Opera at Gotham Park : free, community-centric & intergenerational activities

Teatro Grattacielo (TG) is dedicated to fostering artistic and cultural engagement that extends beyond the concert stage, creating spaces where diverse communities can connect through the arts. In collaboration with Gotham Park (GP), a grassroots nonprofit revitalizing underutilized spaces beneath the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, TG is developing multidisciplinary initiatives for Summer 2025. The arches beneath the bridge were once a vital part of downtown Manhattan’s urban fabric — spaces alive with commerce, community, and daily life — before decades of neglect left them largely forgotten. Now, as Gotham Park leads their revival, TG is proud to be part of bringing new life to this storied place. Through free, accessible programming rooted in the neighborhoods of Chinatown, the Bowery, and lower Manhattan, we aim to reach residents, families, and young artists for whom opera has never felt like theirs — and change that.

To find out more about Gotham Park, click HERE.

Our Goals

Bring Opera to New Audiences

Our primary goal is to introduce opera in an interactive, community-focused format in Chinatown, the Bowery, and downtown Manhattan — neighborhoods whose residents, many of them immigrants and first-generation New Yorkers, have rarely had the opportunity to encounter this art form up close. We aim to demystify opera and make it genuinely accessible, creating cultural connections that feel meaningful, relevant, and lasting.

Foster Community Engagement and Collaboration

We strive to create a platform for dialogue and collaboration with the communities surrounding the park — residents from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, older adults, recent arrivals, and longtime New Yorkers alike. Through joint activities, open brainstorming sessions, and programming shaped by the people it serves, we hope to become a cultural resource that reflects the unique and layered spirit of this neighborhood.

Expand Educational and Cultural Opportunities for Youth

Building on Teatro Grattacielo’s Creative Tableaux initiative, we plan to form a young chorus in collaboration with our partner schools, The High School for Fashion Industries and The Frank Sinatra High School for the Arts. This program will provide students from a wide range of backgrounds the opportunity to explore collaboration, creativity, and the arts. The chorus will perform at events in conjunction with Teatro Grattacielo and Creative Tableaux, in an inclusive and dynamic experience for students and audiences alike.

Spark Conversations about Immigration and Cultural Identity

Using opera as a lens, we explore and reflect on the immigrant experience in New York City. Through performances of short operatic works like Generation Perdida by Jorge Sosa and The Tin Angel by Daniel Asia, we create spaces for dialogue about cultural identity and community integration. Each performance includes discussions with panels of community leaders, artists, and cultural advocates, fostering meaningful conversations about the diverse stories that shape our city.

Build Lasting Connections and Measure Impact

By participating in community events and gathering feedback through attendance data, questionnaires, and interactive meetings, we will ensure our programming resonates with the community. These efforts will guide our future initiatives, ensuring that the project provides lasting value during and beyond Gotham Park’s renovation.

All events are free, community-centric, intergenerational, and open to all. We aim to connect with New Yorkers from every path.

Next Up for Opera at Gotham Park...

May 2nd, 2026 — Gotham Park Block Party!

Join us on Saturday, May 2nd for the 2026 Gotham Park Block Party! This year’s party will feature mezzo-soprano Chantelle Grant and baritone Eliam Ramos Fuentes, in collaboration with pianist Francisco Miranda, singing repertoire by Margaret Bonds, Anthony Davis, Stephen Flaherty, and Kurt Weill, with a focus on themes of social justice. The Gotham Park Block Party is an annual event celebrating community engagement, in alignment with Gotham Park’s mission to foster unity and cultural appreciation. The Party will feature performances by multiple local community organizations, showcasing the neighborhood’s artistic and cultural beauty.

Click here for directions to the Gotham Park Block Party!

August 1, 2026 — Climate Change Activation

On Saturday, August 1st, 2026, Opera at Gotham Park will host a new activation in collaboration with local community members and activists with a focus on climate change. This focus mirrors the raison d’être and genesis of the Park: Gotham Park’s mission includes an aim to maximize the benefits nature can provide to NYC’s ongoing climate resilience. To honor and further that goal, our August activation will focus on climate change, spreading awareness of both its ongoing effects and our role in developing solutions.

Recently at Gotham Park...

October 18th: The Longest Table at Gotham Park

On Saturday, October 18th, 2025, Teatro Grattacielo joined forces with Gotham Park and The Longest Table, hosting a potluck organized through The Longest Table, followed by an abbreviated performance of Jorge Sosa’s Generación Perdida.

