Kelly Strayhorn Theater

What Kelly Strayhorn Theater does

Kelly Strayhorn Theater (Legal entity: Community Theater Project Corporation, EIN 31-1692848) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization based in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, operating from two venues at 5941 Penn Avenue (the main theater) and 5530 Penn Avenue (Alloy Studios). The organization is Black-led and queer-focused, with programming centered on Black and queer artists and audiences, including live performances, dance and music productions, comedy shows, documentary screenings, and the Freshworks residency program for emerging artists (debuted 2013). Supporting programs include the Alloy School dance education, youth and family programming (including Drag Queen Story Time), KST Gallery exhibitions, venue rentals, and the HomeMakers series.

The organization's revenue model is a mix of six streams: ticket sales, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, rental income, and class/workshop fees. Major funders include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Pittsburgh Foundation, the Buhl Foundation, the NEA, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; corporate sponsors include Citizens Bank, AHN/Highmark, UPMC, Bacardi, BNY Mellon, and PNC. Ticketing runs on Salesforce Sites, digital programs are produced in Canva, and donations are processed through Benevity for employer matching. Pricing ranges from $25-$59 for ticketed events with a "Pay What Moves You" ($15-$75) model used for accessibility on programs like the symposium livestream pass and Freshworks performances.

The organization is operating under a 2022 strategic plan called "Owning Our Future. Thriving Where We Live," with four pillars (Our Story, Our Space, Our Capacity, Our Money) focused on transitioning from a tenant organization to property ownership through a proposed Black Cultural Trust. In May 2025, KST hosted a four-day national Owning Our Future symposium on BIPOC institutional ownership, extending its profile beyond the Pittsburgh region. Leadership is co-led by co-executive directors Janera Solomon and Joseph Hall, supported by a Director of Advancement, Development & Communications Director, and Programming Manager.

Name

Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Legal name

Community Theater Project Corporation dba Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Website

https://kelly-strayhorn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a Black-led, queer-focused 501(c)(3) performing arts nonprofit in Pittsburgh's East Liberty that presents live performances, artist residencies, and education programs centered on Black and queer artists and audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cultural Programming

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Artist residency programs
• Community arts education
• Cultural nonprofit organization
• Live performance programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed performances and events at the main theater and Alloy Studios, including KST Presents productions and partner events.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals supporting the theater's mission and strategic direction toward ownership.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate partners including Citizens, AHN/Highmark, UPMC, Bacardi, and numerous other local businesses through sponsorship agreements.
4. Foundation & Government Grants: Funding from institutional funders including Allegheny Regional Asset District, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Heinz Endowments, NEA, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and others.
5. Rental Income: Revenue from renting the theater space and Alloy Studios to external performers, organizations, and community groups.
6. Classes and Workshops: Revenue from the Alloy School programming including dance classes for various age groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kelly Strayhorn Theater operates a performing arts venue and community cultural organization presenting live theater, dance, music, and comedy performances, alongside the Freshworks emerging-artist residency, the Alloy School dance and movement classes, gallery exhibitions, venue rentals, and youth and family programming. Programming is delivered across two Pittsburgh venues and is mission-driven to center Black and queer artists and audiences while advancing a strategic goal of BIPOC institutional ownership of cultural space.

Product overview

Kelly Strayhorn Theater is a performing arts organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include live theatrical performances, dance, music, and comedy events at its two venues (Kelly Strayhorn Theater and Alloy Studios). Supporting programs include the Freshworks residency for emerging artists, the Alloy School dance education program, KST Gallery exhibitions, venue rentals, youth and family programming, and the Owning Our Future symposium. The theater's ticketing and donations are handled through Salesforce Sites platform, and digital programs are created using Canva.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alloy Studios: KST's second location at 5530 Penn Ave, used for residencies and performances.

