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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260806T080000
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Paul Cauthen at the UNITED Theatre
DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Paul Cauthen at the UNITED Theatre brings the East Texas singer-songwriter to downtown Westerly on Friday\, August 7\, for a night of country music with an outlaw streak. Cauthen takes over the UNITED’s Black Box Auditorium with a sound that moves between traditional country\, Southern soul and hard-driving rock\, backed by one of the most unmistakable voices in modern country music. \nCauthen isn’t an artist who fits comfortably into one corner of country. Raised in a family of preachers\, he grew up surrounded by music and eventually developed a booming baritone that can carry a gospel-influenced ballad just as convincingly as a swaggering country-rock song. His records have increasingly pushed against genre lines while keeping Texas storytelling at their center. \nThe Westerly performance is part of the UNITED’s “Nashville North” initiative\, which brings country and Americana artists from around the country to Rhode Island through concerts and other cultural programs. Doors open at 7 p.m.\, with Cauthen taking the stage at 8 p.m. for an all-ages show. \nAbout Paul Cauthen\nCauthen grew up in East Texas and first gained national attention as one half of the Americana duo Sons of Fathers before beginning his solo career. His solo work has allowed him to stretch far beyond conventional country\, mixing old-school influences with rock\, soul\, gospel and flashes of funk. \nThat willingness to take chances is particularly evident on Black on Black\, his 2024 studio album. The 12-song record leans into gritty country rock while continuing the musical experimentation that has become a hallmark of his career. \nOnstage\, it’s Cauthen’s voice that ties those different sounds together. His deep baritone and larger-than-life delivery have become central to his reputation as a live performer\, whether he’s leaning into a quiet lyric or letting the full band loose behind him. \nWhat to Expect\nThis is billed as An Evening with Paul Cauthen\, with no opening act listed by the UNITED. That puts the focus entirely on Cauthen and his catalog. \nFans can expect the collision of sounds that has defined his solo career: classic country storytelling\, Texas grit and a rock-and-roll edge. It’s a combination that should translate particularly well to the UNITED’s Black Box Auditorium\, a flexible performance space that puts audiences much closer to the stage than a traditional arena concert. \nNashville North at the UNITED\nThe concert is part of the UNITED’s Nashville North initiative\, an ongoing cultural exchange celebrating country and Americana music. The program brings performers and other creative partners from Nashville and around the country to Westerly for performances\, education and arts programming. \nThe UNITED itself occupies a restored 1926 theater in downtown Westerly and now operates as a nonprofit regional arts center with live performance spaces\, cinemas\, a gallery and music education facilities. \nTickets\nTickets range from $42 to $50\, with fees included in the listed price. Tickets purchased for UNITED events are non-refundable and non-transferable. The theater also warns guests against purchasing from third-party sellers. \nEvent Details\nDate\nFriday\, August 7\, 2026 \nDoors\n7:00 p.m. \nShow\n8:00 p.m. \nLocation\nUnited Theatre – Black Box Auditorium \nAddress\n5 Canal Street\nWesterly\, RI 02891 \nAdmission\n$42–$50\, fees included \nAge Restrictions\nAll ages \nAccessibility\nThe UNITED is wheelchair accessible and offers assistive devices. Guests attending live performances who need accessible seating are encouraged to contact the box office before purchasing tickets. \nImportant Notes\nTickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. The UNITED is not responsible for tickets purchased through third-party sellers. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/an-evening-with-paul-cauthen-at-the-united-theatre/
LOCATION:RI
CATEGORIES:United Theater
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/An-Evening-with-Paul-Cauthen-at-the-UNITED-Theatre-Friday-August-7-8pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T220000
DTSTAMP:20260806T023844Z
CREATED:20260806T023844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T023844Z
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SUMMARY:The 502s – The Up\, Up\, Up The Coast and Across The Pond Tour
