Love and All That Jazz with Kelley Hunt!

Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm

A love-themed evening of music in the spirit of Valentine's Day to benefit Hope Academy of Music and the Arts. This family-friendly event features singer/songwriter/piano player Kelley Hunt and her band laying down some blues-heavy R&B tunes with passion and soul. Hope Academy's HAT Co band will open for Kelley Hunt, with Rev. Randy Bush sitting in on keys. Bring the entire family and share the love!

"Kelley Hunt delivers the goods with a voice that grafts passionate blues to scorching soul - instantly endearing her to all within earshot, as her band surrounds her in a greasy funk that completes the package and brings you back for more."

Eric Thom BLUES REVUE

Find out more about Kelley Hunt at www.KelleyHunt.com

Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 students and senior citizens 60+

Available at the door of the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater or online at Brown Paper Tickets

HAT Co Band Performing at MLK Celebration

East Liberty Celebrates MLK, Jr Day

Presented by Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Monday, January 16, 2012 | 12 PM–4 PM

KST celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Many Hands, a family-friendly afternoon of activities and performances celebrating the thousands of people who held hands in peace marches during King's life, and the thousands more who continue to work for change today. 

The event begins at noon with activities from Bike Pittsburgh, CMU's Hear Me Project, MGR Foundation and Thomas Merton Center in the KST lobby. 

At 2 PM, enjoy free performances from Alumni Theater Company, Dreams of Hope, Hip Hop on L.O.C.K , InterPlay , and Visionary Dance Academy. Hope Academy's HAT Co band -- Bethan Neely, Annajane Lowe, Zoe Zielinski, Bonnie Nickel, Sam Gardner, Jonathan Lee, Candace Burgess, Allie Brown, Jewel Strothers and Larry White -- will close OPEN the show. Be there at 2 pm to see HAT Co perform!

At 4 PM, march with friends up Highland Ave to Union Project where the celebration will continue with more activities until 8 PM, including a free community dinner.

Dates, Time & Tickets
Monday, Jan. 16 | 12–4 PM
FREE!

HAT Co teens do it all! Apply Now

We are now accepting applications for new members of our teen theater company: HAT Co! 

If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming part of a performing ensemble (singing, dancing, acting and rock band) please download and fill out this HAT Co New Member Application. 

HAT Co is an intensive training program that requires a high level of commitment -- not necessarily experience. Selected members take courses, participate in ensembles and receive private coaching and lessons in acting, movement, singing, dance and music (guitar, bass, keyboard, drums). This program is uniquely suited to multi-talented teens who are motivated to study and perform across a range of disciplines; and who have an interest in being part of an inclusive, supportive,  non-competitive group. 

The deadline for the application is September 3.  Fill out the application completely... the more information you give us about yourself, the better. 

If you would like to have an electronic version of this application emailed to you (so that you can fill it out on your computer) please call Norma at 412-441-3800 x11.

Register Now for Fall Term 2011!

Hope Academy classes, and studios for some private teachers, fill quickly. So it's not too early to register for the fall term. New for 2011-2012: "Dance Together" and "Sing Together" classes for pre-schoolers with a parent or caregiver, offered FREE in partnership with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Guitar Society of Fine Art. Plus our usual offerings of Musical Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dance classes (creative movement, pre-ballet and ballet 1), Boys Dance! and our free East Liberty Community Engagement Orchestra (EL CEO). Applications for our teen theater company (HAT Co) will be online by the end of this week.

Download and print the Hope Academy Course Brochure, fill out the Registration Form and mail it in with your payment. Don't forget to read our Policies. And, if you would like to apply for a scholarship or tuition assistance for courses or private lessons, return the Scholarship Application by August 1, 2011.

Angelina's Farewell Piano Recital

Thursday, July 7 @ 7 pm

Room 234 of ELPC

Please join us for Angelina Winbush's final piano recital before she leaves for a year to live and study in Malaysia. This will be a great time to say "Selamat Jalan" (have a safe journey)... and a bit of a summer reunion for members of EL CEO, as well!

The recital is hosted by Hope Academy, at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, and Angelina's teacher, Federico Garcia. It will be held in room 234 at 7 pm.

