Shows for Valentine's & Mother's Day
Add the perfect touch to your Mother's Day and Valentine's Day events.
💞Victorian Courtship Tea
Step Back in Time to Romance and Refinement
with Mrs. Michael Gordon
How did respectable young ladies and gentlemen find love in the time of Queen Victoria? Why, through the delicate art of courtship, of course! A ritual steeped in etiquette, expectation, and just a touch of daring.
Join Mrs. Gordon as she fondly recalls how her husband courted her and the romantic customs of her youth—when flirtation was subtle, a fan spoke volumes, and a dance could change one’s destiny. From whispered gossip to scandalous glances across the ballroom, this presentation offers a charming glimpse into the romantic lives of a bygone era.
50-60 minute interactive performance
"Rita Parisi presents delightful performances of historic characters. It's clear how much research she does to bring characters to life, right down to the gloves and hats and the activities of daily life. Her dramatic presentations in the voice of the character entertain and inform at the same time. I have attended a number of her performances, and whenever I hear she's doing a new one I make sure not to miss it! Highly recommend as an event for your club, historical society, or school."
-Edith Maxwell, award winning author of the Quaker Midwife Mysteries
1908 Tea
Corsets, Change & a Shopping Trip to Boston
with Mrs. Michael Gordon
In 1908, the world was on the cusp of transformation. The strict traditions of the Victorian era were giving way to a more modern, fast-paced way of thinking and living.
Mrs. Gordon, having lived in both the 19th and 20th centuries, has plenty to say about these sweeping changes! In this lively and humorous presentation, she shares her thoughts on new technology, emerging sports, the latest fashions, beauty trends, and much more—all from the perspective of a woman navigating the changing times.
50-60 minute interactive performance
"Rita Parisi, as the character of an elegant fashionista from the turn of the last century, regaled her tea time guests with her observation on everything from the new (Filene's) Bargain Annex to the latest technologies of the time. The underlying theme of her performance is the subtle observations that show the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same." -Townsend MA Trilogy
Born Salamah bint Said, Princess of Zanzibar, in 1844, Emily Reute's life was one of extraordinary contrasts. Raised in a royal harem among dozens of siblings, she lived in a world of opulence sustained by the lucrative trade in ivory, spices—and enslaved people. Despite her cloistered upbringing, the young princess often ventured beyond the palace walls into the city streets and surrounding plantations, where she witnessed the increasing presence of European missionaries, traders, and colonists.
It was during these excursions that she met Rudolph Reute, a German merchant. In a bold and controversial move, she eloped with him to Germany, where she later converted to Christianity and adopted the name Emily Reute. Living in Europe gave her a unique vantage point from which to compare the roles and expectations of women in Muslim and Western societies.
65 minute performance with small set, printed programs for audience
and talk-back afterwards.
Ages 12 & up
"Rita Parisi, as the Arabian Princess of Zanzibar, created a fascinating performance for our Middlesex Institute of Lifelong Education. We not only time travelled through history and different countries and cultures but we also entered the mind and heart of this beautiful princess who crossed so many borders. Thank you for bringing her memoir to life. We hope to have you return to MILE with another production next year."
-Augusta Gonzalez, MILE Middlesex Community College
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is often remembered as the “crazy wife” of F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby. As one half of the Golden Couple of the 1920s, she was a dazzling icon of the Jazz Age and the inspiration behind many of Fitzgerald’s flapper heroines.
But before she became Zelda Fitzgerald, she was Zelda Sayre—the flamboyant belle of Montgomery, Alabama. The daughter of a prominent judge and an artistic mother, Zelda was notorious for her bold personality and unconventional antics. Her larger-than-life persona captivated the public both before and after her marriage, becoming the stuff of legend.
Though celebrated in her time, Zelda was far more than a glittering party girl or muse. She was a deeply creative and complex woman who struggled with schizophrenia for much of her life. She was also a devoted mother, an accomplished ballet dancer, a published writer, and a visual artist whose work was exhibited during her lifetime.
This original play pays tribute to Zelda as she truly was: a vibrant, misunderstood woman striving to define herself beyond the myths.
*Appropriate for mature teens and up.
65 minute performance with set, printed show program for audience and Q&A
"Thank you for kicking off the fall programming season with such a marvelous production.
I echo the audience's reaction: from the scenery to the professional level of the performance, we truly enjoyed a spectacular show here at Fort Lee. Your mastery of the character as well as the fabulous costume and set design was well appreciated by our patrons who are limited in their travel to New York!"
-Olga Kuharets
Former Program Coordinator, Fort Lee Public Library, NJ
