Dreams of Hope presents a new theatriQ production For the Lost Voices June 3 & 4

Pittsburgh, PA | Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - Dreams of Hope: Queer Youth Arts is celebrating 20 years of service to Pittsburgh's LGBTQA+ youth with the premier of our first theatrical production since 2019-a show produced by youth participants in theatriQ, our signature performing arts program.

Honoring Pride Month 2023, Dreams of Hope's theatriQ's youth performing arts troupe will present three performances of For the Lost Voices, an original production featuring writing, poetry, and improvised perspectives on queer life drawn from their experiences and imaginings. A core group of talented young people have been devising this work since February 2023. Artists Melannie Taylor, Lee Richardson, Acid Fenk, and Sebastian Richmond, were guided by theatriQ 2022-2023 co-directors and teaching artists Monteze Freeland, Jaqob Harris, and kelsey robinson.

KST's Alloy Studios, located at 5530 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh, will host three For the Lost Voices performances-two shows on Saturday, June 3, 2023, beginning at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and a matinee on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 2:00 PM. ASL interpretation will be provided on Saturday, June 3rd at 8:00 PM. Theatergoers are asked to"pay what moves you"and purchase tickets at dreamsofhope.org or at the door. For the Lost Voices will be the final production presented during theatriQ's 2022-2023 season.

On November 3, 2022, theatriQ premiered a hybrid production at KST's Alloy Studios titled: A Dramatic Collage, a staged reading of an anthology of vignettes by queer dramatists. The show was live-streamed with closed captioning, and is posted on the dreamsofhope.org website with previous theatriQ productions. The show was exceptional in presenting a cast composed entirely of young Black performers guided by Black teaching artists. As in past years, the creators of For the Lost Voices will address the audience in a post-performance talk-back about their experiences and goals as emerging artists after the 8:00 PM show on Saturday June 4th.

Background

Dreams of Hope was founded in 2003 by a group of creatives as an alternative platform for queer youth and allies to thrive in Pittsburgh. The group was led by queer artist and environmental activist Susan Haugh, a creator of immersive experiences that celebrate ecologies and highlight inequities. The group formed theatriQ as Dreams of Hope's cornerstone program, staging its first original production, The Way My Heart Goes, in January, 2004.

Facing losses of audience and momentum devastating the performing arts during and after the pandemic lockdown, theatriQ was shuttered for two years (2020 and 2021) following fourteen consecutive seasons presenting original live theater devised by LGBTQA+ youth.

With the live staging of two newtheatriQ productions and new arts direction, Dreams of Hope has begun rebuilding a legacy of annually presenting mainstage plays with original scripts, music, sets, and choreography, created and performed by an ensemble of young queer artists. "We are so grateful for the opportunity to co-create liberatory spaces with LGBTQIA+ young people, families, and community. We are proud of the work that has been done collectively over the last 20 years to bring queer and Trans youth artists together to express themselves through a variety of creative art forms. We are committed to advocating for and affirming the lives of queer, Trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive young people so they may thrive and shape our communities for the future" says Bekezela Mguni of Dreams of Hope. We are beginning this resurgence with a commitment to establish opportunities for emerging BIPOC queer and trans artists led by a new leadership team, artistic director, Bekezela Mguni, development director, Ada Gay Griffin, program assistant, kai (malachiah) koehler, and operations manager, Ashanti Duncan.

Dreams of Hope is currently seeking donations totaling $20,000 to match a generous grant by the end of this summer to continue bringing the voices of passionate queer youth through theatriQ mainstage productions and touring performances to enlighten and inspire new audiences at local venues throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. Visit dreamsofhope.org to donate.