This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Come and Play: 'Free Keys CT' Pianos in Branford

On a corner of the Branford town green; at the foot of the sweeping entrance to James Blackstone Memorial Library; and outside funky and fun The Stand BBQ Restaurant in Indian Neck, three creatively painted upright pianos invite the public the come and play with "Free Keys CT."

On Thurs. June 21, co-organizers Carly Callahan and Greg Nobile struck the opening notes of their new, 10-week public space initiative, which also placed several artistically enhanced uprights, complete with piano benches, at prime public locations in Guilford and Madison. The project is sponsored by The Friki Tiki, a new piano bar in Indian Neck which Nobile co-owns.

"The effort is meant to inspire spontaneous music making, creativity and conversation. Because if the world needs anything right now, it's a little more music and a little more conversation," said Nobile, in a Facebook post on June 21.

The launch date was selected to coincide and participate in Connecticut's June 21 celebration of worldwide Make Music Day. Curated state-wide by CT Office of the Arts, Make Music Day encouraged musicians to take to streets, parks and public spaces to share their musical talent as part of the celebration.

Shortly after the pianos were delivered and uncovered, musicians could be spotted seated at the keys in Branford several times throughout the day. Eye-catching and pretty much irresistible, the pianos are continuing to draw spontaneous play from the public.

According to information provided by Callahan and Nobile, "Free Keys is designed to provoke people into engaging, activating and claiming ownership of their town through music, and provides an interconnected resource for the public to express themselves through making, listening to, and enjoying music. Spontaneous performance in a public space encourages community and creativity, adding to the vitality of our towns."

A Branford native, Nobile is a Branford and New York City-based hospitality entrepreneur and theatrical producer; and Executive Producer at Seaview Productions. Nobile is a Tony and Oliver Award winner who also holds the distinction of the being the youngest Tony Award winning producer on Broadway. Nobile is also Managing Director of non-profit Legacy Theatre in Stony Creek and serves on the advisory board of the non-profit Branford Community Foundation.

Based in Madison, Callahan has toured nationally as an opera and musical theatre singer/actress and a director. She also has an extensive background in Broadway performing arts production, marketing, and representation. Callahan serves on the local boards including Madison Chamber of Commerce, Ivoryton Playhouse and Guilford Performing Arts Festival.

Getting the project upright involved Callahan and Nobile collecting unwanted pianos, organizing pick-ups, delivering the pianos to a storage space and connecting with individual community artists and local art organizations to overhaul pianos with unique designs. The two also met with town officials to receive approval for piano placements. Then, on June 21, the pianos were delivered and placed in their public spots.

Each piano comes with a selection of all-abilities sheet music and will be monitiored by a Free Keys tuner as well as volunteers on the look out for damage, including vandalism. While the selected paint and additional sealer will enhance waterproofing of the pianos, during spontaneous inclement weather, the public can help protect the pianos by dropping on the cover affixed to the back of each piano.

In Branford, the pianos include a colorful paint-splashed design on town green at the corner of Montowese and Main Street -- literally a stone's throw from Branford's Summer Jazz on the Green series stage. There's also a bubbly little aquamarine upright bedecked with several jellyfish and the message "Play Me" at The Stand. A puppy-centric piece stands at the Blackstone, with banner messages of "Rescue Dogs" and "Rescue Pianos" on either side. The names of individuals and families who donated the pianos, together with the names of the artists who reimagined the exteriors, are posted on the pieces.

Throughout the Free Keys project period, which ends Sept. 4, community organizations are invited to adopt a piano; while musicians of all ages and abilities are invited to enjoy access to the pianos and performance spaces. Callahan and Nobile hope the listening public will interact with the music to create an "enhanced community experience" in public shoreline areas.