Above: Patrice Jean-Baptiste in the African Meetinghouse sanctuary. Photo by Lauren Miller
By Gage Vieno
Reporter Fellow
A new play that brings one of Boston’s most influential civil rights pioneers back into the spotlight will make its world premiere in Dorchester later this month (July 18-Aug. 8), as Company One Theatre returns to the Strand Theatre with performances of “A New Era,” a story about the legacy of an impactful journalist, suffragist, and civic activist.
Written by Boston playwright Miranda Austen ADEkoje and directed by Summer L. Williams, who blend historical research with contemporary storytelling, “A New Era” features Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, the founder of The Woman’s Era newspaper and a namesake club that she ran out of her home at 103 Charles Street on Beacon Hill for many of its early years.
Set in 1895, the play follows Ruffin as she convenes the First National Conference of the Colored Women in Boston, bringing together women from across the country to forge a united movement during a period of deep political division.
Playwright Miranda Austen ADEkoje and director Summer L. Williams. Photo by Annielly Camargo
“Miranda is a Boston writer whose work demands attention,” Williams said in a statement announcing the production. “While deeply grounded in historical context and research, “A New Era” isn’t a dry reenactment – it’s a story about Black women in Boston, written by a Black woman from Boston, bringing their legacy to life for the present day.”
The production stars Patrice Jean-Baptiste as Ruffin and features a cast of eight portraying prominent Black women leaders whose work helped shape the progress of the national movement for racial justice and women’s rights.
Artistic director Shawn LaCount said the production speaks to ongoing struggles for racial justice and civic participation.
“In 2026, we’re in a political moment parallel to that faced by the women of “A New Era,” LaCount said. “Black women have played a critical role in the struggle for racial justice and gender equality throughout our country’s history. To honor these civil rights pioneers like Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, we need to take up their mantle and fight for liberation for all.”
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
Originally commissioned by the National Park Service and developed through Plays in Place, “A New Era” marks Company One’s sixth production at the Strand. Previous ones included “The Meeting Tree,” “Hoops,” “The Boy Who Kissed the Sky,” “can i touch it?” and “Leftovers.”
The company notes that presenting performances at the Strand is part of its commitment to producing new works rooted in Boston communities. Tickets are available now at companyone.org all offered on a pay-what-you-want basis, continuing its longstanding effort to make professional theater accessible to all audiences.
The company added that it plans to partner with local organizations for post-show conversations and community engagement events throughout the production’s run.
