Community News Archives

From center stage to creative teams behind the curtain, Carnegie Mellon University alumni are once again leaving a strong impression on Broadway, earning a record-breaking number of Tony Award nominations this year. That momentum is carrying into awards season, where a number of CMU Tartans have been nominated for the 79th Annual Tony Awards®, set to take place June 7.

The 2026 Tony Award nominations were announced on “CBS Mornings” today, including 10 Carnegie Mellon University alumni who are nominated in 8 categories. This year marks 17 consecutive years in which Carnegie Mellon alumni have earned Tony nominations.

2026 Carnegie Mellon University Tony Awards Nominees

Writers David Hornsby (1998) and Chris Hoch (1998), School of Drama alumni, were nominated for their work in “The Lost Boys” (Best Book of a Musical).
Actor Will Harrison (2019), School of Drama alumnus, was nominated for his role in “Punch” (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play).
Actor Ben Levi Ross (2017), School of Drama alumnus, was nominated for his role in “Ragtime” (Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical).
Designer Ryan Park (2009), School of Drama alumnus, was nominated for his work in “The Lost Boys” (Best Costume Design of a Musical).
Producer Jamie deRoy (1967), School of Drama alumna, was nominated for her work in “Giant” (Best Play), “Schmigadoon!” (Best Musical), “Every Brilliant Thing” and “Oedipus” (Best Revival of a Play) and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” (Best Revival of a Musical).
Producers James Carpinello (1997), Marcus Chait (1997), Patrick Wilson (1995), School of Drama alumni, and Ankit Agrawal (2014), Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy alumnus, were nominated for their work in “The Lost Boys” (Best Musical).
Producer Ankit Agrawal (2014), Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy alumnus, was nominated for his work in “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (Best Musical).

Quantum Theatre’s latest production gives audiences an immersive peek behind the curtain at the drama of putting on a play.

10 out of 12 by Anne Washburn is a clever comedy set amid the chaos of a technical rehearsal of a play. Quantum’s ambitious production, which runs through April 26, is directed by School of Drama professor Andrew Smith with lighting design by professor C. Todd Brown, and costume design by alumna Carrie Anne Huneycutt. Current School of Drama students are also part of the production with senior directing student Sean Barnett as assistant director, senior costume design student Kendall Swartz as wardrobe supervisor, and senior acting student Olivia Ruhnke in the cast, alongside recent alumnus Evan Vines.

Barnett describes the production as an immersive experience that puts the audience right into the center of the action. Each audience member receives a headset (like those that stage managers use to communicate with the other members of a show’s technical staff), which becomes an important vehicle for the storytelling.

“Imagine Waiting for Guffman mixed with Sleep No More,” Barnett says. “It is a story not only about making fun of ourselves as theatre people, but also one that celebrates the joy, love, and heart we put into the things we are passionate about, which I hope audiences of all backgrounds, theatre people or not, are all able to equally enjoy together.”

Barnett is in his final semester at the School of Drama, where he studies directing. He says working as an assistant director is all about supporting the director’s vision for the piece, and that his training has helped him to anticipate a production’s needs.

“For this show, it has been about being attuned to what Andrew’s intentions for the play were and how he saw conducting the process of staging this insanely technically complicated piece,” says Barnett. “I have been there as another voice for him to bounce ideas off of, helping coordinate schedules alongside our wonderful stage management team, as well as keeping track of and organizing notes for him to give to the actors in a big spreadsheet.

“It has also been such a joy in this process, as I prepare to graduate next month, to flash back to my very first class on my first day of freshman year in Andrew’s Acting I class, as I now work with him professionally in this capacity as a director.”

Curtain Up on the Mellon Institute

Quantum Theatre is known for staging plays in unlikely places, and 10 out of 12 is no exception. While the space it’s performed in may look like a traditional theater, it is actually a space inside the Mellon Institute that was originally created as a recital hall for the scientists that worked and studied there.

Normally closed to the public, the Mellon Institute stands as a temple to science and one of Pittsburgh’s architectural treasures. Designed by Benno Janssen and William York Cocken, the building opened in 1937 and occupies an entire city block. The signature 62 monolithic limestone columns — each weighing 60 tons and hand-carved — create a dramatic exterior. Beneath the surface, the structure extends into bedrock to minimize vibrations that could disrupt delicate scientific experiments.

In 1967, the Mellon Institute merged with the Carnegie Institute of Technology to form Carnegie Mellon University. The building houses faculty from the Mellon College of Science and the Neuroscience Institute.

