Historical Characters

Jessa Piaia portrays

Women in History

What?

Jessa Piaia's character portrayals celebrate women of the past whose diverse lives span three centuries. In her poignant and inspiring dramatic vignettes, Jessa reveals the accomplishments, struggles, and contributions of these women to American history. Jessa depicts each woman's life set against the historic events and issues of the day.

Who?

Some of those portrayed--Amelia Earhart, Clara Barton, and Susan B. Anthony--achieved a place of prominence in history. Others, like Rachel Revere, Susanna Rowson, and Mary Dyer, may be less famliar to present-day audiences, but their lives deserve the attention Jessa gives them. Famous or not, all of these women can serve as role models for us today.

Where?

Jessa's performances take her to educational institutions, museums, public libraries, historical societies, worship services, women's groups and organizations. Past performance sites include the Museum of Our National Heritage, The Wenham Museum, Bentley College, Curry College, Simmons College, public schools throughout New England, National Parks in Boston, Charlestown, Quincy and Salem, SPNEA's Beauport Museum in Gloucester, and the Clara Barton Homestead Museum in North Oxford, Massachusetts.

"Susanna Rowson: An Eighteenth Century Woman" was awarded a Boston Arts Lottery grant for performances at The Bostonian Society. "Some of Our Sisters" and "Susan B. Anthony: A Singular Feminist," have received grants from local arts lotteries and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, with an eleven-site Massachusetts tour of Susan B. Anthony.

Jessa currently works in the Statistics Department at Harvard University. She conducts most of her historical research at the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe Institute which specializes in the history of women in America.

What People Are Saying:

"Jessa's portrayals are excellent in all aspects. Her work is a successful model for such programming: solid research, compelling writing, and the artistry to bring off a one-woman show, perhaps the most difficult kind of acting challenge."
    -- Carole Friedman, Former Director, 
      Somerville Museum

"Your dramatic presentation was touching, sad, amusing, and enlightening. You also interacted comfortably with the audience, answering their questions and listening to their comments. Thank you for your creativity, talent, research, and professionalism."
    -- Mary Jane Gillespie, Coordinator, 
      Northern Essex Community College

"You made a great impression on the audience. Comments from attendees on 'feedback' sheets that I had put out included, 'Jessa os a delight. She is wonderful, an excellent speaker.'"
     -- Fran Moore, Assistant Director, 
      Tewksbury Public Library