1/23/13, Palm Desert, CA): The College of the Desert Dramatic Arts company has joined with activists around the world as part of ONE BILLION RISING, the largest call to action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. A wonderfully talented cast of women will take the Pollock Theatre stage the weekend of February 22nd, 2013, with a production of The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. All of the proceeds from the weekend long event will directly benefit Shelter From the Storm.
ONE BILLION RISING brings awareness to the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. During this 2013 season (V-Day’s 15th anniversary) C.O.D. joins activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and other college campuses across the world in a united stand of defiance against the injustices of violence against women. In 2012, over 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place around the world, educating millions of people. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $90 million, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, reopened shelters, and funded over 14,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses. Over 300 million people have seen a V-Day benefit event in their community.
“When we started V-Day 14 years ago, we had the outrageous idea we could end violence against women,” said author and V-Day founder Eve Ensler. “Now, we are both stunned and thrilled to see that this global action is truly escalating and gaining force, with union workers, parliament members, celebrities, students, and women of all backgrounds coming forward to join the campaign..”
The Vagina Monologues presents a poignant and hilarious celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery. Celebrated as the bible for a new generation of women, it has been performed in cities all across the world and at hundreds of college campuses. The Obie Award winning play, based on interviews with over 200 women, is witty, irreverent, compassionate and wise. The C.O.D. production is directed by Noemi Villela Dean. The show features an impressive ensemble female cast and crew made up of professional performers, students, professors, and alumni, including: Rainbow Casey, Jennifer Bennett, Briana Taylor, Jennifer Kiehl, Sandra Taylor Coleman, Karen Schmitt, Nina Charming, Shauna Holmes, Key’Toya Nelson, Veronica Mora, Brieana Holguin, Brittney DeLeon-Reyes, Liridona Leti, Anna Maria Julianelli, Miranda Hane, and Claudia Gomez.
Shelter From the Storm was first established in the Coachella Valley in 1988 as a non-profit corporation for the purpose of providing a safe haven for victims of domestic violence offering them protection from their abusers. The Shelter also focuses on empowering victims through counseling, training, and education. The organization’s 72-bed emergency shelter opened in September of 1993.
For ticket information/reservations and to learn more about V‑Day COLLEGE OF THE DESERT, call (760) 776-7370 or e-mail HYPERLINK “mailto:rdean3@collegeofthedesert.edu” rdean3@collegeofthedesert.edu. To learn more about V‑Day and its campaigns visit HYPERLINK http://www.vday.org www.vday.org. For more information on Shelter From the Storm, please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.shelterfromthestorm.com” www.shelterfromthestorm.com.
