The nominees for Pittsburgh CLO’s Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater were announced Wednesday, heralding the 35th annual awards ceremony and showcase on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Benedum Center.
“The Gene Kelly Awards are a life-changing educational experience for students,” said Jim Scriven, Director of Education at Pittsburgh CLO. “They offer the opportunity to perform on a world-class stage, celebrate the excellence of peers, and connect to a national network of emerging artists. It’s so much more than awards — it’s about access, inspiration, and pure musical theater joy.”
The Kelly winners for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress will go on to represent Pittsburgh CLO at the Jimmy Awards, held June 22, 2026 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater.
In addition to the more than 34 awards, cash and university scholarships will be presented, made possible through donations from the CLO Ambassadors, Point Park University, Seton Hill University, and Slippery Rock University.
Over the past three months, a panel of adjudicators that included educators, administrators, and industry professionals, attended performances at 37 high schools across Allegheny County. Final scoring was tabulated by Deloitte LLP, official auditor of the Gene Kelly Awards.
(Image: Sharon Eberson/onStage Pittsburgh
Allegheny County schools participating in the 2026 Gene Kelly Awards include: Avonworth High School, Baldwin High School, Bishop Canevin High School, Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School, Central & Oakland Catholic High School, Chartiers Valley High School, Cornell School District, Deer Lakes High School, Eden Christian Academy, 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, Northgate 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, Plum Senior High School, Quaker Valley High School, Redeemer Lutheran School, Riverview Jr./Sr. High School, Saint Joseph High School, Serra Catholic High School, Seton LaSallle Catholic High School, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Springdale Jr./Sr. High School, Steel Valley Senior High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, West Allegheny High School, Westinghouse Arts Academy, and Woodland Hills High School.
NOMINEES FOR THE 2026 GENE KELLY AWARDS
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Springdale Jr./Sr. High, The Addams Family Musical
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
Penn Hills, Once on this Island
West Allegheny, 9 to 5
Budget Level IV
Hampton, Once Upon a Mattress
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Riverview Jr./Sr., The Addams Family Musical
OUTSTANDING CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Keystone Oaks, Mamma Mia!
North Hills, Mamma Mia!
Shady Side Academy, Anything Goes (2022 Revision)
Budget Level IV
Gateway, Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Thomas Jefferson, 9 to 5
OUTSTANDING DANCE ENSEMBLE
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
Plum Senior, Seussical
Quaker Valley, Alice by Heart
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
North Hills, Mamma Mia!
West Allegheny, 9 to 5
Budget Level IV
Gateway, Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Woodland Hills, Young Frankenstein
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
North Hills, Mamma Mia!
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Guys and Dolls
Budget Level IV
Gateway, Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Woodland Hills, Young Frankenstein
OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN
Budget Level I
Bishop Canevin, Into the Woods
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
North Hills, Mamma Mia!
Shady Side Academy, Anything Goes (2022 Revision)
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Thomas Jefferson, 9 to 5
Woodland Hills, Young Frankenstein
OUTSTANDING VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Guys and Dolls
West Allegheny, 9 to 5
Budget Level IV
Gateway, Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Westinghouse Arts Academy, Into the Woods
OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORCHESTRA
Avonworth, The Phantom of the Opera
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice, Curtains
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Guys and Dolls
Shady Side Academy, Anything Goes (2022 Revision)
Thomas Jefferson, 9 to 5
OUTSTANDING STUDENT ARTIST
Ava Anderson Stage Manager Gateway, Catch Me If You Can
Anastasia Bakaturski, Dramaturg, McKeesport Area, Fiddler on the Roof
Spencer Callaghan, Student Director, Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
Andrew Horvath, Student Sound Technician, Lead Student Carpenter, Thomas Jefferson, 9 to 5
Juliet Moore, Choreographer, Deer Lakes, Damn Yankees
Mary-Kate Stock, Student PR Leader, Baldwin, 9 to 5
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nathan Connelly, Sir Harry, Once Upon a Mattress, Hampton
Sonny Davis, Igor, Young Frankenstein, Woodland Hills
Vincent Jackson, Uncle Fester, The Addams Family Musical, Central & Oakland Catholic
Robert Reed-Williams Jr., Rapunzel’s Prince, Into the Woods, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Lucas Sotereanos, Motel, Fiddler on the Roof, McKeesport Area
Adam Steiner, The Monster, Young Frankenstein, Woodland Hills
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lola Armfield, Holly, The Wedding Singer, Chartiers Valley
Emerson Henry, Miriam, The Prince of Egypt, Elizabeth Forward
Caisey Kreg, Roz Keith, 9 to 5, West Allegheny
Sophia Priore, Matron, “Mama” Morton, Chicago: Teen Edition, Pine-Richland
Livia Rocco, Elizabeth Benning, Young Frankenstein, Woodland Hills
Olivia Safran, Frau Blücher,Young Frankenstein, Woodland Hills
OUTSTANDING ACTOR
Leo Alfieri, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein,Young Frankenstein, Woodland Hills
Will Benedum, Baker, Into the Woods, Westinghouse Arts Academy
Paxon Masters, The Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera, Avonworth
Eamonn McElfresh, Sky Masterson, Guys and Dolls, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
Theodor Mertz, Gomez Addams, The Addams Family Musical, Central & Oakland Catholic
Michael Pfeffercorn, Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof, McKeesport Area
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS
Elise Duckworth, Roxie Hart, Chicago: Teen Edition, Pine-Richland
Mariana Mangual, Sarah Brown, Guys and Dolls, Seton LaSalle Catholic,
Lucy Myers, Christine Daaé, The Phantom of the Opera, Avonworth
Parker Pile, Donna Sheridan, Mamma Mia!, North Hills
Loren Prisuta, Velma Kelly, Chicago: Teen Edition, Pine-Richland
Annabelle Watson, Miss Adelaide, Guys and Dolls,
Seton LaSalle Catholic
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hadestown: Teen Edition
Saint Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic, The Addams Family Musical
Plum Senior, Seussical
Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward, The Prince of Egypt
North Hills, Mamma Mia!
Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland, Chicago: Teen Edition
Woodland Hills, Young Frankenstein
OUTSTANDING KELLY CRITIC
Nominees TBA
Source: Pittsburgh CLO
TICKETS AND DETAILS
The 2026 Gene Kelly Awards are at the Benedum Center, Downtown, Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets sales are TBA; check back at pittsburghclo.org.
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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