The Pittsburgh CLO announced the nominees for the 34th annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards program honors high school drama departments and students in the region.
The nominees for the Gene Kelly Awards 2025 cover various categories recognizing achievements in performances, productions, and technical design. The winners will be announced at a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 24, 2025.
The awards show will take place at the Benedum Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The program was established in 1991.
Winners in the Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress categories receive the opportunity to travel to New York. They will represent Pittsburgh CLO at the Jimmy Awards, a national competition held on Broadway on June 23, 2025.
In addition to awards across more than 34 categories, scholarships are also presented to students.
Nominations for Best Musical were revealed on KDKA-TV. Pittsburgh CLO representatives appeared on Pittsburgh Today Live to announce the schools competing for the top honor in four budget levels.
The awards encompass technical categories such as costume design, crew/technical execution, lighting design, scenic design, and student orchestra. Performance categories include dance ensemble, vocal ensemble, supporting actor, supporting actress, actor, and actress. There is also an award for Outstanding Student Artist.
Jim Scriven, Director of Education at Pittsburgh CLO, stated, "The Gene Kelly Awards are a life-changing experience for students. 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."
