Presenter
Presented by Mr. Shields
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WHEREAS, the Civic Light Opera is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, having held a press luncheon to announce its first season on February 20, 1946; and
WHEREAS, its history is a true Pittsburgh story begun as an organization built by pure determination of a community, rooted in the first Pittsburgh Renaissance, and brought to fruition by City Councilman Abe Wolk and businessman Edgar Kaufman; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh CLO overcame significant obstacles to survive difficult years and defined itself by a commitment to excellence; and
WHEREAS, the Civic Light Opera has helped establish Pittsburgh as a cultural destination and as a center for artistic excellence, welcoming some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest stars to the Pittsburgh stage and launching the careers of numerous talented performers; and
WHEREAS , the Pittsburgh CLO has received international recognition for establishing the prestigious Richard Rogers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater with Julie Andrews, Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber and Bernadette Peters as distinguished recipients; and
WHEREAS , the Pittsburgh CLO 's commitment to the future of the musical theater art form also includes such programs as the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater, the nationally acclaimed Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater, the CLO/CMU New Works Project and the Construction Center for the Arts; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh CLO opened the CLO Cabaret Theater in 2004, a venue offering audiences CLO-quality entertainment year round in the Cultural District;
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh CLO continues to be a valuable community partner and one of the country's most prestigious nonprofit theaters with a remarkable 200,000 patrons each year.
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh proclaim February 21, 2006, to be Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Day in the City of Pittsburgh.