We’re almost there! Thru various fundraisers, we have raised 65% of our $20K goal. Costs have risen for all of us, as you know. Producing a musical is expensive. If everyone, to whom we’re reaching out, contributes $20 we’ll easily complete our production budget.
There is a certain urgency at this time with LGBTQ+ civil rights being challenged in Legislatures throughout the country. The arts have always been a bulwark against repression. Help these voices be heard!
The musical is People Like That, produced by The Actors Studio of Newburyport in June 2026 at The Firehouse Center for The Arts in Newburyport.
Set in the 1980’s, the play is the story of two young women discovering who they are and how they love, and celebrates what it means to be seen, understood, and accepted. Each of us has judged or been judged, misunderstood, or made to feel like “that other person” at some point in our lives.
Please help us share this story. It is told with compassion, humor and beautiful music. It’s all about about love, identity, and the courage to live authentically.
MORE ABOUT THE PLAY:
My name is Deb Severo. I am working with The Actors Studio of Newburyport on this production. In 1996, my partner, Ellie Lee, wrote a musical called People Like That. Ellie never lived to see her work produced. Two battles with cancer stole her health, her creative energy, and ultimately her life on July 18, 2009. Before she passed, I made her a promise: I would bring this story to the stage.
That promise became reality in 2019 when People Like That premiered to enthusiastic audiences and strong reviews. We have developed the play based on its initial success and are excited to present this enhanced version. Set in 1983, the musical celebrates the purity and courage of love as it unfolds between two young women, while honestly portraying the obstacles they face as they try to build a future together.
People Like That is a musical that dares to love out loud. It is hopeful, affirming, and deeply human—offering visibility to those who have too often been pushed into the shadows.
Thank you for standing with us—and for believing in the power of love, art, and visibility.