Our attendees spoke movingly about their connections to the music, with particular mentions of the strength of the poetry. They also admired the visceral experience of hearing such powerful music “up close and personal.”

We are deeply grateful for our collaboration with these two wonderful community organizations and we look forward to future events together!

Cast and Team

Eugenia Forteza, Mezzo-soprano
Eric Juneau, piano
David Santiago, MC

The Longest Table is a free gathering designed to spark joy and strengthen neighborhood connections through the simple act of sharing a meal. Learn more by clicking here!

The development of Generación Perdida received funding from OPERA America’s IDEA Opera Grants program, supported by the Charles and Cerise Jacobs Charitable Foundation and New York City Council Member Eric Bottcher, Cultural Immigrant Initiative.

July 12th, 12 PM - 1PM: Community Yogalizing with Gina Poulou

Opera at Gotham Park broughtYogaYourVoice, a unique practice that combines yoga with vocal techniques to reduce stress and anxiety, to Gotham Park. Led by Gina Poulou, this session helps participants discover their true voice linked to the body’s seven energy centers, the chakras. Whether you’re a performer, professional, or someone seeking personal growth, this practice offers emotional and mental development. Participants brought their yoga mats and joined us for a session that harmonized body and voice. For more information, visit YogaYourVoice.

May 3rd, 1:30 PM: Gotham Park Block Party

The community joined us for a vibrant block party featuring opera performances in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, English, and Italian. Teatro Grattacielo’s young, upcoming artists, accompanied by pianist Francisco Miranda, showcased their talents. This event celebrated community engagement, aligning with Gotham Park’s mission to foster unity and cultural appreciation. Our attendees enjoyed diverse musical expressions in a lively atmosphere that brought neighbors together.

3 de mayo: Block Party en Gotham Park

Hora: 1:30 PM

Únete a nosotros para una animada fiesta comunitaria con presentaciones de ópera en chino, coreano, español, inglés e italiano. Los jóvenes artistas emergentes de Teatro Grattacielo, acompañados por el pianista Francisco Miranda, demostrarán su talento. Este evento celebra el compromiso con la comunidad, en línea con la misión de Gotham Park de fomentar la unidad y la apreciación cultural. Disfruta de expresiones musicales diversas en un ambiente vibrante que reúne a vecinos y vecinas.

5月3日：Gotham 公园街区派对

时间：下午1:30

加入我们，参加一场充满活力的街区派对，欣赏中文、韩文、西班牙文、英文和意大利文的歌剧表演。Teatro Grattacielo 的年轻新秀艺术家将在钢琴家 Francisco Miranda 的伴奏下展现他们的才华。
本次活动旨在庆祝社区参与，与 Gotham 公园促进团结与文化欣赏的使命高度契合。欢迎大家在热闹欢快的氛围中，一起感受多样的音乐魅力！

Cast and Team

FRANCISCO MIRANDA - Pianist, MAIA GONZALEZ - Soprano, JONGWON CHOI - Bass, SARAH ROSE JOHNSON - Soprano, ZILIANG HAO - Bass Baritone, LU HUANG - Soprano, KRYSTEL JUVET - Project Manager, DAVID SANTIAGO - Presenter

GETTING HERE:

LOCATION

FOR LOCATION CLICK HERE

TRAIN

Gotham Park is located at Rose Street, under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. gothampark.org

By Subway:
Additional Notes:
For detailed subway maps and service information, please visit the MTA website

4, 5, 6, J, Z Trains:
- Take any of these trains to the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall station.
- Upon exiting, walk northeast on Centre Street toward Chambers Street.
- Turn right onto Chambers Street, then left onto Park Row.
- Continue on Park Row until you reach Rose Street.
- Gotham Park will be under the Brooklyn Bridge at this intersection.
A, C Trains:
- Take the A or C train to the Fulton Street station.
- Exit and head northeast on Fulton Street toward Nassau Street.
- Turn left onto Nassau Street, then right onto Beekman Street.
- Continue on Beekman Street until you reach Park Row.
- Turn left onto Park Row and proceed to Rose Street.
- Gotham Park is located under the Brooklyn Bridge at this junction.
2, 3 Trains:
- Take the 2 or 3 train to the Fulton Street station.
- Follow the same walking directions as above from Fulton Street station.

Gotham Park is accessible from Park Row, Rose Street, or the Brooklyn Bridge Stairs.
Please note that the park is situated within an NYPD security clearance zone. As a result, vehicle access is restricted, and visitors must walk or use wheeled mobility devices to pass through the NYPD checkpoint to reach the park.

We look forward to welcoming you to Gotham Park!