The nominees for Pittsburgh CLO’s 34th annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater, recognizing 34 participating schools in Allegheny County, were announced on May 7, 2025. 

The ceremony on May 24 at the Benedum Center will include a tribute in memory of Charlie Gray, the founding force behind the awards as former executive director of Pittsburgh CLO (1982-1996). 

“Charlie Gray was a visionary leader whose contributions to Pittsburgh CLO and the broader arts community will be remembered for generations,” said CLO Executive Producer Mark Fleischer.. “His dedication to expanding the reach of musical theater beyond the stage and into the classroom has left an extraordinary legacy that continues to inspire artists and educators alike, helping to nurture not only the musical theater artists of the future, but the next generation of audiences and supporters as well.”

Among the 34 Kelly awards and four budget categories, winners for Outstanding Actor and Actress have the opportunity to represent Pittsburgh CLO at the Jimmy Awards, the national competition held June 23, 2025, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater. 

Participating schools in 2025 are: Avonworth High School, Baldwin High School, Bishop Canevin High School, Brentwood High School, Carlynton Junior-Senior High School, Central Catholic & Oakland Catholic High Schools, Chartiers Valley High School, Deer Lakes High School, Elizabeth Forward High School, Gateway High School, Hampton High School, Keystone Oaks High School, McKeesport Area High School, Montour High School, North Hills High School, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Penn Hills High School, Pine-Richland High School, Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Quaker Valley High School, Redeemer Lutheran School, Riverview Jr/Sr High School, Saint Joseph High School, Serra Catholic High School, Seton LaSalle Catholic High School, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Springdale Jr./Sr. High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, Upper St. Clair High School, West Allegheny High School, Westinghouse Arts Academy, and Woodland Hills Senior High School.

The ceremony includes the presentation of cash and university scholarships, courtesy of CLO Ambassadors, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Seton Hill University, Point Park University Conservatory and Robert Morris University. 

Founded by Pittsburgh CLO in 1991, the Gene Kelly Awards were the first high school musical awards program of their kind in the United States. The impact of the Kellys inspired the creation of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, established in 2009 by the CLO and Nederlander Alliances, a division of The Nederlander Organization. Named for Broadway producer James (“Jimmy”) M. Nederlander, the Jimmys celebrate student talent on a national stage. 

NOMINEES FOR THE 2025 GENE KELLY AWARDS

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Carlynton Jr/Sr High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN

Budget Level II

• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• McKeesport Area High School – TITANIC the Musical
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• Montour High School – DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID
• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Riverview Jr/Sr High School – SOMETHING ROTTEN!
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Bishop Canevin High School – XANADU
• Carlynton Jr/Sr High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition

Budget Level II

• Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – NEWSIES
• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Quaker Valley High School – MY FAIR LADY

Budget Level III

• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Shady Side Academy Senior School – WE WILL ROCK YOU: School Edition
• West Allegheny High School – FOOTLOOSE

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Thomas Jefferson High School – SHREK THE MUSICAL
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING DANCE ENSEMBLE:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Carlynton Jr/Sr High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN

Budget Level II

• Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – NEWSIES
• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
• West Allegheny High School – FOOTLOOSE

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Pine-Richland High School – 42^nd STREET
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN:

Budget Level I

• Carlynton Jr/Sr High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN
• Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – 9 TO 5 The Musical

Budget Level II

• Chartiers Valley High School – SOMETHING ROTTEN!
• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
• West Allegheny High School – FOOTLOOSE

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Riverview Jr/Sr High School – SOMETHING ROTTEN!
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Carlynton Jr/Sr High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN

Budget Level II

• Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – NEWSIES
• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• Montour High School – DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID
• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Riverview Jr/Sr High School – SOMETHING ROTTEN!
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING VOCAL ENSEMBLE:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN
• Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – 9 TO 5 The Musical

Budget Level II

• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• McKeesport Area High School – TITANIC the Musical
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
• West Allegheny High School – FOOTLOOSE