CBS Pittsburgh’s Boaz Frankel speaks with School of Drama alum Evan Vines and Quantum Theatre’s Alex Ungerman about “10 out of 12” inside the Mellon Institute.

Quantum Theatre’s 10 out of 12 is running now through April 26 at the Mellon Institute. Tickets and more information available at quantumtheatre.com.

Featured photo of the 10 out of 12 cast by Jason Cohn, courtesy of Quantum Theatre.

Since 1960, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) has been the country’s leading hub for research, innovation, and education among practitioners of theater design and technology. Its annual conference, held in a different city each year, serves as a gathering space for live entertainment’s best and brightest, which includes the faculty, students, and alumni of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama.

This year’s conference took place March 18-21 in Long Beach, CA, where attendees took part in participatory labs, professional development workshops, an impressive stage expo, and an awards ceremony where several CMU students and alumni were honored.

Young Designers, Managers, and Technicians Awards

Caifeng Hong

Caifeng Hong (MFA, Costume Design 2025) is the recipient of the Zelma H. Weisfeld Costume Design & Technology Award, which recognizes an exceptional costume artist who is a current student (graduate or undergraduate) or an early career professional (within two years of graduation).

Julia He

Julia He (MFA, Stage & Production Management 2026) is the recipient of the USITT Stage Management Award sponsored by Clear-Com Communication Systems. This award specifically honors students who demonstrate strong organizational skills, effective communication, and the ability to lead collaborative production teams in demanding live performance environments.

Abby Yu Bi

Abby Yu Bi (MFA, Video & Media Design 2026) is the recipient of the USITT Digital Media Award sponsored by PIXERA. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence or outstanding potential in the area of digital media design or creative technology in the performing arts while pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Learn More About the YDMT Award Winners

Distinguished Achievement in Architecture

Len Auerbach

(BFA, 1966; MFA, 1967 – School of Drama)

Len is the recipient of USITT’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Architecture. The Distinguished Achievement Awards honor individuals who have established meritorious career records in specific fields of expertise in any area of design or technology in the performing arts or entertainment industry.

The Distinguished Achievement Awards honor individuals who have established meritorious career records in specific fields of expertise in any area of design or technology in the performing arts or entertainment industry.

Learn More

In addition to CMU’s award winners, several faculty and alumni led panels and workshops, while students took part in the many creative and practical offerings the conference had to offer.

Earlier this year, senior scenic design student Jordan Pincus won USITT’s poster contest and her design was sold during the conference. (Check out her work here!)

CMU at USITT 2026

Carolyn Burback and Harshitha Bharghava at USITT 2026

Scenic Design students Carolyn Burback and Harshitha Bharghava took part in the offerings of the USITT conference.

Scott Tedmon-Jones and Dick Block at USITT

Scenic Design alum Scott Tedman-Jones with Professor Dick Block at CMU’s booth on the USITT Expo floor.

Cat Wilson, Crystal Lee, and Mike Berger at USITT

Lighting Design alumni Cat Wilson, Crystal Lee, and Mike Berger reunited at USITT.

Stage & Production Management alumna Alana Clapp representing Cirque du Soleil on the USITT Expo floor.

Stewart Blackwood presenting a panel at USITT

Sound Design professor Stewart Blackwood (left) presented an Introduction to Creating Flexible Sound Cues panel at USITT.

Sydney de Haan and Katie Welker at USITT

Senior Costume Design student Sydney de Haan and senior Scenic Design student Katie Welker worked the CMU School of Drama booth on the expo floor.

Stage & Production Management alumna Danielle Bergman presented a session on “Creating the Stage Manager’s Toolkit for Sensitive Content.”

Scenic Design students Carolyn Burback and Harshitha Bharghava took part in the offerings of the USITT conference.

Scenic Design alum Scott Tedman-Jones with Professor Dick Block at CMU’s booth on the USITT Expo floor.

Lighting Design alumni Cat Wilson, Crystal Lee, and Mike Berger reunited at USITT.

Stage & Production Management alumna Alana Clapp representing Cirque du Soleil on the USITT Expo floor.

Sound Design professor Stewart Blackwood (left) presented an Introduction to Creating Flexible Sound Cues panel at USITT.

Senior Costume Design student Sydney de Haan and senior Scenic Design student Katie Welker worked the CMU School of Drama booth on the expo floor.

Stage & Production Management alumna Danielle Bergman presented a session on “Creating the Stage Manager’s Toolkit for Sensitive Content.”

