The New Hazlett Theater is doubling down on its commitment to new, local art and artists — and it has named a new leader to take charge of that effort through the role of Artistic Director.
Welcome Melissa Cardello-Linton as New Hazlett Theater’s First Artistic Director
Melissa Cardello-Linton, a Pittsburgh native who spent the early part of her career working in live performance in New York, has been named the Artistic Director of the North Side theater. It’s a first for the institution; in the 20 years since the New Hazlett Theater became its own organization, it has never had an Artistic Director.
“Her promotion to our first-ever Artistic Director is the catalyst [the New Hazlett] needs to take us to the next level,” says René Conrad, the theater’s Executive Director. “Her previous producing experience makes her uniquely qualified to connect Pittsburgh’s deep pool of local talent with national producers.
“Plus — she is super fun to work with! And as you know, theater is really all about the people.”
Concurrently, the New Hazlett announced the launch of ForgeWorks, a creative development pipeline for ambitious new performance work. ForgeWorks will partner with established producers, cultural institutions and creatives from Pittsburgh and beyond, providing a cost-effective environment where projects can be built, tested, refined and previewed.
“For artists and producers, ForgeWorks provides the time, space and resources needed to advance projects thoughtfully and strategically,” Conrad says. “For audiences, it offers a rare opportunity to get a peek behind the curtain, experiencing innovative new work at a pivotal stage in its development.”
How the Theater Came to Be
Built in 1889 as the Carnegie Music Hall — the first performance space with that name — the New Hazlett occupies half of the building dedicated as the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny, one of the earliest such libraries. It survived a proposed demolition in 1967 and eventually became the home of Pittsburgh Public Theater until that company moved Downtown in 1999.
Reborn as the New Hazlett Theater in 2004, it has served as a stage companies and performance groups without a dedicated home. Current resident companies include Front Porch Theatricals (whose musicals routinely draw large crowds to the building), Kente Arts Alliance, education-focused Prime Stage Theater and Texture Contemporary Ballet.
New work, however, has always been paramount at the New Hazlett — and that’s a boon for Pittsburgh, Conrad says.
“Development and professional production opportunities generate meaningful work for Pittsburgh-based performers, designers, technicians and stage managers, while creating pathways for local artists to collaborate with nationally recognized producers and creative teams.”
The Future of New Hazlett Theater
Appointing Cardello-Linton as Artistic Director, Conrad says, reaffirms that commitment. Cardello-Linton, who has developed works for PBS and off-Broadway stages, began working with the New Hazlett in 2024, focusing much of her effort on the Community Supported Art series and other efforts to bring more voices to the stage.
“In the two years Mel has been at [the New Hazlett], she has already elevated our internal programming — from deepening relationships with our emerging [Community Supported Art] artists, to adding new programming such as Sound of the Seasons, to forging new relationships with other cultural institutions,” Conrad says.
The New Hazlett will officially unveil Cardello-Linton’s appointment and updated branding this Friday. Meanwhile, the calendar at the theater is full: the documentary Making Space: The History of the New Hazlett Theater, produced in partnership with WQED, will receive a premiere screening on July 30; Urban Impact Foundation’s dance and music production Steadfast runs August 6–8; and Front Porch’s next production, Come From Away, is set to open August 14.
Story by Sean Collier
Photos Courtesy of New Hazlett Theater
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