Developing an Opera about Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses

Composer Judd Greenstein and director Joshua Frankel discuss the process of creating their new opera with urbanist and author Karrie Jacobs

Jane Jacobs was the leader of epic struggles against Robert Moses, first stopping his destruction of Washington Square Park, and then his efforts to build the Lower Manhattan Expressway. Join composer Judd Greenstein and director Joshua Frankel in a conversation about the process of expressing this story as an opera and the translation of the ideas that run through it into music, text, visuals and stage movement. The conversation will be led by Karrie Jacobs, a frequent contributor to Architect, former architecture critic at New York Magazine and founding executive editor of Bennetton’s Colors Magazine. Greenstein and Frankel also will screen two short animated films: their previous collaboration, Plan Of The City, as well as Mannahatta, which premiered at the BAM Next Wave Festival this past fall and represents their first thematic exploration for the opera. More information about this opera can be found at mosesjacobsopera.com.