Header photo: Alumni Sebastian Zavalza (second from left) and Issac Jo (third from left) served on a USITT panel titled “Integrating Antiracist Practices Into the Design Process.”

Tartans on the Rise celebrates recent alumni who are making an impact in their organizations and in their communities, across the nation and around the world through leadership, innovation and career achievements.

This year, three of the 16 honorees are alumni from the School of Drama.

BFA Acting, 2018

Sarah Pidgeon

Sarah Pidgeon’s profile as an actor is growing across the stage and screen, with a Tony nomination and major leading roles in just the last five years.

“There’s a complexity that I want to bring to all characters that I play,” Sarah says. “They’ve had so many different colors to them, but they all share a strong sense of self with both nuance and intelligence.”

More About Sarah

MFA Dramatic Writing, 2015

Tracy Held

Tracy Held’s passion for environmental issues shapes her art. She’s a writer and producer with a personal mission to elevate conservation conversations by weaving green themes into her stage productions and screenplays. By shaping the narrative around conservation, she hopes to inspire others to get more involved with solving the climate crisis.

More About Tracy

BFA Directing, 2022 | MAM, 2023

Moses Garcia

The Tony- and Grammy-winning musical “Buena Vista Social Club” features a live Afro-Cuban 10-piece band onstage with a multilingual book, making it the first Broadway musical fully sung in Spanish.

As the show’s inaugural and ongoing associate director, Moses Garcia played a formative role in bringing this celebration of Cuban culture to life onstage.

More About Moses

Meet all the 2026 Honorees.

Click here

Tartans on the Rise

For three School of Drama students and two faculty members, spring semester began half a world away. Costume Design professors Susan Tsu and Mindy Eshelman took third-year MFA Costume Design students Mary Alice Groat and Harumi Hirata, and second-year MFA Sound Design student Sabina Ali to India for the fourth annual International Festival of Theatre Schools (IFTS) in January. Hosted and organized by the School of Drama and Fine Arts at the University of Calicut, Thrissur, IFTS has a mission to foster a dynamic exchange of global pedagogical practices in theatre and performance. Carnegie Mellon University has sent a delegation from its School of Drama the last three years of the festival, with Tsu championing and leading the effort.

“The IFTS provides the opportunity for our students to meet brilliant theatre practitioners who are as jazzed about making theatre as they are, and to understand that theatre is made for different reasons in wildly different ways across the world,” said Tsu. “Experiences like these inevitably lead to creating work that is more deeply informed and artistically brave.”

Ali agrees. “As a designer for theatre, it is imperative to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives,” she said. “As an American, it is very easy to fall into a bubble of what culture is, and going on trips abroad helps to broaden your knowledge base on how cultures exist in different parts of the world, especially from a theatrical lens.”

“IFTS is a living classroom, a civic theatre, and an open archive of global healing practices.”
– International Festival of Theatre Schools Website

THEATRE AND HEALTH

The theme of this year’s festival was “Carnival of Pedagogy: Theatre and Health,” reimagining the pedagogical potential of the performing arts in an era marked by physical vulnerability, mental distress, social fragmentation, and ecological uncertainty, according to the festival website. Attendees came from India, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Australia, Germany, Russia, Hungary, and the United States. Theatre students, professors, and practitioners were joined by health professionals for the festival, which centered theatre as both a pedagogical praxis and an agent of health, care, and community restoration.

The CMU delegation conducted a three-day workshop that focused on this year’s theme. Eshelman and Tsu conceived an experience for fifteen student participants entitled An Unexpected Fashion Journey. The workshop began with a meditation led by Eshelman, which guided participants through their bodies, encouraging them to tune into any health concerns. Following the meditation, students painted what was at the center of their journey and shared what surfaced as most important. Ali listened to the students’ stories and began composing and incorporating sound, while Groat and Hirata joined Eshelman and Tsu in working with students to create headdresses that were symbolically representative of their health concerns. The workshop culminated in a runway walk that drew on the students’ personal experiences of pain and transformed them into a celebration of creativity and community.

Design students showing their headdresses in India — An Unexpected Fashion Journey, International Festival of Theatre Schools 2026.

KERALA KALAMANDALAM

Part of the trip included a visit to Kerala Kalamandalam, India’s premier public institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Kerala’s traditional performing arts. For Hirata, whose own artistic practice is shaped by training and professional experience within Japanese, American, and British theatrical traditions, one of the most impactful parts of the journey was seeing both traditional and innovative Indian theatre.

“There is so much cultural richness outside of your knowledge and past experiences,” she said. “It was something you could see in the visuals and the narrative–their core principles and disciplines have been kept for centuries.”

