StM News

A few weeks ago, the lights went down at BB’s Stage Door Canteen inside The National WWII Museum, transporting audiences to the 1940s through the vibrant rhythms of Carmen Miranda: Samba in Technicolor. The biographical tribute was a triumph of historical storytelling, moving past Hollywood caricatures to explore the true heart, intelligence, and spirit of a global superstar. The immersive theatrical celebration of the “Brazilian Bombshell” featured vibrant dancers, the dynamic Bando da Lua, and a dazzling journey through the golden age of film and its music.

While audiences enjoyed the performances on stage, the production reflected years of historical research, storytelling, and inquiry—work that closely parallels Altobello's role at St. Martin's, where she helps faculty and students connect learning, creativity, and real-world experience. Altobello says the common thread in her work at St. Martin’s and her scriptwriting is that “both are paying attention to story, context, and connection. As a curriculum director, I’m always thinking about which stories we prioritize … and what connections we hope students will make. Learning becomes more meaningful when it is rooted in place, shaped by context, and connected to the complexities of real lives.” 

The recent production of Carmen Miranda is just the latest chapter in Altobello's extensive body of historical work. Her portfolio includes Josephine Baker: From Creole Goddess to Siren of the Resistance, which was staged in 2023 and 2025, and Lulu White: Queen of Storyville, which ran for successive years from 2018 through 2020. Her latest work, The Voice of France: A Tribute to Edith Piaf, will take the Stage Door Canteen stage in spring 2027.

Additionally, Altobello writes and produces immersive audio tours of historically significant New Orleans neighborhoods. Through research-based tours such as Walkin’ the Treme and Esplanade Ridge: The Creole Garden District, she extends her work in narrative interpretation to independent travelers and global audiences.

This same dedication to deep research and public engagement is exactly what she brings to the faculty and students at St. Martin’s. In her role at St. Martin’s, Altobello supports teachers in crafting curricula grounded in inquiry, research, and real-world application. She was instrumental in the creation of St. Martin’s signature STeaM and Global Citizenship Diploma pathways. Her collaborative leadership was also central to shaping the school's broader academic vision, as she led the faculty in working together to craft the school’s Portrait of a Graduate, an institutional initiative that maps out the essential skills and character traits for long-term student success.

“Whether I’m designing curriculum, working with teachers, helping students write about New Orleans, or creating a script about Lulu [White], Josephine [Baker], Carmen [Miranda], or Edith [Piaf], I’m trying to help people look more closely and listen more carefully,” Altobello said. 

As she continues to develop additional performance scripts focusing on figures at the intersection of culture, politics, and public memory, Altobello showcases how St. Martin’s educators continue to serve as prominent voices in the wider cultural and educational landscape.