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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.
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.
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.
Recipient of Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities mini-grant (3-site tour), October 1997
Recipient of Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities grant (11-site statewide tour), April 1994
Recipient of local Arts Lottery grant funding, 1992 to present
Recipient of Cambridge Arts Lottery grant for research and development, 1987
Recipient of Boston Arts Lottery grant for research and development of Susanna Rowson, 1985
Jessa Piaia studied performance at London's Oval House Theatre and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Her first dramatic portrayal--of Amelia Earhart--was staged at the International Women's Day Festival in Milwaukee in 1978.
Jessa currently works in the Anthropology 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.
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