Pittsburgh Theaters Merge: CLO & Public Theater Unite for Future

Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape is undergoing a significant shift as the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) and Pittsburgh Public Theater (PPT) have formally agreed to merge, a decision announced Tuesday. The move, following over a year of discussions, aims to create a more sustainable future for live theatre in the region, with the first full season of the combined organization slated to initiate in January 2027.

The boards of directors for both institutions voted to form the new, unified organization, according to a joint statement. City Theatre Company, which had initially been involved in exploratory talks, ultimately decided not to participate in the merger.

“This highly collaborative effort has been guided by an unwavering belief in the opportunity we have to shape our destinies together,” said PPT board chair Krysia Kubiak. “One can create a stronger, more sustainable approach that ensures live theatre thrives for generations to come and our cultural vibrancy continues to serve as a vital anchor for one of the most livable cities in the world.”

PCLO board chair Joseph V. DiVito Jr. Echoed this sentiment, calling it a “once-in-a-generation chance to embark on an exceptional journey together that leads to spectacular possibilities that might have otherwise been impossible.”

To oversee the transition, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford has been appointed to lead a transition team. Dr. Crawford currently serves as a teaching professor and faculty chair of the MA Arts and Entertainment Management program at Carnegie Mellon University, bringing expertise in theatre management, audience engagement, and arts education.

“Theatre, at its core, is about people, and people will continue to be central to our process and decision-making as we embark on this exciting transition,” Dr. Crawford stated. “By leveraging the respective strengths, common missions and shared audiences of both organizations, the new model will devote more resources to the art, the artists and the audiences, while forging a bold path to a successful and sustainable future.”

An interim board has been established, comprising Joseph V. DiVito Jr., Lesley Evancho, Edward Karlovich, Christine Kobus, Krysia Kubiak, Richard Lipovich, Thomas McGough, Jessica Priselac, Peter Robinson, Bal Srinivasan, LaShawnda Thomas, and TJ Young. Kubiak and DiVito Jr. Will continue to chair the existing boards of PPT and PCLO throughout the transition process.

The immediate priorities for the transition team include establishing the legal structure of the new organization, defining its leadership and operating structure, and aligning on a shared artistic vision. A real estate and venue strategy, as well as the naming and branding of the new entity, are also key initial focuses. The merged organization also plans to retain an executive search firm to identify a permanent leader and integrate administrative and technological systems.

Pittsburgh CLO, founded in 1946, currently serves approximately 200,000 patrons annually across three venues in the city’s cultural district, focusing on musical theatre. Pittsburgh Public Theater, recognized for its artistic achievements – including being the first to produce August Wilson’s complete “Century Cycle” – aims to cultivate Pittsburgh’s creative workforce and artistic pipeline.

Zanny Laird is currently appearing as Petra Stockmann in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s 2026 production of “An Enemy of the People” at the O’Reilly Theater, directed by Marya Sea Kaminski.

The transition team is scheduled to announce programming for the first full season of the merged companies by early fall.