Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, established in 2001, is a welcoming space that strives to make its visitors feel supported and seen from the second they walk in the door. What was once the Regent Theatre in the East Liberty neighborhood has transformed into a space embracing strong community, cultural value, and joy. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater invites all to watch the moving, creative plays they perform and offers marked support to Black and queer people, striving to honor the legacy of inclusion and jubilation left behind by the two legendary Pittsburgh artists the theater is named for: Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn.
However, Kelly-Strayhorn would not be complete without its learning community. The dance classes and educational programs taught in Kelly-Strayhorn’s Alloy Studios, located in a separate building from the main theater, serve to foster joy and personal expression. The community is vibrant, filled with people of all ages who come together to celebrate themselves and each other. I spoke with Kelly-Strayhorn’s Education Coordinator, Simon Phillips, to learn more about how the Alloy Studios functions as a community hub, how he uses his role to uplift voices and promote creative expression within the community, and how Kelly-Strayhorn is involved and embedded within the larger arts scene of East Liberty.
Works Cited
Phillips, Simon. Interview. Conducted by Odessa Patmos. 7 November 2022.