Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Media Contact:
Becca Hansborough Communications Manager
hansborough@trustarts.org | 412-456-7021
EQT Children’s Theater Festival Assets

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Announces
Free Programming Activities for the 37th Annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival
50 plus FREE activities throughout Downtown just announced!
May 19 - 21, 2023 | Pittsburgh’s Cultural District | TrustArts.org/CTF

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust recently announced the featured performances for the 2023 EQT Children’s Theater Festival taking place in the Cultural District May 19 – 21. The Festival team is excited to share the full line-up of programming with 50 plus FREE activities and performances including community partners and local artists.

In between featured Festival events, families can enjoy pre-show and post-show lobby activities, pop-up performances by musicians, magicians, storytellers, and street artists, visit one of many arts and crafts stations and creative learning workshops, participate in face-painting, marvel at chalk and balloon art, build Lego systems, play larger-than-life games, and much more, all throughout downtown Pittsburgh!

The Trust Arts Education team will also be presenting Story Corners at Trust Oasis featuring popular stories such as Hair Love, Carnival of the Animals, Giraffes Can‘t Dance, and more, all read by resident teaching artists at scheduled times over the course of the three days. All story times can be found at TrustArts.org/StoryCorners.  

Origami lovers can visit one or both of the two exciting FREE events featured at the Festival this year. Featured performing artist Kuniko Yamamoto will be holding Origami Tales workshops at SPACE Gallery on select dates and times. Limited seating is available and advance registration is recommended. The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will also be hosting an Origami Station at the gallery where attendees can fold quick masterpieces for learners of all skill-levels, no registration required.

“The EQT Children’s Theater Festival is known for bringing award-winning, international family theater to Pittsburgh but our commitment to highlighting the work of local artists and our community partner organizations is just as important,” says Pamela Komar, Director of Theater, Music, and Youth Programming for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “The inclusion of the free programming not only allows us to strengthen those relationships but also turns the Cultural District and beyond into a non-stop fun zone for kids and families!”

“The EQT Foundation is pleased to support the 2023 EQT Children’s Theater Festival,” said Ellen Rossi, President, EQT Foundation. “Few other cities have such wonderful access to professional international theater for young people, and the team at the Cultural Trust always brings the best performances to delight Pittsburghers of all ages, from babies to teens. The Festival also includes lots of free, hands-on activities throughout the weekend, so we encourage everyone to bring the young theater lovers in their lives to explore the Cultural District.”

Community partners and local artists participating in this year’s Festival include: Andy Warhol Museum, Cajon Drumming with Vince Wallace, The Chalking Dad, Citiparks, Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership, Enchanted Experiences, Face Paint Pittsburgh, Fairytale Princess Visits, Giant Puppet Dance Club, Japan-American Society of Pennsylvania, Kidsburgh, The Mattress Factory, Mike the Balloon Guy & Company, Moonshot Museum, O'Ryan The O'Mazing, PGH Rangers, Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, Point Park Playhouse, Queens Gambit Institute of Pittsburgh, Riverlife Pittsburgh, Unisound, Steel City LUG, School of Rock South Hills, The Starry Messenger, Strong Women Strong Girls, and more.

ACCESSIBILITY

All Festival facilities are relandscaped accessible, and ADA-compliant cable covers are used throughout the Festival footprint. ASL interpreters are available if requested at least 2 weeks prior to each performance.

FESTIVAL FOOD
No Festival is complete without the food! Participating food trucks* include Aviva Brick Oven, Goodeats, Hot Bunz, and Kona Ice. There is also an array of Family-Friendly restaurants in the District and beyond with select locations offering a special discount to Festival attendees. Visit the Festival website for more information.  

*Participating food trucks are subject to change.

FROG STOPS
The popular Frog Stop Scavenger Hunt returns! Festival-goers should check TrustArts.org/FrogStops closer to the Festival for the list of key locations throughout the Festival grounds where they can collect stickers and win special prizes.

TICKETS
Tickets remain for selected featured theater performances of The Gruffalo, It’s Okay to Be Different, Buoyant SEA*, Sakasaka, Hiccup, A Letter for Elena, and Origami Tales and can be purchased by visiting TrustArts.org/CTF, calling 412-456-6666, or visiting the Box Office at The Benedum Center. Orders for groups of 10+ tickets or more may be placed by calling 412-471-6930.

*Remaining tickets for Buoyant SEA are for the observation space only. The availability of additional seats at the water table is subject to change.
 

SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL – BECOME A PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST MEMBER!
Families and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust members help the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to continually present affordable, high quality theater productions. Giving at the $50 Partners membership level or above includes benefits for a full year! Visit TrustArts.org/SupportCTF or call 412-471-3518 for more details.

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The EQT Foundation, which was established by EQT Corporation, the nation’s largest producer of natural gas, returns in 2023 as the Festival’s lead and title underwriter, connecting the Pittsburgh community to international arts, entertainment, and culture. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust thanks EQT Foundation for its stalwart support of this Festival. Through focused giving, the EQT Foundation provides educational opportunities for all ages, values the development of livable communities, and is committed to the preservation of natural resources in our region.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation, and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy, and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.

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