Creative Tableaux is a free, year-long educational program that immerses participants in the world of opera through the integration of various art forms. This unique initiative combines opera, visual arts, work-based learning internships, and free performance tickets to create an engaging and dynamic educational experience for students/young professionals aged 13-22 and community members, with a special focus on underserved communities. In collaboration with professional opera creatives and visual arts experts, we aim to instill a lifelong love for the arts in the hearts of young students and community members, inspiring and empowering them to become the next generation of opera and arts enthusiasts, performers, creatives, and supporters.

We believe it is important to promote the art of opera through its connections with other art forms, and “Creative Tableaux” does just that. Our program offers a comprehensive experience that explores the intersections between opera, visual art, and education.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goals of Creative Tableaux are as follows:

a. To foster an understanding and appreciation for opera among students and New York communities.
b. To promote the values of collaboration, creativity, and art education.
c. To stimulate critical thinking and expand participants’ artistic horizons.
d. To create unique and engaging experiences that combine opera and visual arts.
e. To provide valuable working-based learning internships to High School students.

JOIN US!

We would love to meet you and to collaborate with you! Creative Tableaux is dedicated to sharing our free, inclusive community programming far and wide across the five boroughs. If you would be interested in bringing Creative Tableaux’s programming to your school or community organization, or simply wish to learn more, please contact Hilary Baboukis at hilarybaboukis@grattacielo.org.

Developed under the artistic direction of Stefanos Koroneos, and in collaboration with professional opera creatives and visual arts experts, the program benefits from the warm guidance and expertise of the Teatro Grattacielo Board—most notably Judi Kende, Jana King, and David Santiago—whose support helps shape and sustain the initiative.

PROGRAM GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY:

• Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
• Marcia Ragonetti Bel Canto Fund
• This program is supported, in part, by Public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
• This program is supported, in part, by Public Funds from the New York State Counsil on the Arts.
• This program is supported, in part, by Eric Bottcher, District 3.

Program Overview & Details

Creative Tableaux’s programming is split into two parts:

Part One: The Warm-Up

OBJECTIVES

To engage participants in the creative process behind opera production, focusing on storytelling, color-blocking, design decisions (including lighting, costuming, and set design), stage management and stagehand work, and sustainability in the arts), and the process behind a production.

In the first part of this interactive program, we walk participants through the creative process of an opera:

• How an opera is commissioned and written (for new operas)
• How we create the visual/design elements (sets, costumes, lighting) of a new operatic production
• When possible, establish a basis for paid, practical work-based learning internships in the participants’ area(s) of focus

Part One can be offered in person and/or online via Zoom.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The duration, focus, and structure of the sessions are always tailored to the needs of the participants, but a sample structure could consist of the following:

1. Introduction to Opera (2 hours)

• Overview of opera as an art form
• History of opera and its significance in the performing arts
• Interactive discussion on opera’s storytelling elements and visual arts integration

2. Creative Workshops (4+ hours)

• Introduction to upcoming productions
• Insight into the creative process behind color-blocking and design decisions
• Hands-on activities guided by creative teams, focusing on costume design and color selection
• For Arts High Schools: start working with student groups on working-based learning internships

3. Group Activities (3 hours)

• Facilitated group discussions on key concepts and themes
• Hands-on experiences related to opera production, such as set design mock-ups or costume sketches

4. Wrap-up and Reflection (1 hour)

• Review of key concepts learned during the program
• Reflection on personal insights and connections made between opera, storytelling, and visual arts
• Discussion on possible future engagement opportunities, including Work-Based Learning Internships

5. Paid, Work-Based Learning Internships (within operatic production cycle)

• Hands-on experience alongside professionals in participants’ area(s) of interest (costume, set, and/or lighting design, sustainable design, stage management and stagehand work, performance, etc.)
• Brings full visibility to the range and scope of work involved across the production and performance of an opera
• Opportunities to develop new skills and be exposed to new artistic fields
• Paid internships support the participants (in many cases making their participation possible), highlighting the value of their work and developing their sense of worth within the industry

Inclusivity and Diversity Practices:

• All discussions and presentations are built on a foundation of inclusivity, using gender-fluid terminology and respectful language
• All presentations actively represent all cultures and races across examples and discussions
• We encourage participants to share their own diverse perspectives and experiences related to the arts