Products and services

• Theater Performances and Events Live theatrical productions, dance performances, music concerts, comedy shows, and documentary screenings presented at Kelly Strayhorn Theater and Alloy Studios venues for Pittsburgh audiences.
• Freshworks Residency Program Creative residency program for emerging artists providing planning support, studio space, production staff, lighting and sound design, stipends, and resource budgets to develop and present new work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia.
• Alloy School Classes and Workshops Educational programming including the Alloy School dance classes (Ballet/Jazz for ages 3-6, creative movement, pre-ballet, improvisation, modern, and jazz) and workshops for youth, adults, and families.
• KST Gallery Exhibitions Exhibition space featuring rotating visual art installations and gallery programming accompanying the theater's performing arts season.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the main Kelly Strayhorn Theater and Alloy Studios for external events, productions, rehearsals, and community gatherings.
• Owning Our Future Symposium National symposium focused on BIPOC institutional ownership in the arts, featuring keynote talks, panel discussions, and performances on ownership models for cultural preservation and empowerment of Black and Brown-led arts institutions.
• Youth and Family Programming Family-friendly performances, youth-focused classes, and intergenerational arts activities including the Drag Queen Story Time series, designed for children and families in the Pittsburgh region.
• HomeMakers Program Series Program series exploring themes of home and belonging through artistic programming inspired by Black homemaking traditions.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Native Arts and Cultures FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Featured keynote speaker Shyla Spicer at Owning Our Future symposium exploring creative land stewardship in Indigenous self-determination.
• Andy Warhol MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented 'MIRIAM' by Nora Chipaumire in April 2013 as part of The Warhol's 'Off The Wall' series. The partnership has included multiple collaborative presentations.
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including student collaborations, faculty involvement in programs, and venue for some performances.
• National Performance Network (NPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKST is a co-commissioner through NPN for works including 'Amm(i)gone' by Adil Mansoor. NPN provides creative development funding and network support.
• City of AsylumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for presenting programming and collaborative dialogue series including the 'A Prophet's Tale' reading list.
• Carnegie Library of PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for programs including Drag Queen Story Hour.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: Larger Pittsburgh-based arts presenter operating multiple venues and galleries in the Cultural District. Comparable as a Pittsburgh performing-arts presenter but at significantly broader scale and portfolio scope.
• The Andy Warhol Museum: Pittsburgh-based contemporary art museum and a documented KST partner for co-presented performances. Comparable as a Pittsburgh cultural anchor with overlap in presenting contemporary performance programming.

Direct peers

• Links Hall: Chicago community-based venue supporting experimental performance, dance, and emerging artists. Similar scale and operating model to KST's Alloy Studios, including residency-style support for early-career artists.
• Harlem Stage: NYC performing arts venue that produces and presents work by artists of color with a strong artist-residency program. Directly comparable to KST's mix of community-anchored presenting, artist development, and Black/queer-affirming programming.
• August Wilson African American Cultural Center: Pittsburgh-based Black-focused cultural venue presenting performing arts, exhibitions, and community programs. Closest direct peer due to overlapping mission of centering Black artists and audiences in a mid-size U.S. city.

Regional players

• PICA (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art): Portland-based presenter of contemporary performance and visual art with a residency program (TBA/time-based art). Comparable artist-development and presenting model, though operating in a different regional market.
• The Yard: Martha's Vineyard-based choreography residency and performance organization. Comparable in residency-driven artist support and small-staff operating model, but primarily serves a different coastal geography.

Others

• National Performance Network (NPN): National network of performing-arts presenters and producers that has co-commissioned work through KST. Comparable as an ecosystem partner and indirect peer shaping KST's programming and funding access.

Emerging players

• New York Live Arts: NYC venue for contemporary performance and dance with residencies, commissions, and education programming. Comparable in residency/artist-development model and presenting role, though operating at a larger scale than KST.
• BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance: Bronx-based performing arts venue centering LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists. Highly comparable mission focus on queer and Black artistic communities, though smaller operating footprint than KST.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KSTheater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KSTheater
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Kelly-Strayhorn-Theater/123830718713
• Instagraminstagram.com/kstheater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelly-strayhorn-theater-in-pittsburgh-pa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelly Strayhorn Theater