CLO History
Exceptional Musical Theater for More Than Half a Century
On February 20, 1946, the Civic Light Opera Association held a press luncheon to announce its very first season. Immediately, talk of a new era in Pittsburgh’s cultural life made a huge splash in all three of the city’s daily newspapers. In fact, the Sun Telegraph predicted that “the CLO will inaugurate a cycle in the city’s musical history that will outlive us all.”
How right they were!
| 1946 | Civic Light Opera premieres at Pitt Stadium | |
| 1955 | The Civic Light Opera Guild is established | |
| 1959 | Civic Light Opera moves to the Melody Tent | |
| 1962 |
The Civic Arena is built for the CLO displaying the world’s first retractable roof. Audiences enjoy musical theater “under the stars” |
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| 1972 | Pittsburgh CLO moves to the beautifully renovated Heinz Hall | |
| 1985 | The Gallery of Heroes program is established | |
| 1988 | Pittsburgh CLO expands to their current home in the Benedum Center | |
| 1989 | The doors open at the CLO Academy of Musical Theater | |
| 1991 | The premiere of the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater | |
| 1992 | A Musical Christmas Carol opens at the Byham Theater | |
| 2001 | CLO/CMU New Works Project, a collaborative effort, is established to encourage the development and refinement of new works of the American musical theater | |
| 2004 | Pittsburgh CLO introduces year-round entertainment with the opening of The CLO Cabaret at Theater Square | |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh CLO helps form Elephant Eye Theatricals as a member of 5 Cent Productions to find new and innovative ways to develop material to play not only in Pittsburgh but also on the world stage | |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances, LLC establish The National High School Musical Theater Awards and present the first annual Jimmy Awards in New York City on June 29. 2009 | |
| 2010 | Pittsburgh CLO celebrates 20 years of the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater | |
| 2011 | Pittsburgh CLO celebrates 20 years of A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater |
The future is bright for Pittsburgh CLO!