| Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera | |
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Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh CLO) is anonprofit professional theater company based in theCultural District ofDowntownPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,USA. Despite its name, the organization presentsmusical theatre classics rather thanopera. 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 atPitt Stadium on 3 June 1946, where it offered outdoor performances until 1958. In 1961, theCivic Arena, was built to house the CLO. The arena, former home of thePittsburgh Hornets (AHL, 1961–67) and thePittsburgh 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 theBenedum 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 theSt. Louis Municipal Opera, the first American summertime musical theater. Wolk wanted to copy the idea, and after discussions with Pittsburgh retail magnateEdgar 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, theRichard Rodgers Award, the Construction Center for the Arts and being a partner in Elephant Eye Theatricals. National touring includesDoctor Dolittle,Barry Manilow’sCopacabana andJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Pittsburgh CLO has participated in a number ofBroadway shows, includingLegally Blonde,Curtains,Monty Python's Spamalot,The Color Purple,Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life,Thoroughly Modern Millie,Bombay Dreams,Flower Drum Song andBig River.
Pittsburgh CLO's numerous programs for students include theGene Kelly Awards, founded in 1990.
In 2004, the Pittsburgh CLO producedThe Music Man, featuringJeff Goldblum as Harold Hill, alongside his then-girlfriend,Catherine Wreford,Illeana Douglas, andEd Begley, Jr. This production was later made the centerpiece ofmockumentary/documentaryPittsburgh.
