About the Organization

East End Theatre & Performing Arts is a nonprofit (501c3) community theatre organization with a mission to provide inclusive, accessible, and professional performance and arts education opportunities for youths and young adults across RI and Southeastern MA.

Our Leadership

Our Staff

Our Founders’ Story

East End Theatre & Performing Arts was founded in 2018 by Jillian Gesualdi, Judy de Perla, and Jessica Mayette, who worked together as teachers in the public school system to create & operate a self-sustaining after-school drama program, which operated successfully for a total of 26 years. Following a series of career shifts, the trio decided to found an independent company that would continue and expand their work of providing performing arts opportunities for middle & high school-aged students in inclusive and accessible theatre outside of the limits of a school.

The new company was established under the name "JDP Theatre Co," registered as an LLC and running on “cardboard & dreams” in an old church space. Programming kicked off with one summer theatre camp for teens, several small classes, and a Main Stage production of Legally Blonde: The Musical with a cast of only 18 actors between the ages of 14-20. With no money, one rehearsal room, no reputation, and only three staff members, that first year was challenging and the founders carried every responsibility of the organization, from using personal funds to sustain the programs to teaching the classes and cleaning the floors.

In 2019, the founders secured a supportive new home for the business in the versatile annex space at Church of The Epiphany in Rumford and secured the organization’s status as a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to provide inclusive, accessible, and professional quality opportunities for youth & young adults of new age brackets, new demographics, and new interest areas outside of just acting. In this space, operations expanded exponentially with an added "Junior Stage" program for actors between the ages of 9-13, a separation between our artistic & educational departments, the expansion of private lessons, and a doubling of the number of program participants. With its new status as a nonprofit organization, unique challenges arose, including establishment of a Board of Directors, fundraising & outreach responsibilities, and commitment to community needs & service.

During the 2020 pandemic, many industries and organizations ceased operations entirely, but this became a time of intensive reflection and pivotal growth for the organization. With a staff that had tripled in size and the new Board of Directors, a formalized hierarchy that was required. At this time, Jillian & Jess stepped up as Executive Directors of the organization, while Judy stepped back to focus on her family & new grandchildren. During this time, Jillian & Jess tirelessly studied organizational policy and nonprofit development to create and implement structures on every level of the organization, preparing it for a future with functional teams, a strong culture, safe workspaces, and high standards in order to provide the "professional-quality" arts opportunities that the founders envisioned at the start of the organization.

In May of 2023, the founders felt it was necessary to rebrand the organization to better reflect the new vision and to captivate the spirit of the expanded work being done. This led from a rebrand of "JDP Theatre Co" to "East End Theatre & Performing Arts.”

"East End Theatre & Performing Arts" is a name & brand that was in development for many months. The new name incorporates the words "performing arts," which better-reflected all of the programs we offered that were more than "just theatre,” helped to eliminate misidentification and brand confusion within the larger community, and anchored our work in our home location of Eastern RI.

Today the company is booming, with participation skyrocketing up over 70 kids per show; new programs like "First Act" (musical theatre for ages 6-12), "The Overtones" (young adult acapella group), and "The Jr Tones" (teen acapella group); private lesson offerings expanded to include voice & dance, annual recitals & student showcases; five musicals per year; and major annual fundraisers like "The Pumpkin Patch" and "The Murder Mystery Dinner." The organization's presence in the community has been solidified as an integral part of the artistic & cultural vibrancy of East Providence & surrounding cities.

Without the unparalleled foundational work of Jillian, Judy, and Jess, East End Theatre & Performing Arts would not stand as the force to be reckoned with that it is today, and the Board of Directors are proud to carry out the vision of our three founders now and for many years to come.