There’s a new non-profit theater arts and education organization in Town and they are doing something quite unique.
On Friday night the organizers of Open Arts Alliance held an event at the Greenwich Arts Council on Greenwich Ave to celebrate their unique twist.
Quinn Gavin, Erin Salvate, Lily Bartels, Marisol Flores and Colleen Salvate at the Open Arts Alliance celebration on Friday. Credit: Leslie Yager
“We bring a professional touring theater production to health care facilities, hospitals, schools and nursing homes. Basically we bring theater to people, so they don’t have to get out to see to the theater,” said Stephanie O’Donnell of the Open Arts Alliance leadership advisory board.
“This year’s professional theater production is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We bring a professional touring production to nursing homes,” O’Donnell said. “We also have an educational theater program over the summer for kids. This year’s production is going to be Annie.”
Stephanie O’Donnell, Rocco Natale, Parke Stevenson, Caitlin Logan, and Amanda Monick of the Open Arts Alliance outside St. Mary’s Church during Art to the Avenue, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager
O’Donnell said said that the Open Arts Alliance has brought the arts to about 1,100 people in the last eight months.
“We’ve brought productions to Nathaniel Witherell, the Boys & Girls Club and Art to the Avenue,”she said. “We hope to do many more places around town and throughout Fairfield County.”
Young performers share a song from Annie at the Open Arts Alliance celebration at the Greenwich Arts Council. Credit: Leslie Yager
Rocco Natale said that just two weeks earlier, “We were sitting at my kitchen table and thinking about what to say tonight and jokingly I said, ‘We brought theater to hundreds of people.’ And then I started laughing, and then I stopped. We actually have brought theater to hundreds of people,” he said.
At Friday night’s celebration at the Greenwich Arts Council, several young performers shared a preview of Annie.
Young performers share a song from Annie at the Open Arts Alliance celebration at the Greenwich Arts Council. Credit: Leslie Yager
Among them was Quinn Gavin, 8, who inherited the acting gene from father Kerry Gavin. Kerry, who is well known at Greenwich High School for teaching French and coaching football, was a child actor himself and still a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Stephanie O’Donnell, center, after welcoming supporters to the Open Arts Alliance event at the Greenwich Arts Council. Credit: Leslie Yager
Ryan and Owen Bologna at the Open Arts Alliance celebration at the Greenwich Arts Council. Credit: Leslie Yager
Lisa Bologna said hello to her former GHS guidance counselor Joan Lowe. Credit: Leslie Yager
Boys and Girls Club communications coordinator Madeline Leung development director Takeia McAlister. Credit: Leslie Yager
Kerry and Leslie Gavin attended the Open Arts Alliance event on Friday. Their daughter Quinn is performing in Annie. Credit: Leslie Yager
Will Ostruzla and Rob Harvey at the Open Arts Alliance event. Credit: Leslie Yager
Members of the Open Arts Alliance cast of Annie include Lily Bartels, Erin Salvate, Colleen Salvate, Quinn Gavin, Marisol Flores, Sophie Howard, Phoebe Howard and Sofia Degani. Credit: Leslie Yager
Victoria Staplefield and Lisa Bologna at the Open Arts Alliance celebration at Greenwich Arts Council. Credit: Leslie Yager
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