DESCRIPTION:The 502s – The Up\, Up\, Up The Coast and Across The Pond Tour arrives at the UNITED Theatre in Westerly on Saturday\, August 8\, bringing the Orlando-based indie folk band’s upbeat sound to Rhode Island for an all-ages concert. Special guests Late Night Thoughts open the evening\, kicking off a night filled with energetic performances and sing-along anthems. \nKnown as “the happiest band on Earth\,” The 502s have built a devoted following with their blend of indie folk\, Americana\, pop\, and beach-inspired storytelling. Their concerts are less about standing still and more about celebrating together\, with audiences singing\, clapping\, and dancing from the opening song through the encore. \nSet inside the beautifully restored UNITED Theatre\, the concert offers fans the chance to experience one of today’s fastest-rising folk-pop bands in an intimate venue known for its exceptional sound and welcoming atmosphere. \nAbout The 502s\nFormed in Orlando\, Florida\, The 502s have become known for crafting joyful\, feel-good songs filled with infectious melodies\, acoustic instruments\, and uplifting lyrics. Their music blends folk\, indie rock\, pop\, and Americana into a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. \nTheir 2025 album Easy Street takes listeners to an imaginary beach town where sunshine\, friendship\, and carefree living set the tone. The concept album showcases the band’s playful songwriting while expanding their signature sound. \nAmong the album’s standout tracks is “Your Nonsense Makes Sense\,” an upbeat anthem celebrating friendship\, individuality\, and finding joy in life’s everyday moments. \nA High-Energy Live Show\nThe 502s have earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining live bands on the touring circuit. Their concerts feature spirited vocals\, acoustic guitars\, banjo\, mandolin\, horns\, and audience participation that transforms every show into a communal celebration. \nFans can expect a mix of newer songs from Easy Street alongside many of the band’s most popular favorites. \nOpening Act\nThe evening begins with a performance by Late Night Thoughts\, setting the stage before The 502s take over for the headlining performance. \nEvent Details\nDate\nSaturday\, August 8\, 2026 \nDoors Open\n7:00 p.m. \nShow Time\n8:00 p.m. \nLocation\nUNITED Theatre \nAddress\n5 Canal Street\nWesterly\, RI 02891 \nAdmission\nFloor Standing: $35 (fees included)\nBalcony Seating: $55 (fees included) \nParking\nPublic parking is available throughout downtown Westerly. \nAge Restrictions\nAll ages. \nImportant Notes\nFloor tickets are standing room only. Balcony tickets include reserved seating. Doors open one hour before the performance. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-502s-the-up-up-up-the-coast-and-across-the-pond-tour/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-502s-The-Up-Up-Up-The-Coast-and-Across-the-Pond-Tour-with-Special-Guests-Late-Night-Thoughts-Saturday-August-8.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T220000
DTSTAMP:20260810T024005Z
CREATED:20260810T024005Z
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SUMMARY:UNITED We Laugh (August 2026)
DESCRIPTION:UNITED We Laugh (August 2026) brings another night of stand-up comedy to the UNITED Theatre in downtown Westerly on Friday\, August 14\, with Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Famer Ace Aceto headlining a five-comic lineup. The monthly series draws performers from across New England and the Northeast\, giving audiences a rotating comedy club-style show without leaving Westerly. \nAugust’s lineup features headliner Ace Aceto\, along with Dan Altano\, Emily Siero\, RA Bartlett\, and host Tad Flynn. With several comedians sharing the bill\, the format gives each performer a chance to bring a different voice and style to the stage rather than stretching one act across an entire evening. \nThis month’s headliner also has deep Rhode Island roots. Aceto began performing stand-up in Providence in 1989 and has spent more than three decades working comedy clubs\, colleges\, casinos\, corporate events and theaters throughout the Northeast. In 2016\, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. (Ace Aceto Comedy) \nAugust Comedy Lineup\nThe August edition of UNITED We Laugh features: \nAce Aceto – Headliner\nDan Altano\nEmily Siero\nRA Bartlett\nTad Flynn – Host \nThe rotating lineup is part of the appeal of UNITED We Laugh. Each month’s show brings together comedians from a regional talent pool stretching from New Jersey through Boston. \nAbout Ace Aceto\nRhode Island native Ace Aceto got his start at Providence’s Periwinkles Comedy Club in 1989\, entering the business during the stand-up boom that produced a generation of New England comics. A year later\, he was among 10 finalists selected to be filmed for programming associated with what was then The Comedy Channel\, which became Comedy Central. (Pyramidentertainment.com) \nMore than 30 years later\, Aceto remains a fixture of the New England comedy circuit. His act combines observational humor\, quick wit and impressions\, a skill he’s been developing since childhood. His Italian-Catholic upbringing and everyday experiences provide plenty of additional material. (Ace Aceto Comedy) \nAceto has appeared frequently on WPRI’s The Rhode Show and WPRO radio and has performed at clubs\, colleges\, fundraisers and corporate events throughout the Northeast. His longevity in the state’s comedy scene was recognized in 2016 when he was inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. (Funny4Funds) \nHe’s also a comedy producer. Aceto created the Royal Flush Comedy Show\, a multi-comic showcase that ran regularly for four years at Newport Grand Casino before expanding to other venues around the Northeast. (Ace Aceto Comedy) \nAce Aceto official website \nA Monthly Night of Stand-Up\nUNITED We Laugh isn’t tied to a single touring comedian. Instead\, the series operates as a recurring showcase\, bringing several performers together for each edition. \nThat makes it a good entry point for people who enjoy stand-up but may not already know every name on the bill. One ticket provides several different comedic styles and a chance to discover performers working throughout the Northeast. \nEvent Details\nDate\nFriday\, August 14\, 2026 \nTime\n7:00 p.m. \nLocation\nUNITED Theatre \nAddress\n5 Canal Street\nWesterly\, RI \nAdmission\n$20 \nAge Restrictions\n18+ \nImportant Notes\nUNITED We Laugh features a rotating lineup of stand-up comedians. The August show is headlined by Ace Aceto with Dan Altano\, Emily Siero\, RA Bartlett and host Tad Flynn. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/united-we-laugh-august-2026/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/UNITED-We-Laugh-Friday-August-14-with-Rhode-Island-Comedy-Hall-of-Fame-Winner-Ace-Aceto.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T210000
DTSTAMP:20260813T154414Z
CREATED:20260813T154414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T154414Z
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SUMMARY:Always: The Love Story of Irving Berlin at the UNITED Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Always: The Love Story of Irving Berlin brings the music and surprisingly dramatic personal story of one of America’s greatest songwriters to Westerly on Saturday\, August 15. Cabaret stars KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler perform the show as part of the George Moore Cabaret Series at the UNITED Theatre\, using Berlin’s own songs to tell the story of his life and his marriage to heiress Ellin Mackay. (United Theatre) \nThis isn’t a conventional Irving Berlin tribute concert. Sullivan and Nadler sing\, narrate and reenact moments from Berlin’s life\, weaving familiar standards and lesser-known songs into the story according to what was happening to him at the time. The result sits somewhere between cabaret\, musical theater and biography. \nAt its center is a love story that once made national headlines. \nIrving Berlin and Ellin Mackay\nBy the 1920s\, Irving Berlin had already risen from an impoverished immigrant childhood on New York’s Lower East Side to become one of America’s most successful songwriters. \nThen he fell in love with Ellin Mackay\, the daughter of wealthy financier Clarence Mackay. \nThere was a problem. Berlin was a Jewish immigrant who had grown up poor. Mackay was a Catholic heiress from one of America’s wealthiest families\, and her father strongly opposed the relationship. \nThe couple married in 1926 despite his objections. Berlin reportedly gave Ellin the royalties to his song “Always” as a wedding gift\, providing the title and emotional centerpiece for the show. \nTheir marriage lasted more than six decades\, until Ellin’s death in 1988. (The Love Story of Irving Berlin) \nBerlin’s Songs Tell the Story\nRather than stopping the story for a string of hits\, Always uses Berlin’s music as part of the narrative. \nSongs are performed in full or combined into medleys that follow different periods of Berlin’s life. The repertoire includes music associated with his romance with Ellin as well as his career\, his immigrant experience and his contributions during two World Wars. \nAmong the songs associated with the production are “Cheek to Cheek\,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance\,” “I Got Lost in His Arms\,” “Oh\, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning\,” “God Bless America” and\, naturally\, “Always.” \nIt’s quite a catalog to draw from. Berlin’s career stretched from Tin Pan Alley through Broadway and Hollywood\, producing songs that remained part of American popular culture long after the era in which they were written. \nThe production has received the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs Award for Outstanding Revue and was nominated for both Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel awards. \nKT Sullivan and Mark Nadler\nThe story is performed by two artists with deep roots in New York cabaret and the Great American Songbook. \nKT Sullivan starred on Broadway in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and spent more than two decades performing at the Oak Room at New York’s Algonquin Hotel. She has also performed at venues including Birdland in New York and Crazy Coqs in London and became artistic director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation in 2012. \nMark Nadler brings an unusually broad skill set to the other side of the stage. He’s a singer\, pianist\, comedian and tap dancer whose career has included Broadway\, Off-Broadway\, cabaret