BOO! As the crisp air of fall sets in, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is excited to host this year’s Pumpkin Palooza, An East Liberty Halloween Adventure, on Saturday, October 26. Families can enjoy candy, crafts, and eerie-fun activities with KST’s community partner organizations in the KST lobby from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. The spirited performances at 2:00pm are set to enchant kids and grown-ups alike.
This year’s Pumpkin Palooza brings together both new and familiar faces, as KST proudly partners with Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Assemble, Youth Enrichment Services, Phase 4 Learning Center, Urban Impact, and Dreams of Hope to present a vibrant lineup of community activities. These collaborations reflect KST’s commitment to connecting families with essential services, from mental health support and education to financial literacy and LGBTQ+ resources. In the lobby, guests can enjoy pumpkin crafts, face painting, bracelet making, and exciting giveaways. Adding to the festivity is a specially curated Halloween music playlist that is sure to set the wicked vibe.
Hosted by Jacquelin Walker, the youth performance program features K-Theatre Dance Complex, Alumni Theater Company, the Obama Marching Band, and Urban Impact Jazz Band. They will bring Halloween-inspired music, dance, and performances to the stage. According to KST’s Programming Manager Sarah Gilmer, “We have been working with most of these youth ensembles for years now, and it’s always a treat to welcome them back. The students never fail to deliver inspiring performances, and all the fun Halloween vibes they bring really create a vibrant experience. In return, we’re thrilled to offer these talented young performers a stage to shine.”
On the day of the event, all audience members are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume or come as they are for a fun afternoon of tricks, treats, and groovy beats. At the end of the performance, all the kids in the audience seats will be invited to the stage for a “soul train” costume parade, showcasing their best whimsical Halloween outfits.
 Photo Credit: Sarah Gilmer |
Every year, KST decorates its historic lobby, dressing it up with fall colors. This time, besides sparkling fringe, straw bales, and spider webs, the lobby will be decorated with a special centerpiece, a vibrant community-painted pumpkin mural. The mural’s first brushstrokes were beautifully started by attendees of Larimer’s Back 2 School Summer Jam in August. It is now open to all to add the finishing touches at the Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party on Tuesday, October 8, at 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Whether you’re an experienced painter or simply love to create, everyone is welcome to leave their mark on this collective masterpiece along with KST staff and volunteers.
“We love seeing little people walking up to the theater in their costumes. Darth Vader hanging out with Hulk? What could be better than that? For us, Pumpkin Palooza is a place where the whole community comes together, cheer in the theater, and get to know and support one another. We can’t wait to welcome everyone,” said Sarah fondly.
Pumpkin Palooza: An East Liberty Halloween Adventure
Saturday, October 26, 2024
1:00pm – 4:00pm: Activities with Community Partners
2:00pm - 3:00pm: Youth Performance Program
Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25
Tickets for Pumpkin Palooza are available on a sliding scale, from $0 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.
Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
Pay What Moves You: $0 – $25
Tickets for Pumpkin Palooza Mural Community Painting Party are available on a sliding scale, from $0 to $25 per attendee, and can be purchased at kelly-strayhorn.org or at the door.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Jacquelin Walker (Host) is a lawyer, arts organizer, yoga instructor, and advocate for equity in arts and entertainment. She uses storytelling to transform American culture, creating agency for marginalized voices. Starting in television production, she moved to talent representation, then legal roles before founding Fete-Fete Ltd. in 2016, showcasing underrepresented artists. In 2020, she launched her law office, focusing on Arts and Entertainment, and promoting access to justice. Her yoga practice centers on anti-racism, joy, rest, and healing.
Led by professional multi-instrumentalist Lorenze Jefferson, the Urban Impact Jazz Band is a part of the Christian missionary organization, Urban Impact. Based in the North Side of Pittsburgh, Urban Impact’s Performing Arts programs give children, middle school, and high school youth the opportunity to develop and share their talents by singing, dancing, acting, playing an instrument, and creating artwork in local venues. Visit uifpgh.org to learn more about other Urban Impact programs and events.
