Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera

{{Short description|Nonprofit professional theater company in Pennsylvania, USA}} {{Distinguish|Pittsburgh Opera}} {{Infobox opera |italic title = no | name = Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera | genre =  | composer = | image = Pittsburgh CLO.svg | caption = Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera logo | librettist = | language = | based_on =  | premiere_date =  | premiere_location = }}

'''Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera''' ('''Pittsburgh CLO''') is a [[nonprofit]] professional theater company based in the [[Cultural District, Pittsburgh|Cultural District]] of [[Downtown Pittsburgh|Downtown]] [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States|USA]]. Despite its name, the organization presents [[musical theatre]] classics rather than [[opera]]; although it does occasionally stage [[operettas]]. Its productions draw more than 200,000 patrons each year and its annual budget is nearly $10 million.

Established on 20 February 1946, it premiered at [[Pitt Stadium]] on 3 June 1946, where it offered outdoor performances until 1958. In 1961, the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]], was built to house the CLO. The arena, the former home of the [[Pittsburgh Hornets]] (AHL, 1961–67) and the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] (NHL, 1967-2010) hockey franchises, was covered by the world's first retractable roof, designed so that audiences might enjoy theater under the stars. In 1973 the company moved to the newly renovated former Penn Theatre that was now called Heinz Hall. The company moved to the [[Benedum Center]] in 1988. CLO opened its newest venue in 2004, The CLO Cabaret at Theater Square.

Pittsburgh CLO's history began when Abraham Lewis Wolk, a Pittsburgh City Councilman, attended a performance of the [[St. Louis Municipal Opera]], the first American summertime musical theater. Wolk wanted to copy the idea, and after discussions with Pittsburgh retail magnate [[Edgar J. Kaufmann]], who helped with financing, Pittsburgh CLO was established.

Since 1946, Pittsburgh CLO has been dedicated to the preservation, creation and promotion of live musical theater. Pittsburgh CLO produces a Main Stage Season, A Musical Christmas Carol and operates the CLO Cabaret. Programs include the Academy, Mini Stars, the [[Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater|Richard Rodgers Award]], the Construction Center for the Arts and is a partner in Elephant Eye Theatricals. National touring includes ''[[Doctor Dolittle (disambiguation)|Doctor Dolittle]]'', [[Barry Manilow]]’s ''[[Copacabana (musical)|Copacabana]]'' and ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''.

Pittsburgh CLO has participated in a number of [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] shows, including ''[[Legally Blonde (musical)|Legally Blonde]], [[Curtains (musical)|Curtains]], [[Monty Python's Spamalot]], [[The Color Purple (musical)|The Color Purple]], [[Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life]], [[Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical)|Thoroughly Modern Millie]], [[Bombay Dreams]], [[Flower Drum Song]]'' and ''[[Big River (musical)|Big River]]''. The musical director for several of these was [[Sue Anderson (musician)|Sue Anderson]].<ref>[https://maestramusic.org/profile/sue-anderson "Sue Anderson"], ''Maestra''. Retrieved June 27, 2025; and [https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/343433-sue-anderson "Sue Anderson"], ''About the Artists''. Retrieved June 27, 2025</ref> [[Tom Helm (conductor)|Tom Helm]] served as the Pittsburgh CLO's long time music director from 1997 to 2016 after having earlier served in that post in 1981-1982.<ref>{{cite news|title=Don't Cry For CLO Musical Director Tom Helm|work=[[ Pittsburgh Post - Gazette]]|date=July 2, 2000|page=G3|last=Hayes|first= John}}</ref>

Pittsburgh CLO's numerous programs for students include the [[Gene Kelly Awards]], founded in 1990.

In 2004, the Pittsburgh CLO produced ''[[The Music Man]]'', featuring [[Jeff Goldblum]] as Harold Hill, alongside his then-girlfriend, [[Catherine Wreford]], [[Illeana Douglas]], and [[Ed Begley, Jr.]] This production was later made the centerpiece of [[mockumentary]]/[[documentary]] ''[[Pittsburgh (2006 film)|Pittsburgh]]''.

==See also== * [[Theatre in Pittsburgh]]

==References== {{reflist}} * {{cite news | last1 = Thomas | first1 = Mary | date = October 6, 2011 | title = Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra's musicians come from many backgrounds and ages | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2011/10/06/Pittsburgh-Civic-Orchestra-s-musicians-come-from-many-backgrounds-and-ages/stories/201110060393 | url-status = live | newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | edition = South| location = Pittsburgh, PA | publisher = PG Publishing Co. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161231111714/http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2011/10/06/Pittsburgh-Civic-Orchestra-s-musicians-come-from-many-backgrounds-and-ages/stories/201110060393 | archive-date = December 31, 2016| access-date = December 31, 2016}} * www.pittsburghcivicorchestra.net * www.usctheater.org/events/series/pco

==External links== *[http://www.pittsburghclo.org/ Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera homepage] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120622164216/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/20/broadway-or-bust-a-three-part-primetime-series-to-premiere-september-9-on-pbs/138852/ Nederlander Awards] *[http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/theater-dance/honoring-gene-kelly-on-his-100th-actors-widow-and-pitt-plan-announcement-649537/ Post Gazette mention]

[[Category:Culture of Pittsburgh]] [[Category:Performing arts in Pittsburgh]] [[Category:Musical theatre companies in the United States]] [[Category:1946 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Theatre companies in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:American organizations established in 1946]]