By Mingsi Ma, Kelly Strayhorn Theater

For 25 years, KST has proudly served as a cultural anchor in Pittsburgh’s East End. It has been an era to champion creativity, nurture community, and advance collective liberation. Anchored in this spirit of celebration, KST announces its Fall 2025 season. From September through December, we invite audiences to join us in cultivating joy as an act of resistance. So how does joy spark the resistance?

KST first opened its doors in 2001 and was named for iconic Pittsburgh entertainment legends, Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn. In 2008, the theater took a leap of faith into producing original programming. 2011 brought a partnership with the historic Dance Alloy, which was considered Pittsburgh’s then-premier modern dance company. This merger blossomed into a two-venue operation that created a lasting legacy that underscores Pittsburgh’s enduring commitment to fostering spaces for artistic changemakers.

The commitment continues with KST’s Fall season that explores a diverse selection of programs. The season begins with the Local & Global Performance series, presenting celebrated dance-theater artist David Roussève’s world premiere of Becoming Daddy AF on Friday & Saturday, September 26 – 27. This work is a meditation on life’s purpose that reflects Roussève’s ancestral genealogy, his journey living with HIV, and the profound loss of his husband.

When doors open to the public on Friday, September 26, at 5:30 pm for Becoming Daddy AF, audiences experience the Pittsburgh Queer History Project exhibition entitled Calendar Girls in the House of Tilden on view in our theater lobby through January. Curator Harrison Apple showcases archival documentation of early queer, trans, and performers of color at House of Tilden, the after-hours queer disco in East Liberty from 1970 to 1981.

KST then proudly uplifts new performances in progress from local Freshworks Artists in Residence. On Friday & Saturday, October 3 – 4, Moire del Carmen’s Baquiné is inspired by the Puerto Rican tradition to celebrate the life and death of a child, looking at grief when it is met with laughter, love, and the transformative power of art. Rickia Davenport’s The Choice explores the complex reproductive health challenges faced by African American women on Friday & Saturday, November 7 – 8.

Two of KST’s most celebrated annual traditions are set for their return to center stage to close out the fall season. On Saturday, October 25, bring your family to Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure. Families and children are welcome to enjoy treats, creative activities, and performances. The beloved holiday concert Suite Life: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn & Gene Kelly returns on Saturday, November 29, featuring reimagined classics with a festive orchestral performance.

Through dance, theater, music, and visual art, KST’s upcoming fall season amplifies the commitment to being a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective liberation. Learn more about the upcoming programming via their website at kelly-strayhorn.org.