More Than a Mic: How RAA’s Open Stage is Sparking Creativity and Community
- Roxbury Arts Alliance
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Written by Lisa Church
It started with a question that many parents ask: Why don’t our teens have anything meaningful to do on the weekends?
Scrolling through social media, I saw countless posts from parents lamenting how their teens are spending weekend nights hanging out in parking lots. I couldn’t help but reflect on how this is almost a rite of passage—my own teenage years were filled with parking lot meetups, field hangouts, and aimless wandering. But it got me thinking: what if we gave teens something better? What if we created a space where they could explore their creativity, connect with others, and feel supported while doing it? When I brought the idea to our board members, they welcomed it with enthusiasm.
That spark of an idea became our Open Mic Night.
A Stage for Self-Discovery
The idea of Open Mic Night was developed with my teenage son in mind—not just for him, but for all the kids out there with a spark they haven't quite figured out how to nurture. Maybe they’re curious about musical theater, have been strumming a guitar in their room, or writing poetry they’ve never shared. They might not feel like drama club or school orchestra is their place. But here, at the Citizens Bank Theater, they can step onto a real stage, hear their voice amplified through professional sound equipment, and feel the power of being heard.
This space is for them. And it’s also for everyone else.
Open Mic Night isn’t just for teens. It’s for artists of all ages- beginners, hobbyists, and seasoned performers alike. We’ve had local musicians, traveling poets, visual artists, and even folks from out of state who stumbled upon our event and felt the call to perform. Everyone is welcome. We invite music, spoken word, comedy, dance, poetry, book readings, performance art, and anything else your creative mind can dream up.
How It Came Together
When we first launched this idea in June 2024, I had zero experience organizing an open mic and didn’t even know how to operate our sound board. That’s when I reached out to Frank May, a multifaceted artist and educator I met at an event he hosted at his gallery in Washington, NJ. Frank is an artistic powerhouse, with experience in everything from sculpture and painting to sound, writing, and digital art. He generously volunteered his time and expertise and has been a cornerstone of our open mic events ever since.
In addition to co-hosting Open Mic Night, Frank curates our rotating art gallery—a three-month exhibition of about 10–15 pieces by both amateur and professional artists. These exhibitions not only bring art to our theater space, they give local artists a chance to showcase and sell their work to a new audience. Our current exhibition "This Is That and That Is This", curated by Gabe Chiarello, features collage work by four artist/ musicians. The gallery is open for viewing during open mic events, before scheduled performances and by private appointment. All of the art is available for purchase.
A Gallery, a Stage, and a Community
Our collaboration with Frank has created something unique: a space where art and performance meet. We’ve hosted gallery talks where artists discuss their process and mingle with guests. We’ve hosted musicians like Nova Darkstar, who performed original disco and new wave music during our first exhibition, "ROX by Co11ective."
Each event feels like a celebration of courage and creativity. We hope our open mic and gallery inspire more people to share their work with the world. As Frank says, “We are doing some great new and innovative stuff. I can't think of another place that's an art gallery and theater in one unit. And that we offer a stage to the community. It's powerful."
Looking ahead, we’re excited to deepen our impact through a new collaboration with Life Center Stage, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals through creativity, personal development, and community connection. Together, we are working to develop a Youth Leadership and Personal Development Program rooted in artistic expression and storytelling. This initiative will offer young people a safe space to explore their identity, build confidence, and cultivate leadership and life skills—all while tapping into the transformative power of the arts. It’s a natural extension of the mission behind our Open Mic Nights: to nurture creativity and connection at every stage.
If you’ve ever thought about expressing yourself, or just want to be part of something inspiring, come by our next Open Mic Night on April 18th. You don’t need to be a professional. You just need to show up.
Because your voice matters. And our stage is waiting.
Open mics are held on a Friday once a month. Performers are encouraged to register at
Walk-ins are welcome. The $5 cover charge goes to support our programs in development.
Read more about Frank May's work and collaborations at http://frankmay.net/
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