Groat added, “I think international experiences are really valuable because they can open us to a completely different viewpoint on the things we are very familiar with. In the Indian theatre that we experienced, there was a much stronger emphasis on rhythm and precise, controlled movement than Western theatre.”

A student with a traditional Indian performer.

Harumi Hirata with a performer from Kerala Kalamandalam.

Mindy Eshelman at Kerala Kalamandalam – India’s premiere public institution for the preservation and promotion of traditional performing arts.

A performance of an adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea by Kerela Karamandalam members

An historic first performance of an adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea by Kerala Kalamandalam members.

Tsu has long been a champion of international travel and ensuring that students in the School of Drama have opportunities to experience the artistry of different cultures.

“As a child, I was blessed to have parents who were not only passionately engaged as teachers in traditional education, but also were keenly aware of how travel, and opening the eyes of young people to the world was one of the best educations they could ever give,” she said.

In that spirit, as Tsu prepares to retire from CMU in 2027, the School of Drama has established the Susan Tsu Travel & Experience Fund, which will support School of Drama students in all areas of study who wish to expand their education with travel experiences.

Susan Tsu Travel & Experience Fund

Donate Here

To travel is to learn.

The 68th Grammy Awards was a spectacular showcase of the music industry’s top talent, and its impressive production value was thanks in large part to the talented creative team behind the scenes. Carnegie Mellon School of Drama alumni worked on the lighting design, art direction, screens, and animation for the ceremony, which featured nearly 20 performances and was broadcast live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 1.

School of Drama Alumni on the Grammys creative team include:

Noah Mitz (BFA, 2005) – Lighting Designer
Will Gossett (BFA, 2015) – Lighting Director
Ryan Tanker (BFA, 2010) – Lighting Director/Programmer
Hannah Kerman (BFA, 2021) – Lighting Director
James Gallo (BFA, 2023) – Assistant Lighting Director

Kristen Merlino (BFA, 2005) – Supervising Art Director
Lex Gernon-Wyatt (MFA, 2016) – Assistant Art Director

Drew Findley (BFA, 1997) – Screens Producer
Dan Efros (MFA, 2013) – Associate Screens Producer
Kevan Loney (MFA, 2016) – Show Animator
SooA Kim (MFA, 2020) – Show Animator
Peter Kelly (BFA, 2021) – Show Animator
Sophie Chen (BFA, 2019) – Show Animator

Mitz, Gossett, Tanker, and Kerman return to the Grammys lighting team having won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Special for their work on last year’s Grammy Awards.

Merlino was also nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special for her work as Art Director on last year’s Grammys.

Buena Vista Social Club took home the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Its two leading ladies, Tony Award-winner Natalie Venetia Belcon (BFA, 1991) and Isa Antonetti (BFA, 2025), are both School of Drama alums, as are many of the creative team: Associate Director Moses Garcia (BFA, 2022; MAM, 2023), Associate Sound Designer Daniel Lundberg (BFA, 2014), Assistant Sound Designer Tauheedah “Tate” Abdullah (MFA, 2024), Sound Programmer Thomas Ford (BFA, 2017), Production Assistant Sidney Rubinowitz (BFA, 2023), and Producers Jamie deRoy (1967) and Heinz alumus Ankit Agrawal (MS, 2014).

Jesse Perlman, Edward James, María Zardoya, Josh Conway, and Doron Zounes of The Marías perform onstage for the 68th GRAMMY Awards

The Marías perform onstage for the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena. [Getty Images for The Recording Academy]

Alex Warren performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena. [Getty Images for The Recording Academy]

Leon Thomas III and Lauryn Hill perform onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena. [Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy]

Best Musical Theater Album

Buena Vista Social Club

The 2026 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album went to Buena Vista Social Club. The show features School of Drama alumni on stage and behind the scenes, including the two leading ladies, Natalie Venetia Belcon and Isa Antonetti.

Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for New Work Announces Spring and Summer 2026 Programming

Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for New Work – a connective new force in Pittsburgh’s theater ecosystem – launches its spring and summer 2026 programming, building on a highly successful inaugural fall 2025 season.

The Center for New Work’s slate of programming continues its mission to support new voices, reimagine classical work, and foster sustained partnerships across the city and beyond.

“This season reflects the kind of expansive, forward-looking work we set out to build,” said Rick Edinger, co-artistic director of the Center for New Work and area chair of CMU’s Acting and Music Theater program. “After an incredibly strong fall, the spring and summer projects deepen our partnerships and continue to place students at the center of meaningful professional new work processes.”