Alumni Theater Company (ATC) is a year-round program providing talented Black youth in grades 6-12 with high quality performing arts training and a platform to express their ideas. ATC is currently in its 15th season of creating bold theatrical work that gives fresh voice to the experience of young Black artists and highlights their rich contribution to our community. alumnitheatercompany.org
K-Theatre Dance Complex (KTDC), is a dance academy that provides quality dance instruction in several major areas of dance, which include Ballet, Contemporary, Modern and Hip Hop. Led by Artistic Director Kontara Morphis, and Arts Education Director Rickia Davenport, KTDC curriculum incorporates dance theory, terminology and dance theater. KTDC has largely impacted the physical, academic, creative, and personal development of its students. facebook.com/ktheatredancecomplex
The Obama Marching Band (OMB) was first established in 2011. The band is comprised of interested music students in grades 7 through 12. Student musicians represent the high-achievement and excellence modeled by our school Pittsburgh Obama Academy. In 2023, OMB represented the City of Pittsburgh as ambassadors in the 2023 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. We collaborated with Pittsburgh Allderdice HS, Pittsburgh Brashear HS, and Pittsburgh Obama Academy to form Pittsburgh’s “One Band One Sound” All-City Marching Band. The marching band performs at parades, pep rallies, football games, and other community-wide events. pghobamaband.com.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse is a non-profit that inspires creativity, conservation, and community engagement through reuse. We operate a non-traditional art supply shop located at the intersection of Wilkinsburg, Homewood, and Point Breeze, where people can donate used art and craft supplies, as well as shop for these unique items all in the same location. We also facilitate hands-on creative programming that educates the public about the benefits of reuse for the environment, community, and self. We see reuse as a vehicle for boosting self-confidence, learning new skills, and creating opportunity for all. For more information, visit our website at pccr.org.
Assemble envisions a world where learning and creating are transformative experiences and where all people are equipped with the tools to make a difference, together. At Assemble, we use learning as a tool to create a more equitable future for youth and learners in the Pittsburgh region and beyond. We build confidence through making; connect learners, makers, technologists, and artists; and nurture agency in learners. We offer free afterschool, Saturday programs, camps, and more for kids as well as adult programs. Visit us at Assemble 4824 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 assemblepgh.org or @assemblepgh on social media.
Youth Enrichment Services (YES), based in East Liberty, provides socially and economically at risk youth the opportunity to achieve success through participation in mentorship, education, and enrichment programs. Through mentoring partnerships, peer assisted tutoring programs, and — when needed — monitoring and mentoring programs for juvenile offenders, YES invests its talent, energy, time, and resources in empowering and enriching the lives of children and teens. YES provides responsive, innovative, and youth-designed programs that offer young people unique academic, enrichment, and employment experiences. Youthenrichmentservices.org @yes.pgh
Phase 4 Learning Center offers a safe and caring learning environment for historically underserved students in grades 6 – 12 to earn a high school diploma and gain work experience. Phase 4 focuses on four phases of development: academic, social, behavioral, and future employment. Although based in Pittsburgh, Phase 4 operates at six locations in Allegheny and Beaver County including The Best Buy Teen Tech Center (BBTTC) located at 5850 Centre Ave. The BBTTC is a member of The International Clubhouse Network and winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring. To learn more about Phase 4 visit their website at phase4learningcenter.org.
Urban Impact was founded in 1995 by Pastor Ed and Tammy Glover after they felt a calling to reach youth on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Over the past 25 years, we have grown to a staff of 45+ missionaries who all reside on the North Side and run programs in Athletics, Education, Performing Arts, and Options. This past year, we reached 2,282 students and 750 people gave their lives to Christ during our programs or events. Visit uifpgh.org to learn more about other Urban Impact programs and events.
Dreams of Hope empowers the region’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, and allied (LGBTQA+) youth through the arts, creating a welcoming environment where they grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders. Serving primarily ages 13-26, we also offer intergenerational spaces for community members. Visit dreamsofhope.org to learn more about our upcoming programs and events, including theatriQ, our weekly performing arts youth ensemble that meets on Wednesdays from October to April.
ABOUT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER
Named after 20th century entertainment legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, both natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST) is a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people. We welcome our home to all who uplift Black, Indigenous, people of color, and queer voices.
KST is an institutional arts anchor in Pittsburgh’s East End that has served the community for more than two decades. Since launching KST Presents programming in ’08, KST has been Black-led, fostering radical imagination for Black and queer arts, culture, and community in Pittsburgh by cultivating BIPOC and/or queer artists, entrepreneurs, and arts administrators, developing their careers, and shifting narratives around Black possibility.
