Together, at Last.
It’s official: as of July 31, 2026, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO are one company. Two organizations have become one, and together we’re building something neither could have built alone. We wanted you to be among the first to know it’s real.
Now we need something to call it.
A few weeks ago, we landed on a name we were genuinely excited about. Then, last week, so did another organization that we deeply admire. Small city, big coincidence. What drew us both to the same word was the idea that we were building something new, truly meant to last, and made in Pittsburgh.
So we pivoted and we’re ready to forge ahead.
Rather than lock ourselves back in a room and hand you a new name, we’d rather the people this is actually for — you — help us find it. We’re collecting ideas this week, and whatever name we land on, it’ll have your fingerprints on it.
Head to Mentimeter and share your ideas. You’ll find a few options to choose from, plus a box to write in your own. Send it to anyone in Pittsburgh who might want in on the fun. We’ll be reading every submission. Voting is open through August 8.
Shakespeare said it best: a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Our identity was never going to live in a word anyway. It lives in the work, the audience, and in the people creating it. The name is just how the rest of the world gets to say it out loud. Help us say it right.
CAST YOUR VOTE BY AUGUST 8!
Or, visit Menti.com and enter code 2701 6073
Our First Season Begins
One of the biggest changes for this new company: We’re producing year-round. Think of us not just as a summer destination, or a place for holiday shows, but your answer whenever you’re looking for a great night out.
You’ll also notice we’re not staying put in one building. We’re finding the right room for the right play, using multiple stages Downtown. The Prologue Season is proof of that: it moves from The O’Reilly, to the Greer Cabaret, and around the corner to the Byham.
You’ve already heard about the Prologue Season, but here’s a refresher: it kicks off with the Pittsburgh premiere of HOW SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE, followed by adult favorite WHO’S HOLIDAY!, and family favorite A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Ticket Alert
We’re also excited to announce that tickets for HOW SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE are now officially on sale!
One more thing worth circling on your calendar: our November 11 preview performance of HOW SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE is Pay What You Can. This is part of our commitment to equitable and accessible theater. In addition to our typical RAD Pass offerings, we are thrilled to offer Pay What You Can performances during previews, and will preserve a portion of every house for low-price, quality seats.
The Prologue Season is just the opening act. We’re still finalizing agreements with our rights holders — but…
If you love Shakespeare:
look for William Shakespeare’s THE COMEDY OF ERRORS at The O’Reilly in 2027 — two sets of long-lost twins, separated by shipwreck, spending the whole play a few feet apart before finally finding each other. Four hundred years early, Shakespeare wrote us our own press release.
If you love Tony Award Winners:
PURPOSE, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama, gets its Pittsburgh premiere on our stage. It’s the kind of bold, ambitious storytelling our new company exists to bring to this city.
If you love Musicals:
Big, beautiful musicals aren’t going anywhere — and you’ll find them not just in the summer, but year-round. Expect at least three of your favorites, chosen from recent CLO and PPT subscriber surveys.
When we launch the full season, you’ll get to choose how you experience it:
One series built around the artistic excellence that’s always defined Pittsburgh Public Theater
One series carrying forward Pittsburgh CLO’s extraordinary musical legacy
One full season that brings the best of both together
Stay tuned.
For the Artists in the Room
A Pittsburgh Theater Artist Convening
Thursday, August 20 | 5–6:30 p.m. Early enough to make your call time if you’re in a show!
Kyle Haden, Brett Crawford, and the staffs of our new company are inviting artists and producing companies from across the region to join us for a conversation built around connection and creating a platform for our collective future as artists in Pittsburgh. Sign up here.