Gene Kelly Awards Announced High School Musical Theater Nominees

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the nominees for the 35th Annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater, taking place on Saturday, May 23 at 7:30pm 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."

Nominees have been recognized in categories including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor & Actress, Design, and Technical Execution, Vocal and Dance Ensembles, and Student Orchestra. The 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, several cash and university scholarships will be presented, made possible through generous donations from the CLO Ambassadors, Point Park University, Seton Hill University, and Slippery Rock University.

Over the past three months, a panel of adjudicators – including 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.

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.

The performance will take place on May 23 at 7:30pm at Benedum Center for the Performing Arts located at 237 7th St, Pittsburgh, PA. Tickets can be purchased at Pittsburgh CLO's website.
 

The Nominees for the 2026 Gene Kelly Awards are:

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Springdale Jr./Sr. High School – The Addams Family Musical

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior High School – Seussical

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
Penn Hills High School – Once on this Island
West Allegheny High School – 9 to 5

Budget Level IV
Hampton High School – Once Upon a Mattress
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Riverview Jr./Sr. High School – The Addams Family Musical

OUTSTANDING CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School - Curtains
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior High School – Seussical

Budget Level III
Keystone Oaks High School – Mamma Mia!
North Hills High School – Mamma Mia!
Shady Side Academy Senior School – Anything Goes (2022 Revision)

Budget Level IV
Gateway High School – Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5

OUTSTANDING DANCE ENSEMBLE

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – Curtains
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
Plum Senior High School – Seussical
Quaker Valley High School – Alice by Heart

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
North Hills High School – Mamma Mia!
West Allegheny High School – 9 to 5

Budget Level IV
Gateway High School – Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Woodland Hills High School – Young Frankenstein
 

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – Curtains
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
 

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior High School – Seussical
 

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
North Hills High School – Mamma Mia!
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – Guys and Dolls
 

Budget Level IV
Gateway High School – Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Woodland Hills High School – Young Frankenstein

OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN

Budget Level I
Bishop Canevin High School – Into the Woods
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – Curtains
 

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior High School – Seussical
 

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
North Hills High School – Mamma Mia!
Shady Side Academy Senior School – Anything Goes (2022 Revision)
 

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5
Woodland Hills High School – Young Frankenstein

OUTSTANDING VOCAL ENSEMBLE

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – Curtains
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof
Plum Senior High School – Seussical
 

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – Guys and Dolls
West Allegheny High School – 9 to 5

Budget Level IV
Gateway High School – Catch Me If You Can
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Westinghouse Arts Academy – Into the Woods

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORCHESTRA

Avonworth High School – The Phantom of the Opera
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School – Curtains
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 – Guys and Dolls
Shady Side Academy Senior School – Anything Goes (2022 Revision)
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ARTIST

Ava Anderson
Stage Manager
Gateway High School – Catch Me If You Can

Anastasia Bakaturski
Dramaturg
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof

Spencer Callaghan
Student Director
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt
 

Andrew Horvath
Student Sound Technician; Lead Student Carpenter
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5

Juliet Moore
Choreographer
Deer Lakes High School – Damn Yankees

Mary-Kate Stock
Student PR Leader
Baldwin High School – 9 to 5

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nathan Connelly
Sir Harry – Once Upon a Mattress
Hampton High School
 

Sonny Davis
Igor – Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

Vincent Jackson
Uncle Fester – The Addams Family Musical
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools

Robert Reed-Williams, Jr.
Rapunzel's Prince – Into the Woods
Westinghouse Arts Academy

Lucas Sotereanos
Motel – Fiddler on the Roof
McKeesport Area High School

Adam Steiner
The Monster – Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Lola Armfield
Holly - The Wedding Singer
Chartiers Valley High School

Emerson Henry
Miriam - The Prince of Egypt
Elizabeth Forward High School
 

Caisey Kreg
Roz Keith - 9 to 5
West Allegheny High School

Sophia Priore
Matron "Mama" Morton - Chicago: Teen Edition
Pine-Richland High School

Livia Rocco
Elizabeth Benning - Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

Olivia Safran
Frau Blücher - Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

OUTSTANDING ACTOR
 

Leo Alfieri
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein - Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

Will Benedum
Baker - Into the Woods
Westinghouse Arts Academy

Paxon Masters
The Phantom - The Phantom of the Opera
Avonworth High School

Eamonn McElfresh
Sky Masterson - Guys and Dolls
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12

Theodor Mertz
Gomez Addams - The Addams Family Musical
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools

Michael Pfeffercorn
Tevye - Fiddler on the Roof
McKeesport Area High School

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS
 

Elise Duckworth
Roxie Hart - Chicago: Teen Edition
Pine-Richland High School

Mariana Mangual
Sarah Brown - Guys and Dolls
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School

Lucy Myers
Christine Daaé - The Phantom of the Opera
Avonworth High School

Parker Pile
Donna Sheridan - Mamma Mia!
North Hills High School

Loren Prisuta
Velma Kelly - Chicago: Teen Edition
Pine-Richland High School

Annabelle Watson
Miss Adelaide - Guys and Dolls
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
 

Need more Pittsburgh Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...