The New Hazlett Theater: A Home for Innovation, Collaboration, and the Arts

The New Hazlett Theater is a small but distinguished center for the performing arts. The Northside company is known to be an incubator for local and national up-and-coming artists, but they also produce their own series, Community Supported Art, and this year, for the first time, they will produce Sounds of the Season, a holiday concert on December 13. We spoke to their director of advancement, Kayla Hennon, to learn more about this longtime Pittsburgh nonprofit organization.

North Hills Monthly (NHM): Tell our readers how the New Hazlett Theater was created. Why was the name New Hazlett Theater chosen?

Kayla Hennon (Hennon): The New Hazlett Theater was born out of both history and community resilience. When the original Carnegie Music Hall of Allegheny was threatened with demolition in 1967, local residents rallied to save it. Through community advocacy and secured funding, the space was renovated into a flexible performance venue with movable scaffold seating — one of the first of its kind in Pittsburgh. In 1980, the theater was renamed in honor of Theodore L. Hazlett Jr., a civic leader and arts advocate who played a key role in the city’s cultural and environmental progress.

From 1974 through 1999, the Hazlett Theater served as the home of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, bringing new energy and audiences to the Northside. When the Public Theater relocated to the Cultural District, the neighborhood saw a decline in activity — until 2004, when the local arts community once again stepped forward to reimagine the space. The “New” in New Hazlett Theater symbolizes this renaissance: a modern, nonprofit home for innovative performance and artistic collaboration, grounded in the same spirit of community that saved it decades ago.

NHM: What are the origins of the historically significant building where the theater is located? What were some of its prior uses?

Hennon: The New Hazlett Theater resides within one of Pittsburgh’s most historically significant landmarks — the original Carnegie Music Hall of Allegheny, built in 1889 and dedicated by President Benjamin Harrison. Designed in the distinctive Richardson Romanesque style, the building was part of an ambitious cultural complex that also included one of the first Carnegie Free Libraries in the nation.

Beyond its architectural and civic importance, the Music Hall also served as a place of spiritual gathering and reflection. In the early 1900s, Northside natives William Henry Conley and Charles Russell — co-founders of the Watch Tower and Tract Society, the legal corporation that would later become the Jehovah’s Witnesses — used the hall as a site for study and preaching.

Over the decades, the venue evolved with the city it serves. Today, as the New Hazlett Theater, the building continues to embody Pittsburgh’s enduring legacy of innovation, faith, and artistic vitality.

NHM: What types of resources do you provide to creators when they rent your space? Talk about being an incubator for the arts in Pittsburgh.

Hennon: More than a venue, the New Hazlett Theater functions as an incubator for creativity. Artists who rent or partner with the theater gain access to a fully equipped professional performance space, experienced technical and production staff, and the support of a collaborative team deeply invested in helping new work succeed. The theater’s mission is to remove barriers for creators — providing resources, mentorship, and visibility that help emerging and mid-career artists take their next steps within Pittsburgh’s vibrant arts scene.

NHM: Tell us about the very unique Community Supported Art (CSA) program. How did it come to fruition, how old is the program, and how does it enhance the local and national arts scene?

Hennon: Launched in 2013, the New Hazlett Theater’s CSA Performance Series was inspired by the community-supported agriculture model — but instead of produce, patrons receive “shares” of brand-new, live performance works. Now entering its thirteenth season, the CSA has commissioned and presented original productions from more than 300 artists across disciplines including dance, theater, music, and spoken word. The program has become a model for supporting the creation of new work, giving artists the resources to experiment and the audiences to sustain them, while contributing to Pittsburgh’s reputation as a center for artistic innovation.

NHM: Who are NHT’s Resident Companies? What is your relationship with them? Who are some of the other arts groups who have performed at NHT?

Hennon: The New Hazlett Theater proudly serves as home to several Resident Companies: Front Porch Theatricals, Kente Arts Alliance, Prime Stage Theatre, and Texture Contemporary Ballet. Each brings its own creative voice — from jazz and ballet to literature-based theater and musical productions — and together they create a year-round calendar of exceptional performances. Beyond its resident partners, NHT also welcomes a diverse range of local, national, and touring artists and organizations, strengthening the city’s arts ecosystem through collaboration and shared space.

NHM: How many performances does NHT host annually?

Hennon: Between its Resident Companies, CSA productions, rentals, and special events, the New Hazlett Theater hosts more than 100 performances and events each year — from world premieres to community celebrations — drawing thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh’s Northside.

NHM: What would you like our readers to know about your small but dedicated staff?

Hennon: The New Hazlett’s staff is small but mighty — a team of passionate arts professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring each performance to life. From production and technical crews to the front-of-house team, they share a common goal: creating an environment where artists feel supported and audiences feel inspired. Their collaborative spirit is the heartbeat of the organization.

NHM: How does your Board of Directors help your staff to realize the mission of the theater?

Hennon: The Board of Directors plays an essential role in sustaining the New Hazlett’s mission. They provide strategic guidance, advocate for the arts, open doors to new partnerships, and champion fundraising initiatives.

NHM: How has funding to arts organizations been impacted by recent economic developments in the world?

Hennon: Like many arts organizations nationwide, the New Hazlett Theater has felt the effects of shifting economic conditions, including reductions in federal arts funding and tightening philanthropic support. These challenges have reinforced the importance of community-driven giving to ensure that local theaters like NHT can continue to nurture artists and keep the performing arts accessible to all.

NHM: Is NHT a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization? Are there other ways to support NHT in addition to monetary donations?

Hennon: Yes — the New Hazlett Theater is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In addition to making donations, supporters can attend performances, volunteer, sponsor events, or rent the venue for their own gatherings. Every ticket purchased, share subscribed, or hour volunteered directly supports artists and helps keep the arts thriving on the Northside.

NHM: What are ways that you generate revenue in addition to donations?

Hennon: NHT sustains its mission through a balanced mix of contributed and earned revenue. Ticket sales, theater rentals for weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings, as well as self-produced programming like the CSA Series and our Sounds of the Season holiday concert, all contribute to the theater’s financial stability. These earned-income sources help ensure that the New Hazlett can continue presenting bold new work while maintaining its historic space.

NHM: Tell us about some upcoming performances and a stellar past performance that stands out.

Hennon: Upcoming events include Kente Arts Alliance’s Dwayne Dolphin All-Stars (December 6, 2025), and Sounds of the Season (December 13, 2025) — the theater’s inaugural holiday concert starring Zuly Inirio with Hugo Cruz and Caminos on percussion and featuring Kendra Janelle Ross and Brendan Williams.

A standout past performance was My Sister’s Lipstick, a CSA premiere that epitomized the theater’s mission: bold, deeply human storytelling supported by local talent and an audience eager for discovery. Productions like these exemplify what makes the New Hazlett Theater one of Pittsburgh’s most vital creative homes.