Dream On! This Weekend

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" as you've never seen it before -- remixed, mashed up, deconstructed and re-imagined. Fifty Hope Academy students sing, dance and act their way through the madcap adventures of one of Shakespeare's most well-loved plays; with music from Spring Awakening, Pippin, Cee Lo, Aerosmith (of course), and more.

Midsummer weekend - Friday, June 17; Saturday, June 18; Sunday, June 19 - at 7 pm each evening.  Performances are weather-dependent -- if it rains, we cancel. This will be announced here and on the Hope Academy facebook page.

Tickets are available at the door: $10 for adults; $5 for students and seniors. Seating is limited! Doors open for a pre-show at 6:45 pm.

DREAM ON! takes place outside in the courtyard of East Liberty Presbyterian Church (116 S. Highland Avenue on the corner of Penn and Highland in East Liberty). 412-441-3800

DREAM ON - Costume Requirements

It’s challenging to find costumes for the wide age and size range we have… so this year we are keeping it FUN and SIMPLE. This will give you an opportunity to be your own costume designer and to be creative (within certain parameters).

DREAM ON - Rehearsal and Performance Schedule

Sat. June 4 

Rehearsal during classtime - Bio forms due - Photos will be taken for program

MTW students and their parents are invited to make costume and set pieces with us from 1 to 3 pm

Sat. June 11

Rehearsal during classtime
Extra coaching in the afternoon for those who need it (we will call you separately)

Mon. June 13  
6:00 to 8:30 pm     HAT Co singers and band 

Tues June 14    
6:00 to 8:00 pm    MTW - "Magic to Do" "Spell on You" and acting pieces 

Wed. June 15   
6:00 to 9:00 pm    HAT Co and HAT Co Jr. Acting until 8 pm 
                             HAT Co Band from 8 to 9 pm 

Thurs. June 16  
6:00 to 8:30 pm    Dress Tech - Everyone
                             HAT Co Band stays to 9 pm

Fri. June 17*
Call time 6:00 pm - Showtime 7:00 pm

Sat. June 18*
Call time 6:00 pm - Showtime 7:00 pm

Sun. June 19*
Call time 6:00 pm - Showtime 7:00 pm

*Please note: Performances will be canceled if it rains. Pray for nice weather and check this blog and our facebook page on performance days.

Vocal Performance Workshop with Joy Ike - SAT May 14

Vocal performance workshop for HAT Co with singer-songwriter, Joy Ike, on Saturday, May 14 @ 1:30 pm. Joy will perform a few songs of her own for you, give you some feedback and assistance on your songs, and work with you specifically on how to connect the words to the music -- and convey the meaning and emotion to the audience. Check out her website so you know a bit more about her and her music before tomorrow.

“In a world saturated with singer-songwriters, Joy Ike stands out in the same way as Corinne Bailey Rae or Ingrid Michaelson. On her new release, Ike’s tapped into something special that pulls on your emotions when you listen to her sing away about finding God or fitting in. Her stellar backing band floats alongside her honey voice. Her thoughtful playing is comparable to Sarah McLachlan or Sara Bareilles. Joy Ike has got a one-up on most of her songwriter peers because not only is she brave enough to say what she’s saying, she has the chops and the skills to say it gracefully.” -Cindy Howes (WYEP Morning Mix Host & Producer)

newMoves Dance Festival Starts Today - Staycee Pearl dance project Tomorrow!

Staycee Pearl's company, Staycee Pearl dance project, will be performing tomorrow night (FRI May 13 @ 7pm) at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in the newMoves Dance Festival. It's always great to be able to see the artistic work of our teaching artists -- and in this case you'll be able to see two of them: Staycee Pearl's choreography along with all of the fierceness that is teaching artist, Kerra Alexander's, dancing! (Kerra is in the company).

Staycee Pearl dance project | Octavia
A dance exploration of the life and work of  Octavia Butler (African-American MacArthur Genius Award-winning science fiction writer). The movement and environment represents the powerful dynamic of Ms. Butler's characters in relation to her own steady personality - physically imagining how they might fit within each other. The premier is scheduled for December 2011.

newMoves begins tonight and runs thru Sunday

Festival Pass $45 | Single Tickets $20

youthMoves (Sunday at 2 pm) HAT Co Dancers are performing

$10 Adults | $5 Children | Under 5 are free