Launched with significant support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Center for New Work brings together professional theatremakers and the CMU School of Drama community to develop original theatrical work through workshops, readings, residencies, festivals and productions. Serving as a bridge between higher education and Pittsburgh’s leading arts institutions, the center provides producing support for both the School of Drama and partner organizations while offering students hands-on access to the full lifecycle of new work development.

Fall 2025 marked a strong and dynamic beginning for the center’s inaugural season. Highlights included two high-profile performance events celebrating the work of Lauren Gunderson and Andrew Lippa, a developmental workshop in partnership with Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and the Momentum Festival with City Theatre, which featured staged readings by emerging CMU School of Drama MFA playwrights alongside nationally recognized artists. Together, these programs drew broad community engagement –— almost 1,000 people in total participated in or attended the center’s first events, establishing it as a vibrant hub for collaboration and experimentation in Pittsburgh.

“From early stage musical workshops to an international Shakespeare production, our programming demonstrates how a university-based center can operate as a true producing partner,” said Brannon Bowers, co-artistic director of the center. “The success of our fall programming affirmed the model, and what’s ahead continues that momentum in exciting ways.”

Momentum Festival: East Carson Street

Reading presentation of East Carson Street, one of the new works featured in the Momentum Festival in partnership with City Theatre. From left: Matthew Hydzik, Sophie Pollono, Justus Wheatley, Ayyoob Shuibat, Camille Nugent, Arkida Saiwai, Logan Yao, Allie DeMatteo, Andy Moats.

Three men sitting on stage with music stands

New Works Slam

CMU Drama professor Kyle Haden and current student Daniel Evans read a scene written by CMU alumni writer Sondai NaNaBuluku at the New Work Slam, presented in collaboration with City Theatre, at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s new Three Stories venue.

Students sit in a circle in a classroom, listening to Andrew Lippa

Andrew Lippa Master Class

MT Songbook Cabaret guest artist Andrew Lippa leads a master class on musical storytelling and songwriting for Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama students across all disciplines.

SPRING 2026 PROGRAMMING

Feb. 28 – March 7, 2026 | “Babies” by Jack Godfrey and Martha Geelan. A closed workshop adapting a new British musical for American audiences, presented in collaboration with commercial producers Crossroads Live, Indigo Productions and Alchemation. This workshop supports the musical’s next phase of development for future life in the United States and the United Kingdom.

April 7, 2026 | John Cameron Mitchell (creator and writer of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) returns to Pittsburgh during his run as Mary Todd Lincoln in Broadway’s hit play “Oh, Mary!” to teach a workshop at the CMU School of Drama and visit City Theatre Company’s first rehearsal of “Hedwig” ahead of its run at Greer Cabaret Theater from May 2 to June 7, 2026.

April 25 – May 3, 2026 | Impulse Festival in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO. A weekend of staged readings by emerging Carnegie Mellon MFA writers alongside nationally recognized artists presented across multiple venues Downtown, as well as another New Work Slam featuring the work of local writers, performed by CMU students:

“The Wizard Unworthy” by Hannah Honey Shepard, directed by J. Cody Spellman.
“I’ll Be Mother” by Liggera Edmonds-Allen, directed by Aurelia Clune.
“We Fly” by TJ Young, directed by Jade King Carroll, in collaboration with Pittsburgh Public Theater.
“Atlantic” by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, directed by Michael Herwitz, in collaboration with Pittsburgh CLO and Nancy Woodruff.

SUMMER 2026 PROGRAMMING

July and August 2026 | “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare in a modern verse translation by Jeffrey Whitty, directed by Kim Weild, in partnership with Play On Shakespeare for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The center’s inaugural season culminates with Tony Award-winning writer Jeff Whitty in residence to adapt his modern verse translation of “Midsummer” for a 2.5-week run at the largest performing arts festival in the world. This international co-production with Play On Shakespeare will be directed by CMU’s head of directing, Kim Weild, and will be designed, stage managed and performed by CMU students. The production will rehearse, tech and preview in Pittsburgh from July 1 through August 1, 2026, before transferring to Scotland for 13 performances at the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For Carnegie Mellon University, this moment is both artistically and historically significant. In the university’s 125th anniversary year, CMU students will bring their work to Scotland, the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, effectively returning the institution’s creative work to its origins while placing emerging artists on one of the world’s most prestigious international stages.

