The Center for Theater Arts would like to take a moment and say how proud we are of all of you — our alumni. We know you’re out there making a difference and we hear about you all the time. You have gone on to be leaders in your communities, owners of your own companies, and heads of corporations.  You’re sharing talents on stage and back stage, making appearances one the big screen and behind the scenes. You’re out there from the east coast to the west coast and almost every stop in between.

We are proud of you for running schools, classrooms and community projects that lead and inspire children of all ages. Many of us have become proud parents who can be found singing, dancing or acting our hearts out for the greatest audience in the world — our children.

The CTA remains dedicated to offering the highest quality performing arts instruction and committed to providing all students with opportunities to improve their self-image and self-confidence through artistic expression.  As we all know, the Center has students who enter our programs with a wide range of training stretching from a mild curiosity to those who possess natural ability.  As students at the Center, we spent our weekdays and weekends Reaching for a star— being fed a diet of training, technique, discipline, and  experience.  Some of our parents would say they just wanted us of the streets...and the truth is...most of us wanted to be off the streets.

When the Center for Theater Arts opened, the belief was that a performing arts education would aid us in many aspects of their lives — and it has!  The CTA is proud of the dozens of alumni who have gone on to perform on the Broadway stage, national touring companies, films, television, and commercials. We’ve also become successful Doctors, Lawyers, CEO’s, teachers, arts educators, and administrators, active board members, and valuable community partners.  The lessons learned at the Center taught us that we all have a part to play no matter where life leads us. 

            It’s true, The Center has made an impact in the lives of thousands of students in the last 28 years and you were all a part of it. Now...I know there are those of us out there that can remember the speech delivered in the early days of the Center for Theater Arts.  

Many of us could recite this speech, but the truth is when the Center opened its doors, it was the only non-profit performing arts school in the area.  While a few others have since begun, the Center’s unique program established ground-breaking curriculum in vocal studies for children, introduction to performing arts for younger students and quality acting courses. We’ve offered classes in ballet, pointe, jazz dance, tap, musical theatre, audition workshops and also performance opportunities that fostered and developed lifelong skills in all of our students. 

Speaking of performance opportunities, do you still have the bug? Are you working on a one person show?  Cabaret Act?  We want to hear from you!

I want to share with you how the Center keeps moving forward and growing the original vision.  We just took some steps toward making a performance space on site at the CTA. It will be a Black Box Studio Theatre and I think it will be a huge opportunity for us to offer student performances as well as Alumni showcase and development opportunities. – Maybe this is a chance to develop a new Adult Company Class, or Alumni Co.  – Think about it ... The CTA... waaaaaay off Broadway!

We’ve got the students and the teachers, but YOU are the only factor that is missing at the Center and we want to bring the alumni energy back to the Center and show our students all of the possibilities the future holds.  The Center is a family and we need to hear from you. The Center for Theater Arts does more than build careers – it builds communities, impacts children, and reminds us all of a time when life was a little kinder.

Please reach out to Alumni, friends, past cast members, and encourage them to get in touch with us at the CTA. We are planning to enter into our 30th year of operation and we don’t want to do it without you. — We can’t.

drop us a line — drop us an email  — or just drop by
412.563.5080 or eamil us at ctapgh@aol.com

My Best-
Still reaching after all these years — Reach for a star!!!
Billy Hartung
Artistic Director- CTA Alumni – 1983-89