logo
Pittsburgh CLO unveils the students, high schools nominated for 2025 Gene Kelly Awards

Pittsburgh CLO unveils the students, high schools nominated for 2025 Gene Kelly Awards

CBS News07-05-2025

The Pittsburgh CLO has announced the nominees for the 34th annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater.
The Gene Kelly Awards were launched in 1991 and continue today as a way to honor the high school drama programs and students for their productions, performances and art design.
"The Gene Kelly Awards are a life-changing experience for students," said Jim Scriven, Director of Education at Pittsburgh CLO. "They offer the opportunity to perform on a professional stage, celebrate peers and connect to a national network of emerging artists. It's about more than awards - it's about access and inspiration."
The nominations for Best Musical were announced Wednesday morning right here on KDKA-TV. The Pittsburgh CLO visited Pittsburgh Today Live to reveal the schools up for the big award.
In addition to more than 34 awards to hand out on the big night, scholarships are also awarded.
The winners for Outstanding Actor and Actress will go on to represent Pittsburgh CLO at the Jimmy Awards on June 23, 2025, on Broadway.
The awards show will be held at the Benedum Center on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all those nominated! For more information, visit Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards section.
Here is the full list of nominees
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 - 42nd 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 - 42nd 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 - 42nd 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
42nd 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
42nd STREET
Pine-Richland High School
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS
Hallie Cantola
Sandy Cheeks
THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Westinghouse Arts Academy
Anna Karmanos
Dorothy Brock
42nd 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

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Blue Moon partners with eos for new orange-flavored lip balm
Blue Moon partners with eos for new orange-flavored lip balm

CBS News

time22 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Blue Moon partners with eos for new orange-flavored lip balm

In an unusual pairing, beer maker Blue Moon and personal care product company eos have teamed up to create a new orange-flavored lip balm, The Valencia Orange Lip Balm debuted Tuesday and is available exclusively on Blue Moon and eos' websites. It comes in a round shell typical of eos' style but with a twist: A small Blue Moon label is printed on the orange casing. In the online description of the product, the companies say the lip balm was designed to enhance the flavor of Blue Moon beer, a Belgian-style wheat beer known for its citrusy flavor. "This limited-edition balm doesn't just resemble a Valencia orange, it delivers the same refreshing, juicy taste," Blue Moon and eos said in a statement. While the product does not contain any alcohol, the companies say it is intended for an audience 21 and older. The balm retails for $4.99 and is available while supplies last, according to the companies' statement. Blue Moon is owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company, whose beer brands include Coors, Coors Light, Miller High Life and Miller Lite. "Through this unexpected partnership with eos, we're giving fans a whole new way to enjoy that iconic citrus taste," Courtney Benedict, vice president of marketing at the Molson Coors, said in a statement.

Brian Wilson Embodied The Warmth Of The Sun
Brian Wilson Embodied The Warmth Of The Sun

Forbes

time26 minutes ago

  • Forbes

Brian Wilson Embodied The Warmth Of The Sun

God only knows what we'd be without the music of Brian Wilson. What good is the dawn, that grows into day; the sunset at night, or living this way. For I have the warmth of the sun, within me at night. Brian Wilson, who died on June 11, overcame immense life challenges to share 'the warmth of the sun' with multiple generations of fans, throughout his near 60 year career. And despite his passing, his musical and cultural significance is guaranteed to continue, with the consistency and majesty of waves rolling across the sea. Wilson's place in American history is primarily as the leader of The Beach Boys, one of the most influential bands in rock n' roll history. As the band's principal composer, his mastery of harmonies was principally responsible for the 'sound' that led to the sale of over 100 million records globally, including over 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold Records. His 1965 masterpiece 'Pet Sounds' is generally recognized as one of the top two or three album recordings in popular music history. Wilson also achieved fame with his extraordinary achievements in musical production and arrangement. His ability to use the voices of his bandmates as musical instruments themselves, and his willingness to incorporate professional musicians (e.g., the famous 'Wrecking Crew') set the standard for record production for a generation. It's no stretch to describe Wilson as the modern day equivalent of Stephen Foster, referred to as 'the father of American music'. But Wilson's legacy extends far beyond his achievements as a composer and performer. It extends to the broader meaning of the music, his related impact on American culture and his courageous battle to overcome crippling mental illness. Wilson once attributed the success of the Beach Boys to how the music 'celebrated the joy of life in a real, simple way.' And that they did, whether it involved a surfboard, a T-Bird or 'girls on the beach'. Aspects of Wilson's music as sung by his band can be found in many aspects of our daily life; it's hard not to watch television or a movie, or listen to the radio, and not hear some reflection of Wilson and The Beach Boys' music. Beyond the music, few artists have had such a significant impact on American culture than did Wilson. The band's early focus on an 'Endless Summer', with its lifestyle of sunshine, surfing, cars and young romance contributed enormously to the explosive 1960s attraction of Southern California as a magical destination. If everybody had an ocean…across the USA, then everybody'd be surfin', like Californ-i-a…Wilson's music moved people, both figuratively and literally. And as Wilson's listeners grew older and confronted more serious emotions than life at the beach, his music evolved to address what they ‒ and he ‒ were feeling. The enduring attraction of Pet Sounds is found in the way in which Wilson, and his lyricist Tony Asher, reflected 'coming of age' sensitivities within a lush orchestral mixture. Rolling Stone described it as '…an intense, linear personal vision of the vagaries of a love affair and the painful, introverted anxieties that are the wrenching precipitates of the unstable chemistry of any love relationship.' Yet the most understated aspect of Wilson's life was his ability to write such joyous harmonies while suffering from the traumas of an abusive father and mental challenges ultimately diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder and depression. These challenges were exacerbated by the drug abuse so typical of artists of that era. And they were exploited in near-legendary manner by a controversial 'celebrity psychologist'. That Wilson was able to prevail for decades against such pressures is a testament to both his personal courage and his artistic commitment. When many would have abandoned their careers when confronted by such barriers, Wilson persevered. His ability to complete the legendary Smile album, after 40 years of suspended work, gave hope to others struggling with similar conditions. Of course Wilson was not the sole messenger of his music; full credit is due to his lifelong band mates: brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friends Alan Jardine and Bruce Johnston. There could be no substitutes. Indeed, Love's autobiography tells of the remark one-time Beach Boy Glen Campbell once made to Johnny Carson, that 'The Beach Boys' music will never die'. Carson retorted that 'Everyone has to die. Even the Beach Boys have to die sometime'. And certainly they do, at least from a bodily perspective. But the spirit of their music, as crafted by Brian Wilson, will undoubtedly live on as long as American popular music is chronicled. My love's like the warmth of the sun; it won't ever die.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store