We believe the biggest strength of the CLO is their programming, as well as a large portion of their earned income. The programs in place are well-developed, some just need a bit more attention and consistency. We plan to strengthen them, as we can, by making them adaptable to today's virtual age and pouring resources to ensure their continual growth.
We offer unparalleled performing arts training and opportunities year round. We have a variety of classes broken down by skill set and age. Welcoming children ages 3-9, the PNC Children's School focuses on developing self-confidence and exploring creativity through the fundamentals of musical theater. You'll find classes like ballet, tap, hip hop, acting, voice, and musical theater techniques to help introduce and develop these skills in the youngest members of our academy. Our Student School is perfect for 10 to 18 year-olds wishing to explore a deeper interest in musical theater and the performing arts field. The Pre-Professional School at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy is designed for students 10-18 planning to pursue a higher level of education and future career in theater arts. Here, students will be able to hone their craft alongside working professionals while growing into their own artistry. Finally, we offer a robust educational program for adults within the community.
While pivoting for COVID, we found great success with holding classes online. We will be broadening this offering moving forward to create a permanent online database of individual drop-in classes, as well as offering regularly programed online training for students and adults.
We will be launching a new commitment towards our SPARK program. A major initiative of Pittsburgh CLO’s Next Generation Capital Campaign, SPARK was created as an effort to cultivate new and innovative work from emerging and established musical theater artists.
For over 70 years, Pittsburgh CLO has been delighting audiences with Broadway-scale musicals for its main stage subscription season. In 2004, it introduced smaller productions for its newly minted 250-seat CLO Cabaret Theater, where dozens of premieres have since debuted. SPARK was especially designed to cultivate more small-cast shows suited to this venue, bringing their creative teams in residence at Pittsburgh CLO to work in a focused and supportive environment. A commitment to artists is a chief tenet of SPARK.
SPARK showcases new musicals for peers, producers, and the general public through readings, staged readings, and workshop productions. In addition, SPARK welcomes audiences to engage with the new works process through interactive discussions, educational initiatives, and special events.
In March, we will hold an annual New Musicals Weekend Conference where work developed through the SPARK program can be shared, as well as other works from artists around the country. We believe this conference will become a tentpole for the organization, basing the idea surrounding it very similar to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where everywhere you turn there is a performance going on. We want this to be a very collaborative downtown event for businesses, venues, the community, and beyond.
We will develop a year long writing residency program for an emerging BIPOC musical theater writer. In an effort to break down barriers, this program will focus on an equitable application process. The fellowship position will be paid $38,000 annually with access to employer benefits, as well as free housing. The fellow will assist in teaching various classes part of the CLO Academy and Assistant Music Directing one or two shows in the Summer Series, but will use the majority of time to develop their work. The CLO will produce a two week run of the fellow's work during the New Musicals Weekend Conference.