and concert performances. \nHis Off-Broadway production I’m a Stranger Here Myself earned a Drama Desk nomination\, and Nadler has appeared at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops as well as with orchestras around the country. His Broadway credits include Dame Edna: The Royal Tour. \nSullivan and Nadler have collaborated extensively\, particularly on shows built around the Great American Songbook\, which makes Always less a pairing of two performers than a production developed by artists who know how to play off one another. \nPart of the George Moore Cabaret Series\nThe Westerly performance is presented as part of the UNITED’s George Moore Cabaret Series\, bringing the production into the theater’s more intimate Black Box Auditorium. \nThat setting should fit this particular show especially well. Always isn’t built around elaborate scenery or a large ensemble. The focus remains on Sullivan\, Nadler\, the storytelling and Berlin’s music. \nThe UNITED itself has come full circle in a way that feels appropriate for an Irving Berlin show. The theater originally opened in 1926 as a vaudeville venue\, the same year Berlin and Ellin Mackay were married. It later became a movie theater before closing in 1986. After an extensive restoration\, the UNITED reopened in 2021 as a regional arts center for film\, concerts\, theater and educational programs. \nSo a century after the building first welcomed audiences\, two cabaret performers will take its stage to tell a love story that also began in 1926. \nEvent Details\nDate: Saturday\, August 15\, 2026 \nTime: 7:30 p.m. \nEvent: Always: The Love Story of Irving Berlin \nSeries: George Moore Cabaret Series \nPerformers: KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler \nLocation: United Theatre \nPerformance Space: UNITED Black Box Auditorium \nAddress: 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI 02891 \nBox Office: (401) 388-8208 \nAccessibility: The UNITED is wheelchair accessible. Guests requiring accessible seating for live performances are encouraged to contact the box office before purchasing tickets. \nTicket Policy: Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. The UNITED advises purchasing through its official ticketing system rather than third-party sellers. \nMore Information\nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/always-the-love-story-of-irving-berlin-at-the-united-theatre/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Always-The-Love-Story-of-Irving-Berlin-at-the-UNITED-Theatre-Saturday-August-15-730-pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260822T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260822T213000
DTSTAMP:20260820T135326Z
CREATED:20260820T135326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T135326Z
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SUMMARY:Parlando Presents: American Aristocracy
DESCRIPTION:sParlando Presents: American Aristocracy brings a piece of Westerly’s own movie history back to the screen Saturday\, August 22\, as the 1916 silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks is accompanied by a live chamber orchestra at the UNITED Theatre. \nThe 7:30 p.m. performance pairs a rare screening of American Aristocracy with a newly created orchestral score performed by Parlando\, a New York-based chamber orchestra founded and conducted by Ian Niederhoffer. \nWhat makes the evening especially unusual is its local connection. More than a century before Westerly became home to a restored movie theater and arts center\, Fairbanks and a film crew were using Westerly and Watch Hill themselves as movie locations. \nA Silent Movie Made in Westerly and Watch Hill\nReleased in 1916\, American Aristocracy stars Fairbanks as Cassius Lee\, an amateur entomologist who becomes entangled in romance\, mistaken identities and an international gunrunning scheme. \nFairbanks was already emerging as one of the biggest personalities of the silent-film era. He would later become famous for swashbuckling pictures including The Mark of Zorro\, Robin Hood and The Thief of Bagdad\, and would become one of the founders of United Artists alongside Mary Pickford\, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith. \nBut American Aristocracy has another distinction for local audiences: portions were filmed in Westerly and Watch Hill. \nThe connection wasn’t accidental. Contemporary reporting cited by Parlando notes that Fairbanks was staying in Watch Hill with his in-laws when the film was made. When the finished movie reached Westerly later in 1916\, it was advertised for a local showing at the Bliven Opera House. \nMore than a century later\, audiences can watch those images of the area on a movie screen only a short distance from where some of them were captured. \nA New Score Performed Live\nSilent films were never intended to be truly silent. \nDuring the era\, movies were commonly accompanied by live music ranging from a single pianist or organist to larger ensembles. The music supplied emotion\, tension and momentum that modern audiences now expect