our mission
At East Boston Playhouse we strive to represent, celebrate, and elevate our ever-changing community by creating accessible, inclusive, and excellent theatre, for East Boston and our neighbors. We aspire to build a greater sense of belonging and unity by creating theatre by us, with us, and for us.
If we provide artistically rigorous space for theater makers of all backgrounds, generations, and skill levels, and audiences of all backgrounds and generations, attached to and aware of the East Boston neighborhood, then we create a more unified community, positively impact the local economy and develop a new cadre of skilled artists, and curious audiences.
our values
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We believe in the power of sharing and listening to story-telling from our past and present to create a greater sense of understanding, love, and compassion.
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We believe in the power of ownership and empowering artists to create a collaborative process where every person’s contribution is valued and acknowledged - creating high-quality, excellent theatre.
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We believe in equitable access to the arts by breaking any barriers created by classism, racism, ageism, ableism, sexism, and other inequities that keep people from participating in theatre, as artists and audiences.
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We believe in the power of learning from each other and that by including artists of varying skill levels we will share knowledge, encouragement and become stronger/confident theatre artists.
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We believe in the power of a shared experience that carries these values along with trust, empathy, care, joy, encouragement, open-mindness, and curiosity, creating a strong, reliable and supportive community.
our staff
Javiera Lagunas-Álvarez
Javi was attracted to the stage at a young age. She graduated from Salem State University with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Secondary Education and Spanish. In college, she worked as a Teaching Artist with high school students developing original performing pieces about community, identity, and youth leadership. She earned a Master of Education from Lesley University in the Community Arts program with a specialty in Theatre Arts. Currently, Javi is the Associate Director of Education at the Boch Center in Boston's Theatre District. Here she continues to work with teens from Boston using the arts to create change in the community. Lately you can usually find her lesson planning, teaching workshops, reading plays, directing, writing, and producing with the help of spreadsheets! She has directed and produced all of East Boston Playhouse's productions.
from the beginning...
Janet Castro
Janet graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts and a Minor in Music from Salem State University. During this time, she was employed at Movement City, a youth center in Lawrence, MA, where she was an Acting Teaching Artist and Director. With youth from the city she created original works including their successful musical titled, "In A Yellow Wood". She also briefly worked at the East Boston Camps as a counselor where she also taught theatre classes. In her spare time she continues to perform in the community whether it be in theatre or musical engagements. In 2015 she co-founded East Boston Playhouse and directed Fools, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Almost, Maine. She now resides in FL.
Candice has a BA in Theater Arts from Bridgewater State University. Since college, she has been able to travel abroad, starting drama clubs at schools and organizing theater programs for students. She taught in China for two years, producing the university’s first theatre production, Grease. She taught drama in the Boston Public Schools for three years, directing, and choreographing. In 2015, Candice co-founded East Boston Playhouse and directed their debut show, Peter Pan and Wendy, A Musical. She spent the last three years residing in Dubai with her family, where she helped to organize the First International Theater Festival at American University of Sharjah, and partnered with Aliti Productions in Dubai to direct and produce an original musical version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. She now resides in TN.