Pittsburgh CLO unveils the students, high schools nominated for 2025 Gene Kelly Awards
The Pittsburgh CLO has announced the nominees for the 34th annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater.
The Gene Kelly Awards were launched in 1991 and continue today as a way to honor the high school drama programs and students for their productions, performances and art design.
"The Gene Kelly Awards are a life-changing experience for students," said Jim Scriven, Director of Education at Pittsburgh CLO. "They offer the opportunity to perform on a professional stage, celebrate peers and connect to a national network of emerging artists. It's about more than awards - it's about access and inspiration."
The nominations for Best Musical were announced Wednesday morning right here on KDKA-TV. The Pittsburgh CLO visited Pittsburgh Today Live to reveal the schools up for the big award.
In addition to more than 34 awards to hand out on the big night, scholarships are also awarded.
The winners for Outstanding Actor and Actress will go on to represent Pittsburgh CLO at the Jimmy Awards on June 23, 2025, on Broadway.
The awards show will be held at the Benedum Center on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all those nominated! For more information, visit Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards section.
Here is the full list of nominees
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Budget Level I
- Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
- Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
Budget Level II
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- McKeesport Area High School - TITANIC the Musical
- Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- Montour High School - Disney's The Little Mermaid
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Riverview Jr./Sr. High School - SOMETHING ROTTEN!
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION
Budget Level I
- Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
- Bishop Canevin High School - XANADU
- Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
Budget Level II
- Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools - NEWSIES
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Quaker Valley High School - MY FAIR LADY
Budget Level III
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Shady Side Academy Senior School - WE WILL ROCK YOU: School Edition
- West Allegheny High School - FOOTLOOSE
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Thomas Jefferson High School - SHREK THE MUSICAL
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING DANCE ENSEMBLE
Budget Level I
- Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
- Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
Budget Level II
- Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools - NEWSIES
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
- West Allegheny High School - FOOTLOOSE
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Pine-Richland High School - 42nd STREET
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Budget Level I
- Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
- Pittsburgh Allderdice High School - 9 TO 5 The Musical
Budget Level II
- Chartiers Valley High School - SOMETHING ROTTEN!
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
- West Allegheny High School - FOOTLOOSE
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Riverview Jr./Sr. High School - SOMETHING ROTTEN!
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN
Budget Level I
- Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
- Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
Budget Level II
- Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools - NEWSIES
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- Montour High School - DISNEY's THE LITTLE MERMAID
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Riverview Jr./Sr. High School - SOMETHING ROTTEN!
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Budget Level I
Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
Pittsburgh Allderdice High School - 9 TO 5 The Musical
Budget Level II
Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
McKeesport Area High School - TITANIC the Musical
Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
- West Allegheny High School - FOOTLOOSE
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Pine-Richland High School - 42nd STREET
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORCHESTRA
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pine-Richland High School - 42nd STREET
- Pittsburgh Allderdice High School - 9 TO 5 the Musical
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
- Shady Side Academy Senior School - WE WILL ROCK YOU: School Edition
OUTSTANDING STUDENT ARTIST
Spencer Callaghan
Student Director
Elizabeth Forward High School
Kennedy Edwards
Student Stage Manager
Gateway High School
Ivy Freshwater & MaryKate Tracy
Student Stage Managers
Montour High School
Zach Frolini
Student Band Leader/Conductor
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
Grace Schmigel
Student Costume Coordinator
Avonworth High School
Mikayla Webber
Student Stage Manager and Scenic Charge
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Benedum
Squidward Q. Tentacles
THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Westinghouse Arts Academy
Wyatt Bernardini
Old Prince Bolkonsky
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
Mycah Harris
Fedya Dolokhov
NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
Carson McKinney
Willard Hewitt
FOOTLOOSE
West Allegheny High School
Daniel Morgan
Hades
HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
Hampton High School
Noah Prosky
Thomas Nostradamus
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Riverview Jr./Sr. High School
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ady Burgoyne
Tobias Ragg
SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Avonworth High School
Faith Evans
Tabatha/Cheshire Cat
ALICE BY HEART
North Hills High School
Harmony Karwoski
Johanna
SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Avonworth High School
Beatrice Laurenson
Beggar Woman
SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Avonworth High School
Sophia Priore
Maggie Jones
42nd STREET
Pine-Richland High School
Siddaly Sykes
Portia
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Riverview Jr./Sr. High School
OUTSTANDING ACTOR
Mateo Carrasco
Orpheus
HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School
Amerik Cirota
SpongeBob SquarePants
THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Westinghouse Arts Academy
Severin Harmon
Bobby Child
CRAZY FOR YOU
Sewickley Academy
Paxon Masters
Sweeney Todd
SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Avonworth High School
Eamonn McElfresh
Pierre Bezukhov
NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12
Vaughn Spencer
Julian Marsh
42nd STREET
Pine-Richland High School
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS
Hallie Cantola
Sandy Cheeks
THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Westinghouse Arts Academy
Anna Karmanos
Dorothy Brock
42nd STREET
Pine-Richland High School
Mariana Mangual
Ella
Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA (Broadway Version)
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School
Lucy Myers
Mrs. Lovett
SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
Avonworth High School
Livia Rocco
Tracy Turnblad
HAIRSPRAY
Woodland Hills High School
Ava Stropkaj
Ariel
Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID
Montour High School
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
Budget Level I
- Avonworth High School - SWEENEY TODD: School Edition
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School - CHILDREN OF EDEN
Budget Level II
- Elizabeth Forward High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Westinghouse Arts Academy - THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
Budget Level III
- North Hills High School - ALICE BY HEART
- Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 - NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Budget Level IV
- Hampton High School - HADESTOWN: Teen Edition
- Woodland Hills Senior High School - HAIRSPRAY
