Mamma mia, there are a lot of high schools performing the ABBA musical “Mamma Mia!” this spring. And “Mary Poppins,” too. There’s also a singular “Bright Star” and a one-and-only “Freaky Friday,” and so much more in our annual list of Western Pennsylvania high school musicals.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scroll to the bottom for links to 2019 Kelly Critics reviews. The Kelly Critics is a joint program of the Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musicals, in which students at Kelly schools review musicals at other Kelly schools. Reviews are edited by senior theater critic Christopher Rawson. 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Choices in our region run the gamut to the tried and true (“Oklahoma!”) to the unusual (“James and the Giant Peach”) to the up-to-the minute — the rights to “Mamma Mia!” became available to high schools just last year.

Sharon Eberson

Nominees named for the 2019 Gene Kelly Awards

In 2019, there will be 33 Allegheny County schools, with two representing individual performers — the most ever all told — participating in Pittsburgh CLO’s 29th Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards ceremony is May 25 at the Benedum Center, Downtown. Participating Kelly Award schools are denoted by * (Note: Propel Braddock, a Kelly-eligible school, performed “Once on This Island” Feb. 1-2).

The Henry Mancini Awards for schools in Butler, Lawrence and Beaver counties (16 this year) celebrates its 25th anniversary when the ceremony is held May 19 at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland. Participating schools are denoted by +

The 23nd annual John Noble Westmoreland Night of the Stars will be May 1-2 at the Palace Theatre, Greensburg. Participating Westmoreland County high schools are denoted by @

The male and female lead actor winners of the Kelly and Mancini awards ceremonies will compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as the Jimmys. Winners will be announced June 25 in New York.

Listings are in alphabetical order, within assigned time frames by opening date. If you have an addition or correction, please email seberson@post-gazette.com.

Sewickley native Peter Matthew Smith, King George in the "Hamilton" tour that visited Pittsbrugh in January, visited with theater students from Pittsburgh CAPA.(Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)

FEBRUARY

•    Apollo-Ridge, “The Music Man”; Feb. 28-March 2

•    Central Valley, “Sister Act”; Feb. 28-March 2

•    Franklin Regional, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”; Feb. 28-March 3 @

•    New Brighton, “Fiddler on the Roof”; Feb. 21-23 +

•    Seneca Valley, “Hello, Dolly!”; Feb. 28, March 1-3

•    Sewickley Academy, “Beauty and the Beast”; Feb. 28, March 1-2 *

•    Steel Valley, “The Sound of Music”; Feb. 22-24

•    Vincentian Academy, “Annie”; Feb. 22-24; March 1-2

•    Western Beaver, “Aida”; Feb. 22-24

Pine-Richland performs "The Farmer and the Cowman" from Oklahoma! at the 2018 Gene Kelly Awards.(Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)

MARCH 1-17

•    Ambridge, “South Pacific”; March 7-10 +

•    Armstrong, “ High School Musical”; March 15-16

•    Beaver County Christian, “Mary Poppins”; March 7-9 +

•    Belle Vernon, “Big Fish”; March 15-18

•    Bentworth, “The Wizard of Oz”; March 16-18

•    Bethel Park, “Annie Get Your Gun”; March 13-16

•    Butler, “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”; March 15-16

•    California, “James and the Giant Peach”; March 8-10

•    Canon-McMillan, “Grease: School Edition”; March 14-16

•    Chartiers-Houston, “Hello, Dolly!”; March 15-17

•    Chartiers Valley, “Sister Act”; March 6-9 *

•    Derry Area, "The Little Mermaid"; March 8-10 @

•    Fox Chapel, “Les Miserables High School Edition”; March 14-17

•    Freeport, “Legally Blonde”; March 14-17 +

•    Greensburg-Salem, “Mamma Mia!”; March 1-3 @

•    Hopewell, “Mamma Mia!”; March 15-17 +

•    Karns City, “Crazy for You”; March 7-9

•    Knoch, “Oklahoma!”; March 1-3 +

•    Latrobe, “Man of La Mancha”; March 1-3 @

•    Laurel, “Mary Poppins”; March 14-16

•    Leechburg, “Anything Goes”; March 15-17

•    Mars, “Beauty and the Beast”; March 15-16 +

•    Moon, “Mamma Mia!”; March 14-17 *

•    Mohawk, “Mary Poppins”; March 15-16

•    North Allegheny, “Good News”; March 13-17

•    Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, “Once Upon a Mattress”; March 1-3, 8-9 *