Follow-up Opportunities:

• We provide information about Teatro Grattacielo’s ongoing programs and performances for continued engagement
• We share resources for further learning and exploration in opera and the arts
• Our community and student feedback sessions provide further opportunities for learning and growth

RECENT AND UPCOMING GUEST PRESENTERS

• David Santiago, Set and Interior Designer
• Stefanos Koroneos, Director and Designer
• Angela Huff, Costume Designer
• Sarah Rose Johnson, Costume/Theatrical Hair and Makeup Designer
• Robert Di Mauro, Lifestyle Commentator, HSFI Board Member, IPP Founder

Part Two: All Elements Come Together!

STUDENT AND COMMUNITY ACCESS to free opera performances at La MaMa, Creative Shares

Young and underserved community members, public school students, retirees, and volunteers are invited to attend full-scale opera performances for free at our partnering theaters. These performances serve as the culmination of Part One, giving participants the opportunity to experience in person everything they learned during the program. Students who participated in work-based internships have the chance to create or perform in close collaboration with opera professionals.

Through Creative Tableaux, we give away 25% of our tickets for free to students and community members, amounting to $9,000 in free tickets annually. Audiences have the opportunity to attend full-scale opera performances at La MaMa, Creative Shares.

HISTORY

Creative Tableaux was born through our 2021 program, “Tableaux of Amico Fritz.” Since its launch,, it has served an average of 4,000-5,000 participants per year across the five boroughs, growing and collaborating with schools and community organizations, and creating opportunities for work-based learning internships in all fields related to operatic production and performance, including design, stagehand work, singing, and sustainability in performance.

In May and June 2023, we collaborated with Dominican Academy, Harrison Public Library, several NYC public schools, seniors from the Hudson Guilt, volunteers from God’s Love We Deliver, members and staff of the LGBTQ Center of NY, and more to introduce new audiences to opera through workshops and collaborative activities, and presented Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. This was followed by our October 2023 collaboration with the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in our mainstage performance of Gaspare Spontini’s La Vestale, and November 2023’s The 10 Faces of Maria Callas, which reached an audience of over 700 enthusiastic attendees.

In June 2024, we expanded Creative Tableaux’s reach by conducting a series of school and community workshops, masterclasses, and work-based learning internships, for a wide group of passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, including ongoing collaborations with NYC public schools, the Hudson Guilt, God’s Love We Deliver, the LGBTQ Center of NY, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, the High School for Fashion Industries, North Bergen High School. We extended invitations to these enthusiastic participants to our sold-out performances of Donizetti’s Elixir of Love at the Flea Theater on June 1 and 2, 2024.

As part of our commitment to fostering young talent, in 2024, we awarded two outstanding students scholarships [link] through our Creative Tableaux program: Anthony Jimenez Peña (Mexico, 10 years old), in the field of graphic design, and Huntersky Farrell-Conlan (New York, 17 years old), in the field of costume design.

In 2024-25, Teatro Grattacielo continued to expand its commitment to arts education, fostering the next generation of creative minds through hands-on experiences in opera production. We proudly collaborated with students from the High School of Fashion Industries (costume & production internships), Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (creative process workshops & auditions), Seton Hall University (opera immersion and work-based learning internships), North Bergen High School and Harrison Public Library (interactive workshops and community discussions), Pace University (stage management internships), Marist University (sustainable design internship), and The Roundabout Theater (mentorship opportunities, stagehand and lighting design internships) to bring opera to life in dynamic and innovative ways.

We offered more than 25 internships through Creative Tableaux across our 2025 summer season, in the fields of Sustainable Production & Design, Costume Design, Stage Management, and more, as well as featuring students from the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in the chorus of our sold-out production of L’amico Fritz. Learn more about our incredible interns through our Stories page.

DOWNLOAD CREATIVE TABLEAUX’S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION HERE

DOWNLOAD THE COMPREHENSIVE 2024 FULL REPORT HERE

WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU!

Creative Tableaux is dedicated to sharing our free, inclusive community programming far and wide across the five boroughs! If you would be interested in bringing Creative Tableaux’s programming to your school or community organization, please reach out to Hilary Baboukis at hilarybaboukis@grattacielo.org. We would be thrilled to hear from you!