Women of ‘76

Experience the untold stories of courage and conviction of five remarkable women who witnessed and shaped the American Revolution.

As part of our America 250 programming, Essex Historical Society (EHS) is excited to present special events that bring lesser-known stories of America’s past to the forefront.

Step into the untold side of the American Revolution on Sunday, May 24 at 4:00 pm at Centerbrook Meeting House, as EHS welcomes Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions for a powerful solo theatrical performance of Women of ’76. This richly costumed production explores the lives of real women who witnessed, documented, and in some cases directly influenced the course of the Revolution. Audiences will encounter figures rarely featured in history books, including Baroness Frederika von Riedesel, whose journals vividly describe the chaos of war; Prudence Wright, the Massachusetts patriot who led a militia of women to capture Tory spies; Nancy Hart, the fearless Georgia frontierswoman who confronted British soldiers; Mary Katharine Goddard, the printer who boldly published the first Declaration of Independence naming its signers; and Mary Gould Almy, a loyalist diarist whose accounts chronicle the siege of Newport. Together, their stories—patriot and loyalist, American and foreign—reveal a deeper, more complex portrait of the Revolutionary era.

Rita Parisi, an accomplished actress and playwright, has toured original solo works for more than twenty years. Since founding Waterfall Productions in 2005, she has brought historical narratives to life for audiences throughout New England and beyond. A proud member of SAG-AFTRA, her work has appeared on stage and screen, including features at the Boston International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.

Don’t miss this compelling performance that gives voice to the women of the Revolution. For more information, please contact Essex Historical Society at membership@essexhistory.org