Powerful & Liberating!

Kim El - Photo by Heather Mull
Straightening Combs, by Kim El, is a powerful and liberating play, no matter what your background!

A native of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Kim shares her own experience of growing up as an African American female in the projects.  She tells her story beautifully through a variety of styles, ranging from spoken word poetry, songs, and short vignettes.

You will be moved as you follow along, starting with the lies pushed upon young African American girls as to what beauty is, the intermediary struggles through adolescence and the resulting chronic depression.  But alas, you also will rejoice in the liberating freedom that only truth can bring in the end!

Straightening Combs opens Friday, January 31 and will play through February 2nd.  Click here to learn more or to purchase tickets.  Come early and enjoy a coffee from The Carnegie Coffee Company before the show.


Off The Wall Theater is the first Pittsburgh Theater to run a repertory play in recent times.  As such, we will also be hosting Straightening Combs on these dates:  April 4-6 and August 8-10.

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