Curtain Up On Collaboration
In Pittsburgh, CMU School of Drama’s faculty and students don’t just train for the professional world — they’re already part of it.
School of Drama
written by
Shannon Musgrave with support by Ella Johns
Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama –– one of the top theatrical training programs in the world –– extends its reach beyond the classrooms and performance spaces on campus. The School enjoys a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship with Pittsburgh’s vibrant professional theater community. Students gain valuable real-world experience; faculty are able to practice their own craft; and local stages benefit from fresh talent and bold ideas. This dynamic exchange fosters both the cultivation of new theater artists and the on-stage excellence Pittsburgh audiences know and love.
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One of the distinct advantages for students attending the School of Drama is the chance to learn from faculty who are professional artists and — through partnerships with local theaters — work alongside them as colleagues. In this article, we highlight four of the organizations that have partnered creatively with the School of Drama. These companies and many others throughout Pittsburgh provide students, faculty and staff the chance to put their skills into practice.
“True artistic education happens when the classroom meets the stage,” said Robert Ramirez, head of the School of Drama. “Our partnerships with local theater companies strengthen the cultural fabric of our city, while giving our students hands-on opportunities to learn from seasoned professionals. Together, through sharing our talents, all of us — artists, producers and educators — are stronger.”
Pittsburgh Public Theater
An iconic Pittsburgh institution, the Pittsburgh Public Theater recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. With a goal of enriching community through artistically diverse theatrical experiences, the Public produces everything from classics to contemporaries and comedies to dramas. Kyle Haden, the School of Drama’s senior associate head and associate professor of acting, recently worked as an artistic consultant for the Public. In this role, he collaborated closely with managing director Shaunda McDill in support of the organization’s artistic programming and strategic priorities.
The Public has been an artistic home to many School of Drama faculty, including Tina Shackleford (stage manager), Chelsea M. Warren (scenic designer), Hugh Hanson (costume designer), Stewart Blackwood (sound designer) and Don Wadsworth (dialect coach). Student directors have gained professional experience as assistant directors on Public productions; most recently third-year MFA directing candidate Kaycee Swierc, who served as assistant director of the Public’s acclaimed fall production of “Noises Off.”
“I think that having the quality of theater we have in Pittsburgh and then knowing the quality of students we have at CMU and the caliber of our faculty members, it just makes sense to bring them all together,” said Haden, a Pittsburgh native who believes this professional and educational collaboration is not only necessary but also supports a shared mission. “Arts is in the fabric of the city.”
Kyle Haden directing "The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley" at City Theatre. Photo by Louis Stein.
City Theatre
City Theatre Company –– Pittsburgh’s home for new plays –– was founded in 1975 as the City Players and was primarily composed of Carnegie Mellon graduates. School of Drama alumnus Marc Masterson became City’s artistic director in 1980, a post he held until 2000 and then again from 2018–2024. City is currently led by Managing Director James McNeel and Artistic Director Clare Drobot, a School of Music alumna.
“We strive for artistic excellence in all that we do,” said McNeel, “and the talent that is inherent in those at CMU’s School of Drama is a critical part of that pursuit.”
City Theatre has worked with the School of Drama in both formal and informal ways: from hiring over 20 working artists in a season from the ranks of CMU’s faculty, current students, staff and recent alums, to mounting productions and festivals together. City also serves as a satellite venue for School of Drama events and productions. Last season marked the first official partnership production between City and the School of Drama with “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley,” produced at City and directed by Haden with a cast and creative team comprised primarily of School of Drama students and faculty.
Alumna Alex Sheffield in "The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley" at City Theatre. Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover.
“We all know how insanely gifted the students are in the School of Drama,” McNeel continued. “One of the most important things that cannot be taught in the classroom is the actual act of working within a professional theater. To gain that experience by participating in or on a City Theatre production is an opportunity not easily replicated on campus.”
Of City’s current five-play season, four are directed by School of Drama faculty. Kim Weild kicked off the season in the fall with her ambitious and acclaimed production “Another Kind of Silence” by L M Feldman, which was featured in American Theatre magazine. Kaja Dunn led the holiday production of “Little Women” by Lauren Gunderson. This spring alumnus and visiting professor Adil Mansoor directs “Eureka Day,” and Ramirez closes out the season with a downtown production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Each of these productions’ creative teams are also packed with School of Drama faculty.
