Hello, Hello.

As a grad student at NYU, my professors could not understand how I would use a degree in theatre for a career in psychology, or a career in theatre with a degree in psychology. To tell the truth, I didn’t either. But I believed art and wellness were inseparable, and sometimes all you have is trust.

Like many of us, I have had the experience of watching loved ones struggle through challenging health battles and when it came to my own: it seemed to me that theatre and wellness were more connected than I knew.

Music and art are often forgotten healers and I started OAA to marry theatre and community outreach. As a native of Greenwich, it was important to me not only to train the next generation of artists, but to carve a space for today’s families, which was not around when I was growing up.

At Open Arts Alliance, we do not believe kindness and excellence are mutually exclusive. Our students should feel safe and seen, while being pushed to succeed artistically, academically and personally.

Creating a fun and safe environment that nurtures and educates those which may not otherwise be able to access it. To us, theater is not just about having fun or putting on a spectacular show. (Even though we're very good at that!) It becomes a way to improve the lives of others in our community--our students, their families, friends, neighbors and beyond--while furthering the landscape of arts in our community.

It is my great pleasure to have worked with so many amazing allies in our community to create this organization, which I hope will remain a "home away from home" for years to come.

Thank you, Thank you!
Rocco