Pittsburgh CLO Announces 2013 Summer Season Creative Team

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the creative team for the 2013 Summer Season at the Benedum Center. This group of Pittsburgh CLO veterans will bring the Benedum Center alive with Broadway's very best for the organization's 67th year. The season includes 42nd Street (May 31-June 9), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (June 11-16), Kopit & Yeston's Phantom (June 21-30), Disney's The Little Mermaid (July 9-21) and the tour of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (July 24-August 4). This year, through special arrangement with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh CLO Season Ticket Buyers will enjoy priority seating to Disney's The Lion King (September 3-8).

2013 Pittsburgh CLO Summer Season Creative Team (in alphabetical order):

Tom Helm (Music Director: 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Kopit & Yeston's Phantom) returns for his 18th season with Pittsburgh CLO. His theater credits include the Broadway productions of Souvenir, LES MISERABLES, Me and My Girl, Cats and Brigadoon. He has also contributed his talents to television programs such as "Crazy For You" and the "Today Show." Mr. Helm has conducted at Radio City Music Hall, Paper Mill Playhouse and many other regional and national theaters.

Barry Ivan (Director and Choreographer, Kopit & Yeston's Phantom) directed Pittsburgh CLO's first production of LES MISERABLES in 2010 after also directing the show for North Shore Music Theatre, where he served as artistic director and executive producer. Mr. Ivan has directed and choreographed numerous other Pittsburgh CLO shows, including Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Smokey Joe's Café, The Full Monty, A Little Night Music, Company, Anything Goes, and West Side Story. Mr. Ivan's productions of Hairspray and The Full Monty have received Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards for Best Musical and Mr. Ivan has been IRNE nominated as Best Director for his productions of LES MISERABLES and Nine.

Michael Lichtefeld (Choreographer, 42nd Street) has choreographed more than a dozen Pittsburgh CLO productions, including Annie, White Christmas, 42nd Street, Funny Girl, La Cage aux Folles and Cinderella. His Broadway choreography credits include Little Women, The Secret Garden, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Laughing Room Only and the City Center Encores production of Music in the Air. Mr. Lichtefeld has also performed in the Broadway productions of Evita, Sophisticated Ladies and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. His choreography has been nominated for Drama Desk, Ovation and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He also earned a 2008 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Best Choreography Award in 2008 for North Shore Music Theatre's production of Bye Bye Birdie.

Sha Newman (Director/Choreographer, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) is a multiple award-winning Director and Choreographer who has worked all over the world creating complete theatrical and musical productions to rave reviews. Ms. Newman graduated from USIU School of Performing and Visual Arts in San Diego, moved to New York City and soon starred on Broadway and toured the world. She returns to direct Pittsburgh CLO's production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers after being named Best Director by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for the 2006 production.

Charles Repole (Director, 42nd Street) has directed numerous productions for Pittsburgh CLO including Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar, Curtains, Barry Manilow's Copacabana, Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Carousel and Cinderella. He also directed the critically-acclaimed production of 42nd Street in 2008 at North Shore Music Theatre. His New York City and Broadway directing credits include the highly-acclaimed concert versions of Dubarry Was a Lady, Call Me Madam and the revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, among others. As an actor, Mr. Repole has appeared on Broadway in Doubles, Whoopee! and Very Good Eddie, which earned him a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award. Mr. Repole is presently the Chairman of the Drama, Theatre and Dance Department at Queens College and was the recipient of the 2001 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

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