nothin New Haven Independent | Want to Play A Tune on the Green? Meet Your…

Want to Play A Tune on the Green? Meet Your Rescue Piano

Sam Stricker Photo

Carly Callahan on Rescue Keys

Greg Nobile thinks we’re all in the mood for a melody,” as the Billy Joel song goes, so he’s placing 8 creatively painted pianos outdoors in public venues in Branford, Guilford and Madison.

The purpose is twofold, to create spontaneous moments of expression and to take music to the streets and make it accessible to everyone,” Nobile told the Eagle.

The piano above (top photo), which will be on the Branford Green, is being played by Carly Callahan of Madison, who partnered with Nobile on the Free Keys CT project

Sam Stricker Photo

Greg Nobile

Nobile (pictured) and Callahan were busy Wednesday evening getting ready to transport the pianos to their new homes. The Branford locations for the outdoor pianos include the Blackstone library, the Town Center and the Indian Neck neighborhood.

If anybody can make outdoor pianos a success on the shoreline, it’s the dynamic duo of Nobile and Callahan.

Nobile was one of the Lemonade Gang in his early years, and later became affiliated with the upcoming Legacy Theatre in Stony Creek, and then went on to become a Tony-award winner on Broadway. 

In 2016, Nobile and chef Eamon Roche opened The Stand BBQ restaurant at the former Indian Neck Garage at South Montowese Street in Branford. Nobile and Roche are also the co-owners of the Friki Tiki, a tropical-themed piano bar at 3 Linden Ave., also in Indian Neck.

Sam Stricker Photo

We wanted to take pianos out of the four walls of the Tiki bar and put them everywhere,” Nobile said, adding that the Friki Tiki is sponsoring the piano project.

Callahan is a Madison-based singer, actress, director and producer. She is also the producer and host of Spotlight on the Arts,” a monthly television program focusing on Connecticut arts.

Sam Stricker Photo

Nobile said with today’s emphasis on technology comes a certain isolation, but spontaneous music performances are ways to unite people and make connections. Passers-by are welcome to enjoy playing the pianos, and hopefully attentive crowds with gather. Nobile wants people to stop and pause and listen and look around.”

Rescue Dogs — Rescue Pianos

Sam Stricker Photo

The piano that will be located outside the Blackstone Library has a unique theme of Rescue Dogs — Rescue Pianos.

Sam Stricker Photo

Local artist Tom Edwards touched the heartstrings of dog lovers and music lovers, emphasizing that pianos can have a new life too.

The pianos were all donated by area families, and local artists volunteered to paint each one. The pianos will eventually be donated to community groups.

What happens if it rains? Covers will be placed beneath the pianos at each location so that neighbors or passers-by can cover the pianos.

The concept of street pianos started with one piano in Sheffield, England, in 2003, where the piano survived the elements for five years. The idea quickly spread, thanks in part to British artist Luke Jerram who created Play Me I’m Yours” street pianos in Birmingham, England, in 2008. Since then, street pianos have been bringing music to the masses in cities and towns worldwide.

A piano arrived in Wooster Square in New Haven last year, which the New Haven Independent wrote about. The piano is back again this summer.

Two years ago, a Play Me I’m Yours” piano was stationed outside the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Main Street in Old Saybrook.

From the Owenego to Broadway to Pianos

Nobile’s earliest endeavor was at age 6 when he co-founded the Lemonade Gang with buddy Ryan Bloomquist to help a friend who had just been diagnosed with a rare medical disorder. The early backyard skits evolved into yearly performances at the Owenego Beach Club in Branford, and a Christmas concert at the First Baptist Church.

In 2009, Nobile and Bloomquist and the Lemonade Gang were honored by the American Red Cross with its Youth Good Samaritan Award for raising more than $60,000 for medical research in 10 years.

In 2014, the 21-year-old Nobile won a Tony Award as one of the producers of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, when the show took top musical honors.

Sam Stricker Photo

Now Nobile is spreading his love of music through the outdoor piano project, and the Friki Tiki bar, which opened last month. He said the venue has been attracting renowned piano players who perform in New York and then come to Branford for a few days to play at the piano bar.

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