•    Peters Township, “The Addams Family”; March 15-18

•    Pine-Richland, “Guys and Dolls”; March 8-9, 15-16 *

•    Quaker Valley, “Shrek the Musical”; March 7-9 *

•    Riverside, “State Fair”; March 14-17 +

•    Seton-LaSalle, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; March 7-9 *

•    Shaler, “Beauty and the Beast”; March 1-3, 8-9

•    Shenango, “ Beauty and the Beast”; March 15-17

•    South Side, “Once Upon a Mattress”; March 1-3

•    Thomas Jefferson, “Mamma Mia!”; March 14-16

•    Union, “Sister Act”; March 7-9 +

•    Upper St. Clair, “Hello, Dolly!”; March 1-3, 7-9

The contestants in the cast of Keystone Oaks High School’s 2018 spring musical, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."(Samantha Popp O'Brien)

MARCH 18-31

•    Beaver Area, “The Music Man”; March 29-31

•    Beaver Falls, “Guys and Dolls”; March 29-31 +

•    Burgettstown, “The Little Mermaid (Junior Edition)”; March 21-23

•    Carlynton, “Mamma Mia!”; March 28-31

•    Freedom.."The Addams Family"; March 29-31.

• .  Geibel, “Mamma Mia!”; March 29-31

•    Highlands, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”; March 29-31

•    Keystone Oaks, “ Beauty and the Beast”; March 28-30 *

•    Kiski Area, “The Sound of Music”; March 27-30 @

•    Monessen, “Grease”; March 28-31 @

•    Neshannock, “Damn Yankees”; March 29-31 +

•    Norwin, “Mary Poppins”; March 21-24

•    North Hills, “Tuck Everlasting”; March 21-23, 28-30 *

•    Pittsburgh Brashear, “Little Shop of Horrors”; March 28-30 *

•    Pittsburgh CAPA, “Sister Act”; March 28-31, April 5-7 *

•    Riverview, “Shrek the Musical”; March 28-31 *

•    Rochester, “Hello, Dolly!”; March 21-23 +

•    Saint Joseph, “In the Heights”; March 29-31 *

•    Slippery Rock, “Mary Poppins; March 28-30

•    South Allegheny, “ The Little Mermaid”; March 28-31

•    South Fayette, "The Wedding Singer”; March 29-31

•    South Park, “Return to the Forbidden Planet”; March 27-31.

•    Springdale, “Mamma Mia!”; March 29-31 *

•    West Allegheny, “The Addams Family”; March 22-24, 29-30 *

•    West Mifflin, “Legally Blonde,” March 28-31

•    Yough, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; March 29-31 @

Students from Hampton perform "Fascinating Rhythm" from "Nice Work If You Can Get It" during the 2018 Gene Kelly Awards.(Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)

APRIL 1-14

 •    Avonworth, “The Little Mermaid”; April 5-6, 12-13 *

•    Baldwin, “Mame”; April 10-13 *

•    Brentwood, “Mary Poppins”; April 11-13 *

•    Burrell, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”; April 4-6 @

•    Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic, “Chicago”; April 11-13 *

