ABOUT
US
Since 2009, Carnivale Theatrics has carved its niche as one of Pittsburgh’s most exciting and innovative theater companies. Our classic productions of Sweeney Todd, Ragtime and Into the Woods, along with our contemporary regional premiers of Next to Normal and In the Heights have garnered critical and audience acclaim alike and have established our reputation of artistic excellence.
Carnivale Theatrics was founded by Justin Fortunato, a graduate of Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts and current Producing Artistic Director of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, PA, and Robert Neumeyer, a graduate of Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music and current music director, accompanist and conductor with the Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Musical Theater. Under the leadership of Fortunato and Neumeyer, Carnivale Theatrics has produced five full-scale musicals at the New Hazlett Theater with a special emphasis on new works of social significance and a strong commitment to charitable giving and engagement with various community awareness-raising groups. During its inaugural production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Carnivale Theatrics partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and raised over $30,000.00 for Breast Cancer research. During its Pittsburgh premiere production of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal, Carnivale Theatrics partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to sponsor a post show audience talk-back series which featured local leaders in the fields of Psychiatry and Social Work to explore and examine various themes in the show and to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues in our current society.
Carnivale Theatrics has been a resident company and production partner with the New Hazlett Theater since its inception, and has proudly employed some the finest actors, designers, technicians and musicians Pittsburgh has to offer as well as frequent Broadway and out of town performers. Familiar faces on the Carnivale team have included Broadway’s Michael Campayno (NBC Lives’ The Sound of Music, Broadway’s Wicked), Tony Chiroldes (original Broadway cast of In the Heights), Daina Griffith (Pittsburgh’s 2013 Post Gazette Performer of the Year, Warner Brother Pictures The Dark Knight Rises) Kiesha Lalama (nationally renown choreographer, Pittsburgh CLO Education Director) and Tony Ferrieri (resident scenic designer and director of production at City Theater)
Mission
Carnivale Theatrics’ three-fold artistic vision is to provide our region with professional quality musical theater productions utilizing Pittsburgh’s diverse artistic and technical talent base, enriching and challenging our communities through the presentation of thought provoking subject matter, and forging new and lasting relationships with local charitable organizations. Carnivale Theatrics envisions a society that supports and integrates musical theater and theater arts education into our communities, resulting in a greater appreciation, knowledge and patronage of the arts.
Venue
Carnivale Theatrics' productions are located at the New Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh's North Shore. This versatile 450 seat thrust configuration space is the perfect venue for intimate theatre settings. Other nearby places of interest include The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, The National Aviary and an array of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues!
