Karly Whitt
NYU Steinhardt’s Performing Arts Administration (PAA) program is proud to highlight the research of Karlye Whitt (`25), whose recent publication examines how systemic racism in the American opera field—specifically at the Metropolitan Opera—shapes onstage casting and storytelling and affects U.S. audiences ages 54 and under, having an impact on attendance, barriers, and perceptions.
“Racial Structural Inequalities in Opera Audiences and Their Impact on Young Arts Audiences in the United States — The Metropolitan Opera Standard,” emphasizes that increasing diversity onstage is not only an artistic imperative, but is a critical strategy for audience development. Her study suggests that meaningful change requires both expanded representation in casting and storytelling, as well as improved accessibility, community-building, and inclusive institutional practices.
Originally pursuing a career as an opera singer, Karlye Whitt gained experience as both artist and staff at Tulsa Opera in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she resided as one of the company’s Resident Artists, Principal Artists, and Development Associates. The institutional knowledge obtained during this time, combined with the broader insights into the performing arts industry she gained during her graduate studies at NYU PAA, inspired her to champion inclusion and equity initiatives in the opera industry and support the future of opera in America by founding Salon Avec Moi, a New York-based event experience and media company.
Currently serving as Operations Manager at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Whitt brings both artistic and administrative experience to her research. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing equity in the performing arts and ensuring the sustainability of opera for future generations.
This publication illustrates the impact of practice-based research within the PAA program, demonstrating how graduate scholarship can contribute to critical conversations around inclusion, access, and the evolving future of the performing arts sector.
