Sing Out Loud with Pittsburgh Musical Theater

In a city with a flourishing theater scene, it may surprise you to know that years ago, it was hard to find a place where someone of any age or experience could affordably learn the basics of dancing, acting, and theater. Enter Pittsburgh Musical Theater.

Pittsburgh Musical Theater (PMT) is a nonprofit performing arts organization whose mission is to unite the community through its musical education, training, appreciation, and outreach programs. PMT was founded in 1990 with the goal of “creating a regional musical theater company committed to producing quality productions…at a price affordable to all residents, especially children and families.”

With the support of their patrons, like Peoples, PMT currently puts on performances in the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh, the Hazlett Theater on the North Side, and, for the first time ever, the Gargaro Theater in the West End. This new venue already hosted productions by PMT’s professional company for the 2018 season. The Rockin’ West End Series includes more adult-oriented shows: “We Will Rock You,” “Evil Dead: The Musical,” and “Avenue Q: The Musical.”

In addition to performances, PMT also hosts a variety of programs for young students interested in musical theater. For instance, the PMT College Mentoring Program helps current high school students and their families as they go through the application process to attend a college for the performing arts. PMT also partners with the CAPA 6-12 Orchestra for an annual musical production at the Byham Theater. Each year the student orchestra pairs up with the PMT’s Richard E. Rauh Conservatory Theater Company, allowing younger students to participate in a professional production in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

Other programs focus more on community involvement, such as Broadway at the Overlook and the Tales and Treats Theater Program, which both take place in the West End of Pittsburgh. Broadway at the Overlook is an annual performance by PMT’s resident artists and student performers. The event takes place at the end of the summer and is completely free of charge. A huge hit with the local community, last year’s Broadway at the Overlook had over 2,000 attendees. Tales and Treats is a six-week Community Children’s Theater program for underserved children and families in the neighborhoods of the West End. This event also serves as an opportunity for participants of PMT’s Pre-College and Transitions programs to get experience with choreography, directing, technical design, costumes, and musical direction in these productions.

Moving forward, PMT hopes to continue serving the Pittsburgh community and has plans to expand its reach even further by renovating the newly acquired James Centre in the West End Village into a one-of-a-kind arts education center. This new facility will serve as not only a performance and rehearsal space but also as a landmark of the Pittsburgh community.

As a nonprofit, PMT largely relies on support from local companies, organizations, and individuals to keep their programs either affordable or completely free of charge. Whether you're in the cast or a member of the audience, we’re happy to support PMT as they bring the joy of musical theater to our communities.