Interim Board Chair Tom McGough on the CLO-PPT Merger

With the merger between Pittsburgh Public Theater and the Civic Light Opera underway, Interim Board Chair Tom McGough speaks with Jim Cunningham about the process and future of both organizations. Tom talks about how the merger came about, and how he came to lead the efforts to combine the two organizations. He stresses the challenges that the theater world faces today, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, aging audiences, and the advent of streaming services. He hopes to close the deal by July 31st, and estimates three shows and a sneak peek into the 2027 season by the end of this year. The merger intends to continue the legacies of both organizations, combining the Public's work in classical theater and the CLO's commitment to developing and producing musical theater. Tom hopes the merger will foster a "theater ecology" in downtown Pittsburgh that will continue to grow and uplift the community. Updates about the merger are available online from The Next Act. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.