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For this Bushwick scenic designer, less on the stage means more: her case that stripping down a gothic opera deepens it

Bushwick-based scenic designer Jiaying Zhang explains how stripping down sets for Heartbeat Opera’s 2026 Vanessa deepens emotional storytelling, reflecting her philosophy of distillation in theater design.

By Bushwick Daily News Desk

June 25, 2026 · 1 min read

News Bushwick

For this Bushwick scenic designer, less on the stage means more: her case that stripping down a gothic opera deepens it

Bushwick Daily News Desk Bushwick · June 25, 2026Jun 25, 2026 · 1 min read

Jiaying Zhang designs theater sets by taking things away. In an interview with Bushwick artist Milan Schell, Zhang argues that reducing a stage to what’s essential deepens emotional storytelling.

The conversation is titled “Distilling the Gothic.” It grew out of Heartbeat Opera’s 2026 production of Vanessa at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, Zhang told Bushwick Daily. She described it…

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Filed underHeartbeat Opera / Jiaying Zhang / Milan Schell

Bushwick Daily News Desk. Neighborhood news, politics, real estate, and business coverage produced by the Bushwick Daily newsroom.

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For this Bushwick scenic designer, less on the stage means more: her case that stripping down a gothic opera deepens it

For this Bushwick scenic designer, less on the stage means more: her case that stripping down a gothic opera deepens it

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