to hear as part of a film soundtrack. \nParlando is recreating that experience with a score specifically assembled for American Aristocracy. \nRather than placing contemporary music underneath the 1916 images\, the orchestra’s score is constructed entirely from works by New England composers who were active around the time the movie was made. \nThe result connects the film not only to the place where it was shot\, but to the musical world surrounding New England during the same period. \nAbout Parlando\nFounded in 2019 by conductor Ian Niederhoffer\, Parlando approaches classical concerts through storytelling. \nInstead of simply presenting a sequence of compositions\, the New York chamber orchestra builds programs around a central idea and provides audiences with historical and musical context for what they’re about to hear. \nIts programs frequently combine familiar works with music by lesser-known or underrepresented composers\, connecting them through a larger narrative rather than presenting unusual pieces simply as curiosities. \nThat philosophy makes American Aristocracy a particularly natural project for the ensemble. Here\, the story surrounding the music is literally playing on the screen while the orchestra performs. \nParlando has established a growing presence on New York’s classical music scene and performs regularly at venues including Merkin Hall. The ensemble has also released its debut album\, Censored Anthems\, examining music and cultural resilience under Soviet censorship. \nAn Encore for Westerly\nThere’s another wrinkle to the August 22 performance: this isn’t the first time Parlando has brought the project to Westerly. \nThe orchestra presented American Aristocracy at the UNITED in August 2025. The local connection proved strong enough for the production to return almost exactly one year later. \nThat makes the 2026 performance something of an encore\, giving audiences another opportunity to experience a movie made locally 110 years ago with live orchestral accompaniment. \nInside the UNITED Theatre\nThe setting adds another layer of local history. \nThe UNITED originally opened in downtown Westerly in 1926\, a decade after American Aristocracy was released. After decades as a movie theater\, it eventually closed before undergoing an extensive restoration and reopening in 2021 as a nonprofit regional arts center. \nToday\, the complex combines cinemas with live-performance spaces\, a gallery and arts education programming. \nAmerican Aristocracy will be presented in the UNITED Black Box Auditorium as a fully seated performance with tiered seating. \nSo the evening brings together several generations of Westerly entertainment history: a movie filmed locally in 1916\, presented inside a theater whose own history dates to 1926\, accompanied by a 21st-century orchestra using music rooted in the film’s own era. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Parlando Presents: American Aristocracy\nDate: Saturday\, August 22\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m.\nLocation: UNITED Black Box Auditorium\nVenue: The UNITED Theatre\nAddress: 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nTickets: $40–$50 \nTickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.h
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/parlando-presents-american-aristocracy/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Parlando-Presents-American-Aristocracy.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260823T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260823T193000
DTSTAMP:20260820T161050Z
CREATED:20260820T161050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T161050Z
UID:10007238-1787506200-1787513400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Women of ’76: A Theatrical Tribute to Lesser-Known Women of the American Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Women of ’76: A Theatrical Tribute to Lesser-Known Women of the American Revolution brings five remarkable Revolutionary-era women to life at the UNITED Theatre in Westerly on Sunday\, August 23. \nPresented at 5:30 p.m. in the UNITED Main Cinema\, the one-woman theatrical performance stars actor and playwright Rita Parisi\, who uses period clothing\, changing characters and historical storytelling to introduce audiences to women whose experiences rarely receive the attention given to the Revolution’s generals and Founding Fathers. \nThe performance is presented by the League of Women Voters of South County in recognition of Women’s Equality Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States. \nFive Women\, Five Very Different Revolutions\nThe American Revolution wasn’t experienced from a single point of view. \nWomen of ’76 follows five women from different backgrounds and allegiances\, including Patriots and Loyalists and women born both in America and abroad. Some witnessed history unfolding around them. Others actively changed its course. \nAmong the stories is that of a Massachusetts housewife who organized an all-female militia and helped capture suspected British