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 actors between the ages of 13 and 24. With limited resources, no reputation, and a handful of friends & family as volunteers, that first year was challenging and the three founders carried every responsibility of the organization, from using personal funds to sustain the programs to teaching the classes, running the camps, networking, and cleaning the floors.

In July of 2019, 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 the Church of The Epiphany in Rumford. This new location allowed for the expansion of the organization’s operations: the Junior Stage program was added to provide performance opportunities for late elementary & middle school actors, artistic & educational departments were delineated, and cast sizes gradually began to increase. 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.

As the organization moved past its "start-up" phase, Jillian & Jess stepped up as the official Executive Directors of the company, while Judy chose to take on a dedicated volunteer position as a member of the "Front of House & Event Planning Team", which she served in until making the difficult decision to step away from the company in 2024. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a stop in 2020, Jillian & Jess used their 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 and the support of dedicated staff & volunteers, Jillian & Jess were able to launch a series of robust new programs & fundraisers between 2020-2023. Some of these initiatives included:

• kickoff of traveling a capella groups for teens & young adults who performed 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)

• staging of four musicals per year across Main Stage & Junior Stage programs

• 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 children as young as 6-years old who weren’t ready for Junior Stage, but were showing interests in musical theatre

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 was becoming, 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

• gave the company a more professional feel

East End's 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.

Today, the company is seeing skyrocketing enrollment and participation, as well as a solidified presence in the community. By strategically phasing out some older programs to make room for new initiatives, East End is continuing to listen to the voices of our community members and taking Rhode Island by storm, as a result. Between 2024-2025, you have seen us:

• offer free theatre workshops at local libraries and other nonprofit organizations

• perform 5 shows per year across three programs that include actors from the ages of 6-27

• kick off quarterly "Mini Musical Intensives" for first-timers looking to dip their toes into a low-stakes, musical opportunity

• expand our Arts Education Showcase into a full-blown, annual recital in celebration of our private lesson students

• restructure First Act to be able to serve 25% more children per show, keeping them off of wait lists and engaged in the

• increase summer camp capacity from 60 kids to 100 kids per year

• strengthen our "Directors in Training" leadership pipeline for high school students

• lower the cost of our Main Stage program participation by 50% as a result of funding and scholarship, so that our young adults can stay on track with college and career responsibilities, while also keeping the joy of theatre in their lives

...and so much more. 

Through vision, dedication, and leadership, Jillian and Jess have grown East End Theatre & Performing Arts from a “cardboard & dreams” startup into a thriving, professional, and inclusive arts organization that continues to remain relevant and necessary for youth, families, and young adults. Their commitment to building strong systems, fostering creative opportunities and nurturing a culture of care and excellence has positioned East End as a cornerstone of artistic vitality in Rhode Island. With Jillian & Jess at the helm, the organization continues to grow, inspire, and shape the next generation of performers, leaders, and community members for years to come.