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Pine-Richland High School – 42^nd STREET
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORCHESTRA:

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pine-Richland High School – 42^nd STREET
• Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – 9 TO 5 the Musical
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
• Shady Side Academy Senior School – WE WILL ROCK YOU: School Edition

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ARTIST:

Spencer Callaghan, Student Director, Elizabeth Forward High School

Kennedy Edwards, Student Stage Manager, Gateway High School

Ivy Freshwater & MaryKate Tracy, Student Stage Managers, Montour High School

Zach Frolini, Student Band Leader/Conductor, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Grace Schmigel, Student Costume Coordinator, Avonworth High School

Mikayla Webber, Student Stage Manager and Scenic Charge Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Will Benedum, Squidward Q. Tentacles, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, Westinghouse Arts Academy

Wyatt Bernardini, Old Prince Bolkonsky, NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Mycah Harris, Fedya Dolokhov, NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Carson McKinney, Willard Hewitt, FOOTLOOSE, West Allegheny High School

Daniel Morgan, Hades, HADESTOWN: Teen Edition. Hampton High School

Noah Prosky, Thomas Nostradamus, SOMETHING ROTTEN!, Riverview Jr./Sr. High School

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Ady Burgoyne, Tobias Ragg, SWEENEY TODD: SCHOOL EDITION. Avonworth High School

Faith Evans, Tabatha/Cheshire Cat, ALICE BY HEART, North Hills High School

Harmony Karwoski, Johanna, SWEENEY TODD: SCHOOL EDITION, Avonworth High School

Beatrice Laurenson, Beggar Woman, SWEENEY TODD: SCHOOL EDITION, Avonworth High School

Sophia Priore, Maggie Jones, 42^nd STREET, Pine-Richland High School

Siddaly Sykes, Portia, SOMETHING ROTTEN!, Riverview Jr/Sr High School

OUTSTANDING ACTOR

Mateo Carrasco, Orpheus, HADESTOWN: Teen Edition, Carlynton Jr/Sr High School

Amerik Cirota, SpongeBob SquarePants, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, Westinghouse Arts Academy

Severin Harmon, Bobby Child, CRAZY FOR YOU, Sewickley Academy

Paxon Masters, Sweeney Todd, SWEENEY TODD: School Edition, Avonworth High School

Eamonn McElfresh, Pierre Bezukhov, NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Vaughn Spencer, Julian Marsh, 42^nd STREET, Pine-Richland High School

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

Hallie Cantola, Sandy Cheeks, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, Westinghouse Arts Academy

Anna Karmanos, Dorothy Brock, 42^nd STREET, Pine-Richland High School

Mariana Mangual, Ella, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA (Broadway Version), Seton LaSalle Catholic High School

Lucy Myers, Mrs. Lovett, SWEENEY TODD: School Edition, Avonworth High School

Livia Rocco, Tracy Turnblad, HAIRSPRAY, Woodland Hills High School

Ava Stropkaj, Ariel, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, Montour High School

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL:

Budget Level I

• Avonworth High School – SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – CHILDREN OF EDEN

Budget Level II

• Elizabeth Forward High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Westinghouse Arts Academy – THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Budget Level III

• North Hills High School – ALICE BY HEART
• Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Budget Level IV

• Hampton High School – HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
• Woodland Hills Senior High School – HAIRSPRAY

The Gene Kelly Awards are presented by the Michael J. Kara Family with additional support provided by Deloitte, The Gismondi Family Foundation, Point Park University, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, PNC Bank, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and the CLO Ambassadors. Deloitte Consulting, LLP is the official auditor for the Gene Kelly Awards. For tickets (TBA) and details, visit https://www.pittsburghclo.org/education/gene-kelly-awards/2025-gka-nominees.

Source: Pittsburgh CLO

Categories: Arts Education, National and Local Awards, Our Posts, Show Previews

Tags: 2025 Gene Kelly Awards, Benedum Center, High School Musical Theater, Nominations, Pittsburgh CLO