spies. \nAnother follows a German baroness who accompanied her Hessian general husband into British military camps\, providing a very different perspective on a conflict usually told from the American side. \nAudiences will also meet a Georgia farmer’s wife who confronted a Redcoat search party by herself. \nTwo additional women complete the performance\, allowing Parisi to move among different regions\, social positions and loyalties while examining what revolution looked like to people who weren’t sitting in the Continental Congress. \nOne of the Women Has a New London Connection\nOne story has an especially strong connection to southeastern Connecticut. \nMary Katherine Goddard\, one of the women featured in the program\, was born in New London in 1738. \nGoddard became a printer\, newspaper publisher and postmaster in Baltimore. Her place in Revolutionary history became particularly significant after the Declaration of Independence had been adopted. \nIn January 1777\, Goddard printed the first broadside of the Declaration to publicly include the names of most of its signers. \nHer own name appeared at the bottom as printer. \nThat detail makes Goddard an especially fitting subject for Women of ’76. She wasn’t standing on a battlefield\, but she played a role in physically distributing the words and names that publicly committed the signers to the Revolution. \nHer inclusion also gives Sunday’s Westerly audience a direct regional connection to the larger national story. \nRita Parisi Brings History to the Stage\nRather than presenting these stories as a conventional history lecture\, Rita Parisi performs them. \nParisi is an actor and playwright who founded Waterfall Productions in 2005. For more than two decades\, she has toured original solo theatrical works throughout New England\, the Mid-Atlantic and Florida. \nHer specialty is historical and literary performance. \nPeriod costumes\, changes in dialect\, physical mannerisms and character monologues allow Parisi to move between historical figures while providing the context audiences need to understand the world surrounding them. \nHer work has been supported by more than 100 arts and cultural grants\, and her performances have appeared at libraries\, museums\, historical societies and cultural organizations around the region. \nWomen of ’76 is particularly suited to that approach. Instead of reducing these women to names and dates\, the theatrical format attempts to restore something history books can’t easily provide: a voice. \nLooking Beyond the Founding Fathers\nThe performance arrives during the national celebration of America’s 250th anniversary\, providing an opportunity to reconsider whose stories are included when Americans talk about the country’s founding. \nWomen couldn’t vote. They couldn’t hold elected office. Their legal and economic rights were severely restricted compared with those of men. \nYet they operated farms and businesses\, published newspapers\, traveled with armies\, gathered information\, supported military efforts and lived with the consequences of a war unfolding around their homes. \nLoyalist women complicate the story further. Independence wasn’t universally supported\, and families and communities could find themselves divided by the Revolution. \nBy placing women with different loyalties and backgrounds together in a single performance\, Women of ’76 presents the Revolution as something messier and more human than a simple procession toward July 4\, 1776. \nCelebrating Women’s Equality Day\nThe timing of the performance also connects Revolutionary history with another chapter in the long struggle over American citizenship. \nWomen’s Equality Day is observed August 26\, commemorating the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920\, which prohibited denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. \nThe League of Women Voters itself emerged directly from the women’s suffrage movement\, making its presentation of Women of ’76 particularly appropriate. \nThe performance reaches farther back\, asking audiences to consider women who helped shape the country generations before women gained constitutional protection for their voting rights. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Women of ’76: A Theatrical Tribute to Lesser-Known Women of the American Revolution\nDate: Sunday\, August 23\, 2026\nTime: 5:30 p.m.\nLocation: UNITED Main Cinema\nVenue: The UNITED Theatre\nAddress: 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nPresented by: League of Women Voters of South County \nThe approximately one-hour solo theatrical performance features actor and playwright Rita Parisi portraying women from different sides and backgrounds during the American Revolution. \nMore information is available at the Event Website listed below. \nTo purchase or reserve admission\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/women-of-76-a-theatrical-tribute-to-lesser-known-women-of-the-american-revolution/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
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