Announcing: 2026 Summer of Musicals

Pittsburgh, PA • November 13, 2025 – Pittsburgh CLO is thrilled to announce its 2026 PNC Summer of Musicals, marking a milestone 80th Anniversary in honor of Carol Hefren Tillotson, a devoted supporter and advocate for the arts in our community. For eight decades, Pittsburgh CLO has proudly celebrated the magic of live musical theater - created by, for, and in partnership with Pittsburgh.

"As we look ahead to our 80th Anniversary, I’m filled with excitement and gratitude for the continued support of our loyal audiences and donors," said Mark Fleischer, Executive Producer of Pittsburgh CLO. "Our Summer 2026 lineup reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing world-class musical theater to Pittsburgh with productions that span generations and genres. From the soaring music of BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical to the hilarious smash-hit MEAN GIRLS and the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning SUFFS, there truly is something for everyone."

BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical

June 23-28, 2026 | Benedum Center

Sponsored by Joan Clark Davis

Pittsburgh CLO brings you an all-new production of BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical, the inspiring story of a girl from Brooklyn who became one of the most successful singer-songwriters in music history. With unforgettable hits like "It’s Too Late," "You’ve Got a Friend," "So Far Away," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," BEAUTIFUL is a moving, music-filled portrait of resilience, self-discovery, and the healing power of song.

SUFFS

July 21-26, 2026 | Benedum Center

Direct from Broadway, comes the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical SUFFS about the groundbreaking, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this "thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining" (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical

Pittsburgh CLO has been a driving force behind the preservation, creation and promotion of live musical theater since 1946. As one of the largest regional musical theater organizations in the country, it is fortunate for the yearly support of nearly 200,000 audience members. In addition to producing fresh new productions of Broadway classics, the not-for-profit’s mission is to develop new works and showcase emerging talent and has been credited with launching the careers of numerous artists such as Billy Porter, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Rob Marshall, Kathleen Marshall, Rob Ashford, Bernadette Peters and Shirley Jones. The organization’s dedication to musical theater extends beyond its six-show Summer Season at the Benedum Center, to programming at the 200-seat Cabaret Theater, which saw the world premieres of Up and Away and Game On in 2018, The Double-Threat Trio in 2019, and THE PERFECT MATE in 2024. Its extensive education efforts include the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater; a university internship program; New Horizons, and in-school programs Gallery of Heroes and Creative Vision. Other ongoing initiatives include the Construction Center for the Arts, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater and SPARK, a festival for new small-cast musicals launched in 2018. The organization also founded the National High School Musical Theatre Awards/ Jimmy Awards®. To further its mission to grow the art form, Pittsburgh CLO has been involved with 31 Broadway shows (32 Tony Awards®), and in 2014 produced the world premiere of An American in Paris in Paris, then on Broadway, where it won 4 Tony Awards®, and in London, Tokyo, Pittsburgh and throughout the U.S. and Europe. Pittsburgh CLO is the subject of a film starring Jeff Goldblum titled "Pittsburgh." PITTSBURGHCLO.org