreams-of-hope/
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Photo Credit: Ava Grace
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Sharing artist Jasmine Hearn's next journey after their performance Memory Fleet: Stay in the Circle at Kelly Strayhorn ...
06/10/2026

Sharing artist Jasmine Hearn's next journey after their performance Memory Fleet: Stay in the Circle at Kelly Strayhorn Theater this past April! They will perform the final installment of their Memory Fleet archival project with Memory Fleet: Beloved, Let’s Cross, presented Thursday-Saturday, June 11-13, at 7:30 PM at New York Live Arts Theater.

Memory Fleet: Beloved, Let’s Cross encompasses a series of performances, a shared embodied practice, an evolving installation of archival materials, an expanding digital archive, and a body of original sound, text, and recipes — all celebrating the stories, dances, and gestures passed on through intergenerational lineages.

Memory Fleet: Stay in the Circle at Kelly Strayhorn Theater was their previous installment in this series.⁠
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Photo Credit: "Memory Fleet: Time & Trinity"⁠
Danspace Project 2026, photo by Tony Turner Photography⁠

Read more and purchase tickets: https://newyorklivearts.org/event/memory-fleet-beloved-lets-cross/

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Memory Fleet is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by DiverseWorks in partnership with Chocolate Factory Theater (Queens, NY), Kelly Strayhorn Theater (Pittsburgh, PA), New York Live Arts (New York, NY), and NPN (New Orleans, LA). The work has received additional support from Creative Capital and the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation.

06/04/2026

Vibe check! We’re so excited for House Party: Mic Drop! on Saturday, July 11 at KST, our 18th annual benefit returning as a karaoke fundraiser supporting our Fall 2026 season.

Get inspired to light up the night at our Immersive VIP Reception, featuring karaoke performances by artist-singers Treasure Treasure, DS and Anqwenique Kinsel, Bridgette Perdue, and surprise celebrity singers!

Keep the celebration going all night long at the lobby Dance Party powered by legendary dj Selecta.

Learn more and get your tickets here:
https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/houseparty-2026-mic-drop/

The arts community is mourning the loss of Dito van Reigersberg, a beloved performing artist and co-founder of Philadelp...
06/04/2026

The arts community is mourning the loss of Dito van Reigersberg, a beloved performing artist and co-founder of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Company, which presented two past works at KST: Poet in New York in September 2011, and Zero Cost Hour in October 2013. Dito was also featured in TAKES with Nichole Canuso in January 2011.

In addition to his concert work, Dito was a mainstay in the Philadelphia drag scene. Performing as Martha Graham Cracker, Dito created an energetic cabaret act that drew crowds from Philadelphia to New York City.

In a Facebook post, Pig Iron Theatre Company remembered Dito as “a supernova of joy and generosity.” Those who knew Dito can share stories and messages at the e-mail address [email protected]

Photo Credit: Dito van Reigersberg in Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Poet in New York, September 2011

Thank you to our 2026 House Party Sponsors!Our corporate, in-kind, and small business House Party sponsors are our partn...
06/03/2026

Thank you to our 2026 House Party Sponsors!

Our corporate, in-kind, and small business House Party sponsors are our partners in ensuring a successful launch of our Fall 2026 season of programming. Upcoming programs include Local/Global artist Maree Remalia, Freshworks artists Mal MacKenzie and lys scott, Youth and Family events, and much more!

Stay tuned for our Fall 2026 season announcement in late August, and don't miss House Party: Mic Drop! on Saturday, July 11 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/houseparty-2026-mic-drop/

2026 HOUSE PARTY SPONSORS:
Duolingo
Citizens Bank
UPMC
The Mosites Company
Bloomfield Garfield Corporation
Penn Avenue Arts & Commercial District
GLM Architects
Daisylew Productions/ Redwood Films
Tito's Vodka
Pittsburgh Pirates Charities
Wagner Agency, Inc.
H Marketing Services

Address

5941 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15206

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
7pm - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
7pm - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
7pm - 8pm

Telephone

+14123633000

Website

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