Tickets for the spring Impulse Festival and summer production of ‘Midsummer’, along with additional special events, will be available March 1 through the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Box Office. Visit the Center for New Work’s website for updates and full program details.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR NEW WORK

The Center for New Work connects the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama with Pittsburgh’s established theaters and national partners to generate new work initiatives, creating a collaborative hub between higher education and regional theaters to sustain new live theatrical performance. Whether it be readings, master classes, workshops, or developmental productions, the center provides students with for-credit learning opportunities to engage with leading theatremakers as they develop their latest creations. These multilateral activities leverage individual organizations’ strengths and interests, building a collective effort to establish Pittsburgh as an epicenter of new work. Rick Edinger and Brannon Bowers serve as co-artistic directors, and Anna Hanson is the associate producer. The Center for New Work is funded by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama and the Richard King Mellon Foundation with programming support from five artistic partners: City Theatre Company, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Play On Shakespeare. The center operates out of the Victory building at 212 Ninth Street in Downtown Pittsburgh through a partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and utilizes venues across the city, including the Greer Cabaret, Three Stories, the Trust Arts Education Center, the Lillie Theatre and CMU’s Purnell Center for the Arts.

Center for New Work Staff

Anna Hanson (Associate Producer), Brannon Bowers (Co-Artistic Director), Skyler Baker (Program Assistant), Isaiah Jones (Program Assistant), and Rick Edinger (Co-Artistic Director) are the staff of the Center for New Work.

Learn More About the Center

By Ella Johns, Dramatic Writing Class of 2027

The School of Drama community entered winter break feeling stronger and more artistically fulfilled thanks to the success of the 23rd annual Playground Festival. As a first year student, I had no idea what to expect, but what became inherently clear as I stepped into the Purnell lobby on the first day of rehearsals, is that the building becomes electrified and the energy is contagious.

I had the opportunity to speak with the co-managers of the festival, Carly Tamborello and Marion Mongello, both class of 2026 Stage & Production Management majors, about what this week means to them and how they would define the importance of Playground. Marion described this feeling of joy when you step into the building:

“The atmosphere is loving, supportive, sleep-deprived, and oh so joyous. Because we are all in the building making art together from 9am to 1am every day for nearly a week, everyone feels seen and knows we can lean on each other.”

Marion’s description is exactly what I realized almost immediately as I became addicted to the fast paced energy and overwhelming support. Everyone is running around from rehearsal to rehearsal with binders full of new work and energy drinks in hand, with a song in their heart and a million thoughts in their head. But, surprisingly, the community comes together through this chaos and feels closer as a result. One of the most important outcomes associated with the experience is the ability to meet people you would’ve never had the opportunity to collaborate with which Carly reflected in saying:

“There is no reason that anyone you pass in the halls can’t be a potential collaborator, and the shared understanding that we’re doing these things because we love doing them creates so much joy and excitement and support.”

Playground is an opportunity to meet new friends and do things that scare you such as act in a show as a non-performance major, fight with QLab for the first time, watch your vision come to life in front of your eyes and the eyes of your peers. I agree with Carly when she explained, “Who you get to be during that week is unlike any other experience we have all year round.”

Truly, the only way to describe Playground is magical, especially as CMU steps into becoming a leading conduit for new work in the Pittsburgh community with the addition of the Center for New Works this year. We as a student body celebrate the importance of creating our own performance opportunities in an industry where we might not otherwise have the opportunity to actually see our artistic visions come to life. As Marion explained, “Playground has been the birthing place of so many beloved works and theatre groups that continue long past their time at CMU, and that is because of the supportive and uplifting environment that Playground has fostered for the last 23 years.”

One final quote from Carly that stuck with me as I reflected on how important this event is to our community is truly that “It’s called Playground because it’s a place to do exactly that: to play.” And in a time where new ideas and creating community are needed more than ever, Playground reminds us all why we started pursuing theatre in the first place: to have fun, tell a story and create art that means something. So thank you to the festival managers I had the pleasure of chatting with, as well as everyone that played a part in producing Playground this year. You are an essential part of solidifying the CMU Drama family.

The 23rd Annual Playground Festival took place December 4–6, 2025.

Click here to learn more.

The School of Drama takes Broadway by storm in the new musical The Queen of Versailles, opening tonight at the St. James Theatre! The show, based on a documentary of the same name, follows the life story of Jackie Siegel, as she pursues a life of luxury during the 2008 recession as her home and her character are compared to the royal court of Versailles and Marie Antoinette. It marks alumnus and composer Stephen Schwartz‘s return to Broadway on the heels of the incredibly successful Wicked movies.

