SPARK: Igniting the Future of Small Musicals

For 71 years, Pittsburgh CLO has been delighting audiences with Broadway-scale musicals for its main stage subscription season. In 2004, it introduced smaller productions for its newly minted 250-seat CLO Cabaret Theater, where dozens of premieres and select world premieres have since debuted. SPARK is especially designed to cultivate more small-cast shows suited to this venue, bringing their creative teams in residency at Pittsburgh CLO to work in a focused and supportive environment. A commitment to artists is a chief tenet of SPARK.

During SPARK, 10 new works will be seen in various stages of development via “readings” (actors at music stands with piano accompaniment), “staged readings” (script-in-hand readings with piano accompaniment and some movement/choreography) and “workshop productions” (fully staged presentations with minimal set and costume pieces). UP AND AWAY, by Kevin Hammonds and Kristin Bair, which is receiving its world premiere this month at the CLO Cabaret, will be SPARK’s feature presentation.

SPARK also seeks to engage members of the public interested in moderated Post-Show Discussions, a New Musicals Boot Camp, Master Classes led by invited guests, and social events such as a Songwriters’ Cabaret Night, a Musical Theater Improvisation Night and more.