The Maids : A Play by Jean Genet, Upstairs at Notsuoh

Name: The Maids : A Play by Jean Genet, Upstairs at Notsuoh — notsuoH
Start: 2026-11-21T15:00:00-0600
End: 2026-11-24T21:00:00-0600

Saturday, November 21, 2026 3:00 PM
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 9:00 PM

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THE MAIDS by Jean Genet

Four performances at Notsuoh | November 21–24, 2026

Notsuoh welcomes a live theatrical production of The Maids, written by French playwright Jean Genet, translated by Bernard Frechtman, and directed by Jen Onopa.

First performed in 1947, The Maids is a dark, psychologically charged play about two sisters, Claire and Solange, who work as servants for a wealthy woman. Through elaborate rituals of role-playing and fantasy, the sisters explore their complicated relationships with each other, their employer, and the power structures that define their lives.

Blending psychological drama, theatrical illusion, and dark humor, The Maids explores themes of class, identity, resentment, and the shifting boundaries between performance and reality.

For this production, Jen Onopa has chosen Notsuoh as a site-specific setting for the classic play, transforming the second floor into an intimate theatrical space. Rather than building a traditional stage set, the production will incorporate the eclectic collection of chairs and couches gathered over the years by Notsuoh's founder, Jim Pirtle, making the building and its furnishings part of the experience.

Jen has brought together a wonderful local cast of actors, along with sound and lighting technicians and a dedicated production team who have been rehearsing both inside and outside the space. Together, they're creating a unique interpretation of The Maids, bringing live theater to Notsuoh's second floor in a way audiences haven't experienced before.Join us for four performances at Notsuoh, including a Saturday afternoon preview.

Meet the Director: Jen Onopa

Jen Onopa is a Houston-based theater director, deviser, and educator whose work emphasizes highly visual, collaborative, and often site-specific performance. She has directed productions in theaters and unconventional spaces across the United States and internationally, including work presented at the National Arts Festival in South Africa.

She is a Senior Teaching Artist at Houston's Alley Theatre, where she develops creative educational programs and works with students, educators, and communities. She is also a co-founder of the Re/Emergence Collective, a Massachusetts-based theater company focused on performance and community healing.

With more than 25 years of experience in theater and education, Jen brings an interest in experimental storytelling, creative collaboration, and the relationship between performance and the spaces in which it takes place.

Learn more about her work at www.jenniferonopa.org.