Theatre Espresso

Taking constitutional issues into schools around the state.

04/08/2025

“One of my life-long inspirations is the late actor, director, and activist Sydney Poitier. When I was young, I saw an interview where he told a story of enchanting an audience in his first stage performance. The experience spurred him to master his artistry so he could provide audiences with transporting experiences every time he performed.
“That alone was enough to inspire me, to reach the same goal in my own craft. But on top of that, he faced tremendous challenges, opened doors, and brought his sense of social justice to his art. The change he created influenced my artistic and career journey such that when I directed my debut production at my current institution, I requested the set designer include a photo of him on the set because: ‘If he hadn’t walked done what he did, I wouldn’t have made it where I am.’”

Thanks to Alan White () for sharing your memories in this week’s ! Stay tuned for more memories from the Theatre Espresso community as we celebrate 30 years!

04/02/2025

Photo caption: “Creative TE warm-ups” 🤗

A story from the trenches in this week’s Instagram takeover by former cast member Alan White () -

“During a performance at the Boston Federal Courthouse, a U.S. Marshal stormed into the room and shouted over the scene, “I don’t know what you’re doing in here, but you’re making a lot of noise and there’s a trial downstairs!” The room went dead silent. Backstage, our mouths hit the floor. Some of us grabbed each other’s arms and started saying, “Go on with show, just go on with the show” until we calmed down enough to continue.”

Never a dull moment when live performance is involved! Theatre Espresso is celebrating 30 years of bringing social justice issues to life for students through theater. Stay tuned for more from Alan this week!

01/26/2025

“These photos are all from my last performance of American Tapestry — backstage shots, plus load out at the gorgeous Lawrence Heritage Center. American Tapestry is about the Bread and Roses strike in 1912, when strikers fought for better pay and working conditions and paved the way for child labor laws that remain in place today. It’s really special to be able to perform that show in the exact place it occurred.”

Thanks to Liz Hartford () for sharing your memories in this week’s ! Stay tuned for more memories from the Theatre Espresso community as we celebrate 30 years!

01/14/2025

More behind the scenes in this week’s Instagram takeover by current cast member Liz Hartford () -

“I did a quick photo shoot between performances with former cast member Shelina. The Nine Who Dared: Crisis in Little Rock, a show about the nine black students who were the first to integrate in a white school, is one of my favorite Theatre Espresso shows, but also the most challenging. The subject matter is so powerful and impactful, but because it is still so relevant to today, it can be hard on both the performers and our young audiences. I hope we leave these students thinking about this show, the power they have, and the importance of equality and continuing the fight for change.”

Theatre Espresso is celebrating 30 years of bringing social justice issues to life for students through theater. Stay tuned for more from Liz this week!

01/09/2025

In celebration of Theatre Espresso’s 30th anniversary season, we’re showcasing members of our extended artistic community who help bring our mission to life. This week, we’re highlighting Liz Hartford (), a current cast member who joined Theatre Espresso's acting company in 2022.

MEET LIZ - Liz has been an actor and theatre educator in Boston since 2008, performing with lots of amazing theatre companies around town, as well as touring the country and globe on occasion to perform! Liz also directs youth theatre at the Ward After-School program in Newton, and is a Hospital Clown at Boston Children's Hospital with the Laughter League. She lives in JP with her cat Gabby.

TE ORIGIN STORY - "I first heard about Theatre Espresso when I babysat for former cast member Susan Lombardi-Verticelli's then baby girl (now a teenager!), arriving in the wee hours of the morning so Susan could make the 7am call to a TE performance! I auditioned a couple times, finally landing a role in 2022, when I was cast as Susan's replacement a couple years ago! Full circle moment (although a bummer we didn't overlap!)

FAVORITE TE MEMORY - "It's so hard to say....but maybe what sticks out recently, is about Berend-- our stage manager Nicole's 2 year old son who loves to tag along to our rehearsals (we love it too!) He's really absorbing the life of a theatre professional, and every time we are on a break, he spends the entire time toddling around telling everyone 'We starting in 2 minutes!'"

PHOTOS - "Backstage of Uprising on King Street as Theodore Bliss and Jane Whitehouse. Jane's costume is the most ornate costume I wore in that track, and I was onstage in it for less than 2 minutes. Final picture is after our last show of my first season! A success!"

Stay tuned for more from Liz this week!

12/03/2024

With 2025 on the horizon, Theatre Espresso knows our work is more crucial than ever. Our historical dramas empower students to explore the parallels between historical events and contemporary issues. By putting students in role as Supreme Court Justices, state senators, or members of a jury, our actors invite them to reflect on and debate the issues raised by our plays. We are committed to the idea that educational theatre provides an ideal learning medium for promoting civic engagement.
As our 30th anniversary season continues, please consider making a gift on this in multiples of thirty - anything from $30 to $300 and beyond!

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11/29/2024

With 2025 on the horizon, Theatre Espresso knows our work is more crucial than ever. Our historical dramas empower students to explore the parallels between historical events and contemporary issues. By putting students in role as Supreme Court Justices, state senators, or members of a jury, our actors invite them to reflect on and debate the issues raised by our plays. We are committed to the idea that educational theatre provides an ideal learning medium for promoting civic engagement.

As our 30th anniversary season continues, please consider making a gift on this in multiples of thirty - anything from $30 to $300 and beyond!

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11/26/2024

Theatre Espresso creates interactive, historical dramas to engage young people and challenge them to think critically about issues of human rights, social justice, and the law.

Our 30th anniversary season brings innovative dramas to students all over New England. Head to our website at theatreespresso.org to find out how you can book a show today!

11/22/2024

Fun Facts About 3️⃣0️⃣ For Our 30th Anniversary

• 30 is the total number of major and minor keys in Western tonal music.
• 30 is a square pyramidal number, or cannonball number, because the sum of the first four square numbers is 30.
• In Back to The Future, Marty McFly traveled 30 years back in time.
• There are 30 tracks on The Beatles‘ The White Album.
• The minimum age to become a U.S. Senator is 30.
• Cats have exactly 30 teeth.
• There are 30 upright stones that form the Sarsen Circle at Stonehenge.
• The 30th Anniversary Season of Theatre Espresso is going to be the best one yet!

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11/21/2024

Our 30th anniversary season is underway and you’re invited to the party! ✨ As 2024 comes to a close, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of the last thirty years as we continue our mission of presenting interactive, historical dramas to engage young people and challenge them to think critically about issues of human rights, social justice, and the law.

We looked it up: the customary gift for a thirtieth anniversary is pearl. But a more traditional monetary donation would be very welcome during this holiday giving season. We recommend a gift in multiples of thirty - please consider anything from $30 to $300 and beyond!

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11/02/2024

“This was gifted to me by the cast of . We didn’t have GPS back then, and as clear as the directions would be for whatever school we were going to, I would always get lost and find myself by a creepy shack in the woods. After they gave me the atlas, I would still get lost, but I’d have the atlas to use as a weapon.”

😱👍🏽😂

Thanks to Rodney Raftery () for sharing your memories in this week’s ! Stay tuned for more memories from the Theatre Espresso community as we celebrate 30 years!

Address

43 Boynton Street, Apt 1L
Jamaica Plain, MA
02130

Telephone

+16178792148

Website

http://www.theatreespresso.org/

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