New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts

The New Hazlett Theater provides a nurturing, collaborative environment for artists, leveraging people, space and technology to create and present challenging and dynamic art.

The New Hazlett Theater is a multi-use performing arts space launched in September 2006 on Pittsburgh's Northside. Tucked away in a historic building at Allegheny Center, the New Hazlett Theater (NHT) is a gem of a raw, blackbox stage. The Theater - considered by many to be the best mid-sized performance space in the City - has fantastic acoustics and sightlines, all production and backstage amenities, is fully accessible for audiences and performers, and is a favorite among small and mid-sized performing arts organizations. Arts presenters, producers and individual artists rent the space for a range of creative work, including dance, music, theater, family programming, spoken word performances, and performance art events, among other programming options.

In addition, we curate and present our own subscription series of emerging artists, the Community Supported Art (CSA) performance series. The New Hazlett CSA program is based on the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, a popular way for consumers to buy homegrown, seasonal food directly from a farmer. With the same buy-direct spirit, and following our mission to incubate and cultivate the arts, we've launched a similar program to support local artists. With our CSA, we engage a wide cross-section of arts supporters to become stakeholders in their local artistic community, receiving the benefit of consistently delivered, fresh works of performance art. Performing artists of all types apply each year in a competitive process. Those selected receive a fully-supported residency, including a small stipend, full access to the facility to create new work, photographic and video documentation, and written critiques. Recent additions to the program include applications fro emerging theatrical designers, who may qualify for the CSA Design Pool, and a new Educational Matinee program for area high school students.

Additionally, beyond serving the performing arts community, NHT serves as the location for a range of community events. We contribute to the preservation of the historic building in which the Theater is housed, and are committed to generating economic activity for our Northside Community.

Testimonials

As Miniature Curiosa, Murphi Cook and I were selected as one of the first CSA productions in 2013. With your support, we created Birds of America. Three years later, Birds of America led to my nomination as a applicant for the inaugural Julie Taymor World Theater Fellowship for young directors.

Not only was this production the catalyst for the nomination, but the excellent two camera footage provided a fantastic addition to my portfolio. The opportunity to mount Birds of America on the New Hazlett stage also helped shaped my style as theater-maker.

Last week, I found out I was selected as one of first fellows. I head to Japan in September to study for one year with traditional puppeteers and some of the leading contemporary Japanese theater makers.

I thought this was a success story that speaks to the important work and opportunities New Hazlett's CSA program creates. There is no doubt, without your help, I would have never had this opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- Zach Dorn, CSA performer, season 1