Ahead of their big opening night we were able to catch up with some of our talented alumni to hear about the show’s journey to New York, the excitement of opening night, and what it means to be in a production with so many incredible CMU artists.

In addition to Schwartz, the Tartan talent bringing The Queen of Versailles to life behind the scenes are Peter Hylenski (Sound Designer), Dan Miele (Associate Sound Designer), Scott Wasserman (Ableton Programmer), Ryan Park (Technical Costume Design), and Henry Blazer (Assistant Scenic Designer). Onstage, Ryah Nixon appears as Sheri & Others, and understudies the roles of Jackie and Debbie; Andrew Kober appears as Pageant Host & Others and understudies the roles of John and Gary.

Q: What has your favorite part of the process for The Queen of Versailles been so far?

ANDREW KOBER: I’ve been with the piece since the very first reading, so watching it develop in collaboration with this team has been incredibly gratifying. It’s thrilling to see it finally cross the finish line.

RYAN PARK: Getting to collaborate with an incredible talented company of actors and creatives.

SCOTT WASSERMAN: Having a hand in the realization of a new Stephen Schwartz score has been a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

HENRY BLAZER: It was amazing watching the set become a reality from all the drafting and paper models in the studio. It’s one of the best parts of being a scenic designer and it never loses its luster whether it’s on a soundstage or in a Broadway theater. I had the pleasure of working with Dane Laffrey and his associate Matt Iacozza on some of the initial drafting for the Boston run and the added elements for Broadway. It’s always gratifying to see what you figured out on paper works in real life.

RYAH NIXON: I didn’t get to do Boston with a majority of this group so all of it is new to me!! Working with this creative team, including our very own Tartan Stephen Schwartz is what dreams are made of! The last time I had seen him was when we did a master class at school my junior year, so this has been pretty full circle.

Q: What does it mean to work on a production with so many artists in various capacities from CMU?

AK: It’s wonderful, but to be honest, not at all unique! I think every project I’ve ever worked on has had at least a couple of alumni involved. It’s a real testament to the level of talent coming into and out of CMU every year.

RP: It feels a bit surreal to be working in an industry doing what I love, alongside CMU alums and friends.

SW: Having a hand in the realization of a new Stephen Schwartz score has been a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

HB: It’s always rewarding to work with fellow alumni because everyone’s in their element and striving to achieve the best work possible. It’s no surprise to run into CMU alumni on a show like this but it’s a pleasure to know you have kinship and a common background with your collaborators.

RN: It just proves that Carnegie Mellon really turns out some of the most incredible, well-rounded, and prepared professionals to work in this industry, and I am so lucky to be on this show with all of them!

Q: What are you most looking forward to on opening night?

AK: This is an incredible ambitious show, and to have finally arrived at the final version is a wonderful feeling. This is also my tenth Broadway show, which is a nice milestone. It feels great to have been able to make a career here.

RP: Celebrating!

SW: Tonight I am celebrating the opening of my 10th Broadway show!

HB: On opening night I’m looking forward to saying cheers to a job well done and starting to look forward to the next project on the horizon!

RN: Celebrating!!! The rehearsal preview process of a show, especially a new musical is always very tedious and requires a lot of focus and energy, so we are all ready to celebrate a little bit!

Q: What advice do you have for current students with their eyes set on Broadway?

AK: It’s a wonderful goal, but I think it’s important to make clear that Broadway, while wonderful, isn’t the “peak of the mountain”. There is wonderful theatre happening all over the country, and in many cases the most interesting, inventive, exciting work is happening Off-Broadway and in the regions. I think of Broadway as the Marvel movies of the theatre: crowd-pleasing, often big and flashy, but ultimately designed to be successful commercial ventures. There’s nothing wrong with that; I love Marvel movies! But I think it’s important for a young actor starting out to be clear about their goals.

RP: Work hard and focus on creating work that is exciting to you, if you’re excited to share what you are doing, that’s a good sign.

SW: You never know exactly what path your career will take, so be open to any opportunities that come your way, even if they don’t fit the specific mold you’ve made for yourself.

HB: My advice to current students is to hone your craft and strive for excellence in your work and the path ahead of you will reveal itself. It’s great to have dreams in mind like working on a Broadway show or winning a prestigious award but the truth is your career and life will have so many twists and turns you can’t possibly imagine. Be patient, give yourself grace, and do great work. Others will notice and help propel you towards your goals.

