Design Symposium: Setting the Stage

Design Symposium 2026 will honor Judith Tankard, Ellen Shipman’s biographer, and raise funds for mission-driven preservation of Shipman’s design vision.

Setting the Stage: Design and the Theatrical Arts

Thursday, March 26, 11:00AM to 2:00PM

OperaCréole performance: a scene from Edmond Dédé’s Morgiane – 11:15AM
Seated lunch: Givonna Joseph, Aria Mason, and A.J. Allegra discuss the art of production design – 11:45AM
Behind the scenes of a fashion shoot with The Fashion Council of New Orleans – 1:00PM
Fashion shoot sponsored by Lucianne Whitley, in honor of Andrew T. Whitley

Presenters

A.J. Allegra, Le Petit Theatre, New Orleans
DeAndre Beverly, The Fashion Council of New Orleans, New Orleans
Givonna Joseph and Aria Mason, OperaCréole, New Orleans

Event Chairs

Tyson Geary
Anne Lykes Woodard

Host Committee

Amenah Abdelfattah, Katie Ainsley, DeAndre Beverly, Hattie Collins, Lauren Doussan, Will Erickson & Philips Wood, Liza Feoli, Penny Francis, Marilee Hovet, Ashley Jeansonne, Carrie Knapp, Tani Koch, Catherine Makk, Mary Wyatt Milano, Shelby Mills, Ashley Morgan, Taylor Morgan, Ashby Navarro, Martha Pearson, Anne Redd, Emily Rigamer, Permele Robinson, Claire Thriffiley, Jenny Vorhoff, Diane Walmsley, Jennie Cannon West, Rosalind Wilson, Helen Young