The Anatomy of a Theater Merger: Meet the Unification Team
Part one of a multi-part series on our process and how decisions are being made for the future organization.
From the outside, a typical merger can appear to be a decision that happens in a boardroom and then, somehow, is simply true. This is because for most corporate mergers, a small group of leaders plans for many months behind closed doors until the “big” decisions are set, and then they announce the end result: X and Y will merge and become Z. Due diligence and the planning that follows is what sets the stage for the success of any major operational change like ours.
Because our process had a lot of attention during the (typically quiet) feasibility phase, it has felt like the process has been going on forever. Really, though, we are less than 100 days “post-vote”!
We have received a lot of questions about the vision that got us here, and what comes next. We also know there’s a lot of curiosity about governance and structure, and especially around how we will preserve the legacies and investments of both organizations as we move forward. Starting next week, expect an update every Thursday, where we plan to address all of those questions and more.
But first, we wanted to acknowledge a dedicated group of leaders who have been keeping this process grounded in reality and humanity.
The Unification Team
For the last 6 weeks, every Wednesday morning, a group of leaders from PPT and CLO (and a few free agents like myself) have been meeting to prioritize which problems to solve first, set strategy, and identify opportunities for collaboration. We call ourselves the “Unification Team.”
We are still alllll the way at the left of this graphic: Forming!
There are obviously deep emotions involved this work. These leaders are carrying the torch for their organizations, their staff, and their audiences.
In that meeting, we pick a few issues to discuss, rumble with each other to solve them, and set clear tasks for next steps. It’s intense but also something I look forward to every week (I may be the only one).
The Unification Team is comprised of the following experts. Each person’s work is wide-ranging, but listed below is the one major item they’re focused on moving forward through the end of July.
Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford, Executive — Finalize the business model for the combined organization
Monica Bowin, Production (PPT) — Migrate the CLO Production Center to Dargan Street
Wynne Fedele, Development (CLO) — Launch the Founders Campaign
Laura Greenawalt, Operations — Stand up integrated operations and execute planning across both organizations
Kyle Haden, Artistic — Finalize the core 2027 season shows
Aja Jones, Marketing (PPT) — Launch the new brand identity and microsite
Angela Langill, Finance (CLO) — Begin unifying finance processes & accounts
Jim Scriven, Education (CLO) — Develop an education programming strategy for Fall 2026
Kate Sphar, Foundations — Drive foundation engagement and funder communications
These are the stewards of the future entity. We’re lucky to have them at the table.
Behind the Curtain
A look at what’s moved over the last two weeks:
We briefed our foundation partners on recent unification progress, and talked openly about both the opportunities ahead and the real challenges we’re working through.
Pittsburgh CLO’s 80th Anniversary Gala was a triumph — a celebration of eight decades of musical theater that honored longtime supporter Carol Hefren Tillotson with the Chloe Award for her civic leadership and philanthropy.
Our staffing and HR work advanced considerably. We’ve finalized our staff timeline, process, and approved retention and severance packages for currently employed staff. We have engaged an HR consultant through our Shared Services partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. They are building a new set of staff policies and tools for us. They have also reached out to support our colleagues from PPT with benefits and Employee Assistance Programs.
We’re standing up a new strategic communications strategy, being led by Aja Jones. This weekly update is part of that. Expect more opportunities to learn about our team and decisions.
The brand work is on track, with significant progress against our timeline. We’re excited to share that soon!
We’re forming wider staff working groups to bring more team members into major projects — including future office integration (IT and facilities planning) and our announcement events.
Unions and critical industry memberships are a near horizon. We wanted to ensure we didn’t disrupt or confuse CLO’s operations before digging in with these essential partners.
In the Spotlight
A Night to Cherish: Pittsburgh CLO Concert Salutes 80 Years of Musical Theater onStage Pittsburgh A first-hand account of CLO’s 80th Anniversary Gala — the tributes, the alumni who returned to the stage, and the honoring of Carol Hefren Tillotson. The piece doesn’t shy away from the bittersweet note running through the night: the sense of one era closing as a new chapter with Pittsburgh Public Theater begins.
What Nonprofit Leaders Should Know About Mergers and Partnerships NonProfit PRO A clear walk-through of how nonprofit mergers actually unfold, laid out in five phases from early exploration through due diligence to integration. The article singles out integration planning — the work of figuring out how teams, systems, and fundraising will function together before any legal transition — as the stage leaders most often underestimate. This is a map of exactly where we are right now. The integration planning the article calls “the most overlooked stage” is precisely the work our Unification Team is doing this summer.
Before you go: Pittsburgh CLO’s summer season kicks off with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical — the start of the 80th-anniversary PNC Summer of Musicals. And there’s still time to sign up for Pittsburgh Public Theater’s summer education programs at the O’Reilly. Call 412-456-6666 for more information.
NextActPGH is published weekly during the merger of Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater.