PITTSBURGH: In the latest news from a historic if bumpy theatre merger between Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) and Pittsburgh Public Theater (PPT), a new name for the combined theatre has been announced: Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh. Confluence’s name was reportedly chosen by Pittsburgh residents themselves. According to release from the new company, it will combine the musicals that Pittsburgh CLO is known for with the classic and contemporary plays typically produced by Pittsburgh Public Theater.
“Pittsburgh is a city built by people who make things, innovate, and reimagine what’s possible,” said Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford, interim president and executive producer, in a statement. “Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh honors that spirit, bringing together artists, audiences, and educators to create a theater company that can grow with this city for generations to come.”
Regarding the theatre’s name, Confluence representatives mentioned four principles captured in the acronym “M.A.D.E.” (as in “made in Pittsburgh”): meaningful, artistically excellent, data-led to support programming and community needs, and equitable and accessible. More than 3,000 suggestions were submitted into a naming poll launched on July 31, after both theatres’ boards completed the Plan of Affiliation and held the first board meeting of the newly merged organization.
“Pittsburgh is defined by confluence,” representatives said in a statement. “Downtown sits where two rivers meet and become one, more powerful current.” Interim artistic director Kyle Haden expanded in a statement: “The idea of confluence is deeply artistic. When different voices, traditions, and audiences meet, something new becomes possible. Confluence creates a space where Pittsburgh Public Theater audiences, Pittsburgh CLO audiences, and new generations of theatregoers can discover a shared future shaped by rich artistic experiences.”
The merged theatre will run on a year-round model that will include live productions throughout downtown Pittsburgh, education for all ages, and partnerships that fuel the greater Pittsburgh creative economy. Under Confluence, both organizations plan to continue and expand their education programs through the Confluence Academy of Theater, which will provide training for young artists across acting, playwriting, musical theatre, and additional disciplines, with new classes launching in spring 2027. All currently scheduled programs under the CLO Academy of Musical Theater will continue as planned.
Though the CLO Academy each year, thousands of students work on the Gallery of Heroes “edu-tainment” musicals, profiling historical figures from George Washington to Roberto Clemente, and nearly 1,000 students take part in the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, now in its 33rd year. And 34 schools compete in the Gene Kelly Awards, which sends high schoolers to the national Jimmy Awards and has celebrated high school musical excellence for 35 years. All three programs will remain an important part of the organization’s commitment to arts education.
Confluence also plans to expand opportunities for early-career professionals, including fellowships and apprenticeships for recent university graduates. The organization will host residencies for local artists across theatrical disciplines who will also serve in an advisory capacity to leadership. More details will be announced in late fall.
Pittsburgh CLO has produced musical theatre since 1946, when it was founded to help rebuild the community in the aftermath of World War II. Pittsburgh Public Theater has staged work since 1974, and was one of the first organizations to produce August Wilson’s complete Century Cycle.
According to both organizations, by pooling audiences, staff, strategies, and expertise, they can better sustain operations without sacrificing theatrical excellence. “This is a cultural moment for Pittsburgh,” they said in a statement, and this is “not the end of two institutions. It is the next chapter in shared commitment to serving Pittsburgh through theatre and a deliberate choice to combine resources to grow stronger together: improving opportunities for artists, increasing access to theatre education and community programming, and centering Pittsburgh’s premier producing theatre around a local lens.”
The national search for a permanent president and executive producer is underway with TOC Arts Partners. Its executive team includes Monica Bowin, director of production; Wynne Fedele, director of development; Aja Jones, director of advancement and revenue; Angela Langill, director of administration; and Jim Scriven, director of education and community engagement.
As previously reported, on May 19, all 11 staff members at the Pittsburgh Public Theater were notified their jobs had been eliminated via a letter from PPT’s board chair Krysia Kubiak. The remainder of staff will be identified by mid-September as Confluence continues building its team. Confluence said that it is committed to prioritizing legacy staff from both organizations as roles take shape.
“Ultimately, this is a people business,” Crawford said in a statement. “The strength of Confluence comes from the people who make the work, welcome our audiences, educate our students, support our artists, and build relationships across our community. Bringing the right people together is one of the most important things we can do as we build this organization, and we’re excited to see the team take shape.”
Confluence’s first productions bring together beloved favorites and daring new stories. They include Jacob Ming-Trent’s How Shakespeare Saved My Life (Nov. 11-22), Who’s Holiday! (Dec. 2-23), and A Musical Christmas Carol (Dec. 11-23), with productions of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose and Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors to come in 2027.
