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.
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.
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.