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 June of 2018 by Jillian Gesualdi, Judy de Perla, and Jessica Mayette, who worked together as teachers in the public school system and ran a self-sustaining after-school drama program for many years. Following a series of career shifts, the trio decided to establish an independent company that would continue and expand their work of providing performing arts opportunities for middle & high school-aged students 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 a rundown church space. Programming kicked off with one summer acting camp for teens; a series of American Sign Language, playwriting, & dance classes; and a Main Stage production of Legally Blonde: The Musical with a small cast of 16 teen actors. With limited resources, no reputation, and a handful of volunteers, 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 July of 2019, only one year after having opened, the founders secured the organization’s status as a 501c3 nonprofit and found a new home for the business in the versatile annex space at Church of The Epiphany in Rumford. This new location allowed for the expansion of the organization’s operations, with an added Junior Stage program that provided performance opportunities for elementary and middle school children, a separation between artistic & educational departments, and a gradual increase in cast size. The organization’s shift from LLC to nonprofit also led to the establishment of a Board of Directors, new outreach responsibilities, and a re-envisioned commitment to community service.

Amongst all of these pivotal changes, it became clear that the landscape of the organization had changed forever and that a formalized leadership hierarchy needed to be established. As a result, Jillian & Jess stepped up as Executive Directors of the company, while Judy chose to take on a volunteer role so she could focus on her growing family.

When the March 2020 pandemic brought the world to a stop, Jillian & Jess used the time to reflect and research. Tirelessly studying organizational policy and nonprofit development, the two were able to create systems on every level of the company: preparing it for a future with functional teams, a strong culture, safe workspaces, fair & equitable practices, protective policies, and high standards.

With formal systems now in place, Jillian & Jess were able to catapult a series of robust new programs & fundraisers between 2020-2023 to take the organization to the next level. Some of these included:

• kickoff of traveling a capella groups for teens & young adults who perform at festivals & important events like Read Across RI, local pride celebrations, etc. 

• expansion of private lessons to cover all areas of the performing arts beyond just acting (music, dance, piano, and voice)

• incorporation of annual recitals & student showcases

• staging of four musicals per year

• implementation of major annual fundraisers like The Pumpkin Patch and The Murder Mystery Dinner 

• development of the First Act program, which provides musical theatre education and experiences for younger children who weren’t ready for Junior Stage

In the winter of 2023, with five years of business under their belts, the organization underwent a legal name change and rebrand. To better reflect the vision, direction, and spirit of what the company had become, JDP Theatre Co was renamed East End Theatre & Performing Arts.

"East End Theatre & Performing Arts" is a name & brand that was in development for seven months. The new name:

• incorporated the phrase "performing arts," which represented all of the programs that were offered and were more than "just theatre"

• helped to eliminate misidentification and brand confusion within the larger community

• anchored the work we do to the eastern Rhode Island area

Our logo contains a shooting star blazing through the "E," which represents the I-way bridge that needs to be crossed to get to East Providence. The blend of professional & handwritten fonts represents the fact that the organization is a creative, artistic space, which is also a well-structured business that prides itself in ethical practices and professional interactions with participants, community partners, and families.

In February 2024, with the business having grown past its “start-up” period, the three founders underwent one final period of intensive reflection. At this time, Judy made the difficult decision to leave the organization in order to renew her focus on her family & new endeavors, while Jillian & Jess remained in their leadership roles, continuing to guide East End onto more exciting chapters. 

Today, the company is seeing skyrocketing enrollment & participation, as well as a solidified presence in the community. Between establishing meaningful partnerships with others at the state and city levels, offering branch programming outside of East End's walls, and strategic planning for a very bright future, Jillian & Jess have led East End to be vital for the artistic vibrancy of East Providence & surrounding cities... starting from the day that it was just a small idea that was joked about in a classroom between friends passing time on a free period one day.