“Obviously, having access to such talent in our backyard is a boon for us,” McNeel said, “But, at the same time, we know we play an important role for the School in recruiting qualified, industry-active professors to its faculty, who are able to move to Pittsburgh and see there are opportunities to both teach and still be a working artist without having to travel away from home.”
Drobot agreed and added that as a theater company committed to contemporary work, it's meaningful to be able to build an intergenerational audience.
“Especially as we deepen partnerships with the School of Drama, we've seen increased audience attendance from students,” she said. “It's wonderful to also be a space for them to see new plays coming to life.”
Quantum Theatre
Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre brings “the experimental and non-traditional” to the community, said Artistic Director and Founder Karla Boos. Since 1990 when the company was established, it has pushed the boundaries of the who, the what and, especially, the where of theater-making.
“Even when Quantum was young, CMU artists were attracted to the things that were different about Quantum and interested in participating, spending some of their precious time out of school with us,” Boos said. “So, from way back when, CMU helped Quantum hugely through their contributions.”
Lisa Velten Smith in Quantum's production of "The Seagull." Photo by Beth Barbis.
This season, Quantum collaborated with School of Drama faculty on the production of “The Seagull,” which included scenic design by Chelsea M. Warren, lighting design by C. Todd Brown, dramaturgy by Kristi Good and featured Lisa Velten Smith in the role of Arkadina. Haden directed Quantum’s immersive production of “Enron,” with a full design team of CMU faculty and alumni: Professors C. Todd Brown (lighting design) and Stewart Blackwood (sound design) and alumni Sasha Jin Schwartz (scenic design), Damian E. Dominguez (costume design) and Kolton Cotton (media design).
This spring, Professor Andrew Smith directs Quantum’s “10 out of 12” by Anne Washburn –– a production that will take place in the Mellon Institute on CMU’s campus.
“I think there is great benefit for CMU in engaging with the professional companies in the community. There’s nothing like real schedules, paying audiences reacting in real time, and the opportunity to work with the great artists we all bring to town,” Boos said.
Pittsburgh CLO
The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, or CLO, is one of Pittsburgh’s first professional theater companies, dating back to 1946. Its mission is dedicated to the art of musical theater and theater education, and as such, the CLO has been an important partner particularly for the School of Drama’s music theater program.
“The presence of CMU in Pittsburgh means there is a strong ecosystem for musical theater that encompasses not just shows, but also training, early career opportunities and new work development,” said Mark Fleischer, executive producer of the CLO. “Without it, many of the quality musicals in our community would be imported.”
Because the CLO’s mainstage season is produced June through August, CMU students have the opportunity to stay and work in Pittsburgh over their summer break.
“Countless CMU students have been hired for their first professional jobs on CLO’s stages and earned their Equity cards before going on to incredible careers in the theater,” Fleischer continued. “And many alums continue to come back to work on our shows.”
School of Drama student Kylie Edwards in “Madame Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical” at Pittsburgh CLO. Photo by Matt Polk.
Part of the CLO’s mission is to develop new musicals, and one such development was a work by MFA Dramatic Writing alumnus Matt Schatz that went on to a world premiere co-produced by the CLO and City Theatre.
“Because of getting my MFA in Dramatic Writing at CMU, Pittsburgh was the first place I ever saw new plays. That had a huge impact on me,” said Schatz. “When City Theatre premiered my play, 'The Burdens,' in 2019, it felt like coming home. Around that same time, Pittsburgh CLO developed my musical satire "An Untitled New Play by Justin Timberlake" through their SPARK festival with an entirely Pittsburgh-based team, which was such a rewarding experience for both the show and for me as an artist. I’ve had plays and musicals developed and produced all over the country, but there’s truly no better city to make new work than Pittsburgh.”
Fleischer added: “A vibrant city needs to create its own art. And with our combination of producers, universities and local professionals, we can deliver the quality shows our community deserves.”
"An Untitled New Play by Justin Timberlake" by Matt Schatz, co-produced by Pittsburgh CLO and City Theatre. Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover.
Building up Community
The School of Drama is proud to be part of a vibrant theater community, giving students real-world experience as part of their training and faculty opportunities to continue practicing their craft. The Pittsburgh theater scene is both a tremendous boon to the artists studying and working at CMU and is also strengthened by the very artistry being cultivated here.
“I am a better educator when I am a working artist, and I’m a better artist when I am in the classroom,” Haden said. “Together as students, educators and, ultimately, theater professionals, we are making Pittsburgh’s arts scene richer.”