ABOUT US.
The story of who we are and the work we love.
The Endangered Species theatre Project is a company which produces inclusive, intergenerational theatre featuring women 40+ and other underrepresented artists.
Use this page to explore our cause, our story, our theatres, our projects and more.
Movies will make you famous; Television will make you rich; But theatre will make you good.
― Terrence Mann
OUR CAUSE
ESPtheatre’s mission is to bring enjoyment and understanding through live theatre that proactively focuses on diverse representation to our community. We do this by:
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giving voice to forgotten plays and playwrights;
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producing and sponsoring local artists who stage/promote/celebrate productions that increase representation of women over age 40 and other historically excluded artists on the stage; and
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making vital connections between people of all generations.
At ESP, we believe that art can provide a way for engaged citizens to better understand and more competently navigate difficult times such as these. We will continue to tell the stories that need to be told as a part of an ongoing struggle to make this society all that it can and should be.
WE AIM TO:
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Hire at least 50% women (cis or trans) both on our stages and backstage,
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educate ourselves on anti-racism and be actively involved in color-aware and anti-racist casting, and
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open roles to actors of all genders, abilities, and ages—and to actively work and train to be as inclusive as possible.
OUR STORY
The Endangered Species theatre Project officially began as a group of friends putting together a project to increase representation on our stages of women over 40 and other historically excluded artists. We began on May 1, 2018 with a focus on Forgotten Plays. We performed three Rachel Crother Pieces and a series of poetry and plays from Georgia Douglas Johnson.
That summer, we presented Ten by Tennessee—a production of Tennessee Williams’ little known short plays which featured strong female characters between 40 and 70 years-old (alongside younger actors). The show performed at Sky Stage in July and August. By summer of 2019, our Artistic Director, Christine Mosere, with Hood College Professor and artist Aaron Angello formed the Frederick Shakespeare Festival.
Our only photo of Ten by Tennessee from 2018.
Cast and crew of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the first Frederick Shakespeare Festival in 2019.
THEATRES
We have performances at a variety of venues around Frederick.
ESPLOFT
Our intimate performance space in a historic building in downtown Frederick.
16 E Patrick St, 2nd floor
Frederick, MD 21701
NEW SPIRE ARTS
A newly built black-box theatre operated by the Weinberg Center for the Arts.
15 W Patrick St
Frederick, MD 21701
SKY STAGE
An enchanting open-air theatre in the remains of a
pre-revolution building.
59 S Carroll St
Frederick, MD 21701
HODSON OUTDOOR THEATER
A green, grassy open-air theatre at Hood College where FSF performances are held.
Blazer Trail
Frederick, MD 21701
OUR PROJECTS
Some of our notable ongoing projects.
FREDERICK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
An annual summer festival of fully-staged outdoor Shakespeare plays.
FORGOTTEN PLAYS
A series of staged readings to revive unknown plays from history.
SHERLOCK SUNDAYS
A series of staged readings of Sherlock Holmes radio plays.
OUR TEAM
Artistic Director & Founder
Christine Mosere
Associate Artistic Director
Deanna Kinzie