RN: Really lean into what makes you unique and specific, be patient and become the best version of your unique self.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

AK: As I tell anyone who asks, there’s no better collegiate training program in the country than CMU, and I’m so proud to be an alumnus!

SW: Go Tartans!

Learn More about QOV…

Hear Stephen Schwartz talk about his visits to “both Versailles.”

Read about the show’s pre-Broadway run in Boston.

Follow @qovmusical on Instagram and TikTok for more!

Story photo by Julieta Cervantes (featuring Ryah Nixon, second from left and Andrew Kober, back row center).

By Shannon Musgrave

The 77th Emmy Award Nominations were announced this week and CMU alumni have once again made an impressive showing, earning a total of 21 nominations.

John Wells and Michael Hissrich’s new drama “The Pitt,” set in a fictional Pittsburgh emergency room, earned a total of 13 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series. Wells, a 1979 graduate from the School of Drama, was nominated for Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series for his direction of the first episode, “7:00 A.M.” The series will return for a second season in 2026. Filming has begun in Los Angeles, and it’s likely that the production will film on location in Pittsburgh in the fall.

Alumna Cherry Jones received her sixth Emmy nomination this year for her guest appearance as Holly in “The Handmaid’s Tale” –– a role for which she took home the award in 2019.

Casting director Brett Benner, a 1990 graduate of the School of Drama, picked up his fourth Emmy nomination for casting the new Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking.” His previous nominations were in 2002, 2003 and 2005 for his work on casting the hit show, “Scrubs.”

School of Drama design and production alums make up the other 16 nominations in categories including Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Costumes, Outstanding Lighting Design/Direction, and Outstanding Sound Editing. See the full list of CMU nominees below.

The 77th Emmy Awards will air live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in L.A. on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The show will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

CMU School of Drama Emmy Nominees 2025

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour)

The Studio • The Note • Apple TV+ • Lionsgate Television in association with Apple
Brian Grego, Art Director (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series

Saturday Night Live • Host: Lady Gaga • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Patrick Lynch, Art Director (MFA 2007 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special

Beyoncé Bowl • Netflix • Jesse Collins Entertainment and Parkwood Entertainment for Netflix
Brian Stonestreet, Production Designer – (1988 – School of Drama)

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • A Fulwell Entertainment production in association with The Recording Academy
Kristen Merlino, Art Director (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)

The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Alana Billingsley, Production Designer (BFA 2004 – School of Drama)
John Zuiker, Art Director (MFA 2011 – School of Drama)

SNL50: The Anniversary Special • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Patrick Lynch, Art Director (MFA 2007 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

Shrinking • Apple TV+ • Warner Bros. Television in association with Apple
Brett Benner, CSA, Casting (BFA 1990 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

Agatha All Along • Follow Me My Friend / To Glory At The End • Disney+ • Marvel Television
Christine Casaus, Assistant Costume Designer (2014 – School of Drama)
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Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series

The White Lotus • Same Spirits, New Forms • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord and MC Pictures
Eileen Sieff Stroup, Costume Supervisor (BFA 1981 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

The Pitt • 7:00 A.M. • HBO | Max • Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television
John Wells, Director (BFA 1979 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series

Dancing With The Stars • Semi-Finals • ABC • BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions
Noah Mitz, Lighting Designer (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Special

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • A Fulwell Entertainment production in association with The Recording Academy
Noah Mitz, Lighting Designer (BFA 2005 – School of Drama)
Ryan Tanker, Lighting Director (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)
William Gossett, Lighting Director (BFA 2015 – School of Drama)
Hannah Kerman, Lighting Director (BFA 2021 – School of Drama)

SNL50: The Homecoming Concert • Peacock • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Ryan Tanker, Moving Light Programmer (BFA 2010 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

The Handmaid’s Tale • Exile • Hulu • MGM Television, Daniel Wilson Productions, The Littlefield Company, White Oak Pictures
Cherry Jones as Holly (BFA 1978 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Drama Series

The Pitt • HBO | Max • Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television
John Wells, Executive Producer (BFA 1979 – School of Drama)
Michael Hissrich, Executive Producer (BFA 1988 – School of Drama)

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Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour)

The Righteous Gemstones • Prelude • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Rough House Pictures
Alexa Zimmerman, Dialogue Editor (BFA 2000, School of Drama)

*Apologies for any omissions. If you are a School of Drama alum who received an Emmy nomination this year, please email smusgrav@andrew.cmu.edu and we will update this story. Thank you!*

PHOTO CREDIT: Noah Wyle in “The Pitt” Warner Bros. Photos – Photographs by Warrick Page/Max

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