Come to the R.I.V.E.R.

Did you know that we host events, live performances, and artist retreats? Well, now you do!

We partner with socially conscious organizations to present live, community-minded performances, innovative cultural experiences, and working retreats for artists.

R.I.V.E.R. stands for Rhapsody-in-View Events and Retreats. The series was named after the home of Lori Rosolowsky, our CEO and Founder. A pianist in her own right, Lori, named the property for the Gershwin classic she loves so much.

For larger events, we partner with local venues to provide you with the best space for your needs.

Previous RIVERs include performances of Oscar and Us, a singalong fundraiser to save the home of legendary musical theatre composer Oscar Hamerstein II (Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, etc.) and Miraculous Escapes from Nazi Germany, a musical presentation by and about the family of Lori Rosolowsky, our Founder and CEO. Events have also included collaborations with Raison D'être Dance Project and Robison Realty Group of Bozeman, Montana.

Working retreats have culminated in master classes and performances with multi-instrumentalist and renowned educator Clark Chaffee along with Broadway artists Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, The Pirate Queen) and our client Justin Guarini (Wicked, In Transit).

Have an event or retreat to plan? Submit an inquiry or schedule a call.

And A Happy New Year

On this, the last day of 2019, we are taking stock of the things that made our year incredible. We are grateful to the artists, institutions, and supporters without whom Open Sky Artists could not exist, and we look forward to another year of making life easier for creative professionals in the performing arts. 

Without further adieu, here are our 2019 highlights, from January to December:

January

Our client Justin Guarini traveled to Bozeman, Montana for his first RIVER at the home-base of our CEO and Founder, Lori Rosolowsky. Justin conducted a series of master classes for young actors and performed in a fundraiser for institutional partner Verge Theater’s production of Fun Home.

February

David Canfield of Fanfare Archive reviewed our client Clipper Erickson’s latest release, Tableau, Tempest & Tango: “A superior recording, worthy to stand alongside the best… Just about the most ferocious-sounding “Baba-Yaga” on recording, and the most resplendent ‘Great Gate’ imaginable. One of the finest pianists of his generation in interesting repertory that shows off his considerable skill and artistry as a consummate musician.”

March

We completely overhauled three websites for our artists and reached out to over five hundred venues and presenting institutions on behalf of our clients.

April

We helped our client Justin Guarini launch a musical theatre coaching business, release his first book, and elevate his digital presence.

May

Alex Levin Music (the collective representing our clients the Alex Levin Trio, The Ladybugs, and others) became a preferred music vendor at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the Awbury Arboretum in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Cairnwood Estate in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, and The Picnic House in Brooklyn, New York’s iconic Prospect Park.

June

We helped our client Justin Guarini launch the Audition Secrets podcast, a series of conversations with theatremakers about the choices and challenges that have shaped their careers. We produced the first fifteen episodes which included interviews with Patti LuPone, Laura Osnes, Laura Bell Bundy, Michael Cerveris, and Sierra Boggess.

July

Our client, instrumentalist and educator Clark Chaffee, brought his award-winning techniques for rhythmic notation and key shapes to Bozeman, Montana for his first RIVER, offering four multi-generational workshops to musicians of all skill levels.

August

Fresh off of two assistant choreography gigs at American Conservatory Theater (ACT) and Stanford University, Open Sky Artists welcomed our first ever choreographer client, Meredith Joelle Charlson.

September

Broadway veteran Jeff McCarthy traveled to Bozeman, Montana for a RIVER at Rhapsody-in-View, the home of our CEO and Founder, Lori Rosolowsky.

October

Our client, pianist Clipper Erickson, realized a career-long dream to perform the works of composer R. Nathaniel Dett on what would have been his 137th birthday. The concert’s form reflected those that Dett used to host — a collaboration of choral voice, solo voice, and piano.

November

We attended The Producer’s Perspective Super Conference in New York City, a theatre-centric weekend of panels and networking that was hosted by Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ken Davenport. The Open Sky Artists team presented a talk on marketing and made countless meaningful connections.