•    Deer Lakes, “Mamma Mia!”; April 12-14 *

•    East Allegheny, “Bright Star”; April 11-13

•    Eden Christian Academy, “Peter Pan”; April 10-13

 •    Elizabeth Forward, “Mamma Mia!”; April 11-14 *

•    Hampton, “Chicago”; April 5-6, 12-13 *

•    Hempfield, “Legally Blond,” April 4-6

•    Jeannette, “Annie”; April 5-7 @

•    Ligonier Valley, “Into the Woods”; April 4-6 @

•    McKeesport, “The Addams Family”; April 11-13

•    Moniteau, “The Little Mermaid”; April 5-6 +

•    Montour, “Footloose”; April 5-7, 12-13 *

•    Mount Pleasant, “Annie”; April 4-6 @

•    New Castle, "Mamma Mia!"; April 4-6 +

•    Northgate, “ Freaky Friday”; April 5-6, 11-13

•    Penn-Trafford, “The Addams Family”; April 5-7, 12-14 @

•    Pittsburgh Allderdice, “Leader of the Pack”; April 4-7 *

•    Plum, “The Wizard of Oz”; April 11-13 *

•    Redeemer Lutheran, “Mary Poppins”; April 5-6 *

•    Serra Catholic, “The Wizard of Oz”; April 3-6 *

•    Trinity, “The Little Mermaid,” April 11-14

• .  Valley, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, April 11-14

•    Westinghouse Arts Academy, “Footloose”; April 12-14 *

APRIL 18-29

•    Bishop Canevin, “Pippin”; April 25-27 *

•    Gateway, “Once on This Island”; April 26-28, May 3-4

•    Greensburg Central Catholic, “Children of Eden”; April 26-27 @

•    North Catholic, “Anything Goes”; April 25-27 +

•    Penn Hills, “The Addams Family”; April 26-27, May 3-5 *

•    Pittsburgh Allderdice, “Leader of the Pack”; April 4-7 *

•    Winchester Thurston, “Avenue Q”; April 25-28

•    Woodland Hills, “Mamma Mia!”; April 26-27, May 2-4 *

Students watch as their classmates perform at the Benedum Center as part of the Hamilton Education Program on Jan. 25, 2019.(Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)

STARTING MAY 1

•    Mt. Lebanon, “The Sound of Music”; May 2-4

•    Pittsburgh Obama Academy, “Once on This Island”; May 3-4, 7-11

•    Quigley, “Footloose”; May 2-4

Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.

2019 KELLY CRITIC REVIEWS

•     Pine-Richland High School’s “Guys and Dolls,” by Carson Hawk, Plum Senior High School

•    North Hills High School’s “Tuck Everlasting,” by Kennedy Fish, Hampton High School

•    West Allegheny High School’s “The Addams Family,” by Katarina Mondor, Pittsburgh CAPA

•    Chartiers Valley High School’s “Sister Act,” by Sarah Chormanski, Keystone Oaks High School

•    Riverview High School’s “Shrek the Musical,” by Jayla Andrews, Westinghouse Arts Academy

• . Riverview High School’s “Shrek the Musical” II, by Simon Sweeney, Central Catholic High School

•    North Hills High School’s “Tuck Everlasting” by Bilquisu Abdullah, Woodland Hills High School

• .  Keystone Oaks High School’s “Beauty and the Beast,” by Vanessa Rodgers, Montour High School 

• .  Westinghouse Arts Academy’s “Footloose.” by Katrina Mondor, Pittsburgh CAPA

• .  Westinghouse Arts Academy’s “Footloose” II, by Kennedy Fish, Hampton High School

• .   Baldwin High School’s “Mame,” by Bilquisu Abdullah, Woodland Hills High School

• .   Plum High Schoo’s “The Wizard of Oz” 1,  by Mila McGorsky, Pittsburgh CAPA

• . Plum High Schoo’s “The Wizard of Oz” 2, by Lindsey Shema, Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School

• .   Hampton High School’s “Chicago,” by Carson Hawk, Plum High School

• .   Avonworth High School’s “The Little Mermaid,” by Jayla Andrews, Westinghouse Arts Academy

• .   Penn Hills High School’s “The Addams Family,” by Emily Morrissey, Westinghouse Arts Academy

•    Woodland Hills High School’s “Mamma Mia!” 1. by Emily Morrissey, Westinghouse Arts Academy

•    Woodland Hills High School’s “Mamma Mia!” 2, by Vanessa Rodgers, Montour High School

•    Woodland Hills High School’s “Mamma Mia!” 3 by Simon Sweeney, Central Catholic High School

•   Bishop Canevin High School’s “Pippin,” by Grace Hampton, Baldwin High School 

First Published: February 7, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Updated: February 7, 2019, 2:02 p.m.