The local theater group Open Arts Alliance wrapped up a summer of youth productions with performances of Cabaret at Powerhouse Theatre in New Canaan’s Waveny Park.
“This is our biggest summer yet,” said OAA program director Jake Lloyd. “We expanded our programs by one entire new session. All were filled and sold out. We took a gamble on the third session, and it filled right up.”
“For Cabaret, we hired a lot of phenomenal teacher-artists this summer, including a couple directors, a choreographer, a stage manager, and a costume set designer,” Mr. Lloyd continued, adding that OAA has added Cindy Busani full time in the office.
While the non-profit is based out of River House on the Mianus River in Cos Cob, where they hold rehearsals and enjoy time with the seniors there, the OAA leaders, executive director Rocco Natale and Mr. Lloyd, have secured a variety of venues for performances.
This summer they staged Lion King at the barn at Greenwich Historical Society and Finding Nemo at Powerhouse in New Canaan.
In the fall, the ever-expanding theater group will offer more opportunities for youth theater than ever.
For the first time, children age 5-7 will be able to participate in a production of Winnie the Pooh, which Mr. Lloyd said will be cute as can be. The children in grades 1-6 will stage Annie, and performers in grades 7-12 will stage Elf.
And while Open Arts Alliance enrolls more children than ever, the road has been bumpy. Following the pandemic, Mr. Lloyd said resuming programs was a challenge.
“After Covid it was like starting at ground zero because we lost momentum,” he said.
Still, he and Mr. Natale knew there was a need in the community and they worked on a plan. The response was so strong, they added that third session this summer with Cabaret.
In fact, Mr. Lloyd said this summer was something of a turning point as far as taking the level of production up a notch.
This was furthered by the return of several alumni of OAA to work with the younger performers, serve as inspiring role models and raise expectations.
“They share OAA values like commitment and community, and pushing ourselves artistically both as an organization and what the kids believe they are capable of,” Mr. Lloyd said. “We’ve been able to raise the level of play, increase involvement and elevate all the productions.”
Mr. Lloyd said one of the older alumni, now a junior, age 17, who has been with the program for many years, shared a similar observation.
“He said what used to be our main stage musical is now the level of our lower shows. What was considered, pre-Covid to be the artistic ‘top game’ is now more like the entry level game,” he recalled.
“We found success taking a daring risk and a leap of faith, and it’s nice to hear the kids make that observation for themselves,” he added.
Emma Harvey, 17, who participated in Cabaret, said she was really excited to be a part of a show directed for older audiences because she relished the challenge.
“I think our biggest accomplishment as a cast this summer has been our dance numbers,” she said, noting that not everyone comes from a dance background.
“My favorite memory from Cabaret is using a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal in place of a pineapple because we didn’t have a pineapple prop yet,” she recalled.”Every time we used it, it always made us laugh ,but it proved to be very helpful during the scene!”
Olivia Hirsch, 17, talked about stepping out of her comfort zone.
“Being able to play Sally in Cabaret was a major step for me and my growth as an actress,” she said. “I think this show and this role has given me the opportunity to discover parts of myself that were buried and I think It has brought out a lot of my best qualities.”
Olivia said her favorite memory from OAA was going into New York City with the cast of Cabaret and seeing the Broadway musical, Chicago.
“I think this field trip brought us as an organization closer together, though I’m not sure how much closer I could get to this bunch because we are like family,” she said.
Sabina Csak, 18, was succinct. “My biggest accomplishment with OAA is definitely learning how to put myself out there and become comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she said.
Sabina said that OAA helped her “break out of my shell” and grow personally.
For Zach Libow, 17, being on the OAA Leadership Council brought him full circle.
“As a member of the organization since I was 7, I know what it is like to look up to and hope to be one day, one of the ‘big kids.’ I wanted to do the same thing that the past seniors of the organization were doing, which is to give back by helping with the children’s shows.”
Zach said a great memory of the summer was building the sets for Cabaret.
“Although t it was lots of hard work with many hours required, once we were able to turn on music and dance around, our cast really bonded and we were able to let loose and create memories that we would truly remember forever,” he said.
River House Connection
This summer OAA was more involved with River House than ever. The children rehearsed there during the day and did trial runs of their shows for River House clients.
“They’d ask when are the kids coming to sing?” Mr. Lloyd recalled. “They looked forward to that.”
They also did craft projects together, and even held an ice cream social.
But the best aspect of having the shared spaced boiled down the organic opportunities to strengthen connections.
“It was a really active summer for the kids, to learn the songs and learn their lines with a show mentality, but also to give back and value the relationship of the two groups co-existing in the building,” Lloyd said, adding. “It was really sweet, the kids would sit among the clients at River House and make cards and do different crafts and just talk.”
At the end of the summer session, the young people received certificates for their community service. As Mr. Lloyd explained, “The schools value them, but the certificates more symbolized that this was something of value and worth celebrating.”
“I know of so many other theater organizations around here, but none put as much of an emphasis as we do on bridging the gap between generations,” said Zach, 17. “We do this by connecting with, performing for, and even doing activities and programs with both senior citizens and children of Greenwich. OAA is truly a second home to me. I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”
More information on Open Arts Alliance is available online. Click here to register for a new season of singing, dancing and acting this fall: Annie for students in grades 1-6; Winnie the Pooh for children ages 5-7; and Elf for grades 7-12.