December

We launched an online newsletter that highlights opportunities for artists and brings a bit of joy to your inbox each week. Sign up for this short-and-sweet weekly email here.

What a year! We can’t wait for the next one.

They Say the Neon Lights Are Bright

Founded by Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Ken Davenport, The Producer’s Perspective Super Conference is a gathering of the world’s top theatrical talent for a weekend of education, inspiration and connection — and half of the Open Sky Artists team will be there November 16 and 17, 2019!

Broadway is changing, which has ripple effects for the theatrical community across the country and even the world. At the Super Conference, hundreds of the world’s smartest creators descend upon New York City to learn what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s actually working and trending right now.

Our very own CEO and Founder Lori Rosolowsky has been invited to give a talk on How to Market Your Project, and our client Justin Guarini will showcase his humor and charm as the weekend’s emcee.

Other notable guests and speakers for the conference include Heidi Schreck (Pulitzer Prize Finalist What the Constitution Means to Me), Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), Ken Davenport (Once on this Island, Spring Awakening), Itamar Moses (The Band’s Visit), and Bartlett Sher (To Kill A Mockingbird, My Fair Lady). See the full list here. Panels will include Navigating the Collaborative Process, The Art of Pitching to Producers, and Getting Your Work Produced Across the Country — to name a few.

This conference is perfect for:

• Playwrights of all levels wanting to get their script in top shape, in the hands of people who can make a difference in their career, and on a stage.

• Producers who want to find projects that will succeed, bring together a team, and get a show all the way to Broadway.

• Actors who want connections with industry professionals who could advance their career and a deeper understanding of the business of Broadway.

• Artistic staff who want to get up to date on industry trends and make connections with professionals from across the country.

• Directors who want to make connections with potential collaborators.

• Theatre lovers looking to immerse themselves in the process of creating theatre and networking with professionals in the industry.

Want to join us and hundreds of theatre professionals in New York? Register while you still can and use code OPENSKY to save.

On the Road: Virginia Workshops with Justin Guarini

Broadway star, American Idol favorite, and our client Justin Guarini traveled to Stephens City Virginia this month to lead four performance workshops in partnership with CCLTalent. Designed for actors and singers ages 12 and up, these workshops focused on Pop Singing, Musical Theater, and Audition Techniques for Actors, providing valuable tools and techniques to performers of all experience levels.

Justin’s robust performance career launched with the first season of American Idol in 2002. His stage and screen appearances since then include Broadway productions of American Idiot, In Transit, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. He is also the host of the weekly podcast, Audition Secrets, with guests like Patti LuPone, Laura Osnes, and Laura Bell Bundy.

CCLTalent, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, is a full-service talent agency for all ages that specializes in children, teens and young adults. They collaborate with artists who possess a passion for the art, (theatre, musical theatre, film, television, new media and voice), an understanding of the industry, a dedication to continued training, and a strong work ethic.

The Rooms Where it Happened: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II

Song leader Jessie Barth, along with pianist Lori Rosolowsky and members of her band, presented a free sing-along for all ages celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II’s most treasured songs and highlighting his many humanitarian contributions. On Saturday July 14, 2018, the Doylestown Township Bicentennial Committee, in honor of one of the Township’s most beloved residents and in partnership with the Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center at Highland Farm, hosted this SING!

The public was welcomed to meet esteemed guests Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and humanitarian in his own right, and Julie Henning, who lived with Pearl S. Buck as her adopted daughter. Vocalist Keith Spencer was one of several featured performers.

Oscar Hammerstein II was one of the twentieth century’s most influential lyricists, and his collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers include some of the most successful musicals in the history of the American theatre—including The Sound of Music, South Pacific, The King and I, and Carousel. In 1940, three years before the Broadway debut of Oklahoma!, he purchased Highland Farm in Doylestown Township, and he lived there with his family until his passing in 1960. The three-story residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Mr. Hammerstein's work has been recognized with countless Tony, Grammy, and Academy Awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He is one of Doylestown's many notable residents who have made profound contributions to the performing arts.

This event was presented in partnership with Open Sky Artists, the Doylestown Township Bicentennial Committee, and friends of the Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center.

Learn more about our events!