Friday, February 17, 2012

They mold and hold it !!



Without the selfless dedication and hardwork of these 3 stars - this amazing production would not be possible !!!Three Cheers to the Three main pillars of V-Day Cambridge !!!


Caitlin Stewart-Swift, V-Day Cambridge, Director




I got involved in V-Day 11 years ago back in my home town in Maine.  Giving back to my community through volunteer work and activism has always been something that I’m passionate about and feel is deeply important. The mission of V-Day to end violence against girls and women locally and globally, touches my heart and soul. When I had the opportunity to get re-involved with the movement and help form V-Day Cambridge Cooperative Community, three years ago,  I leaped at the chance. I am involved in V-Day to help stop the violence, to help break the silence, to help my community locally and globally, and to get people talking about vaginas.












Catie Howell, V-Day Cambridge Stage Manager



The more I learn about the V-Day Movement, the more impressed I am with the reach of the work. Every time we do this show, we’re telling stories that otherwise wouldn’t be told. Every time a ticket is sold, or a donation is made we’re helping end the violence somewhere. That is absolutely amazing to be a part of. Also amazing is this group of women putting on this year’s show, who come from all sorts of backgrounds, who come with all their own stories, and that I have the opportunity to share this experience with.














Edward Howland, V-Day Cambridge Front of House Manager 




Teddy Howland is a two-year veteran of the Cambridge Cooperative production of the "Vagina Monologues", having served as producer and part of the front-of-house staff.  He brings over ten years of producing experience to the table, having joined his college theater group's Board of Directors as Public Relations manager in 2002.  He is very, very excited and energized to once again work with such an incredibly talented group of women on a tremendously important project.  The "Vagina Monologues" and the larger V-Day movement around the world is an extraordinary example of the power of people working together to fight the violence and abuse of women and he is honored to have a small role in it.  























Meet the Cast !!




Tallash Kantai


My name is Tallash Kantai. I'm a Kenyan, studying environmental policy and conflict resolution at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. The poignant stories in the Monologues are a testament to the strength of the woman in the most horrendous of situations. VM 2012 to me signifies a new fight, but also the continuation of the old- until the violence stops: from Boston to Nairobi and beyond, women everywhere should be able to live a life free of violence. We will shout about it until we're hoarse, we will not stop until the violence does.
I really look forward to getting to know these wonderful women in the cast- each has her own unique style, and is traveling her own path. I am glad that our paths have crossed and I hope that we can form bonds that will transcend borders.





Vivian Liu-Somers














Natalia Musatova 

This is a wonderful production and I am honored to play a role in Vagina Monologues 2012. As an actress and a proud feminist, I find it to be a dream-come-true challenge to be talking about issues that are commonly forgotten, ignored or swept under the rug.
 I am passionate about justice and helping the most vulnerable. Vagina Monologues helps us voice our concerns and bring significant issues to the surface.  This is something women are not always able to do in my native Saint Petersburg, Russia.
 I hope we end up exceeding our own expectations this year and raise an insane amount that will serve a good cause. And, of course, I am sure we will have a lot of fun along the way. 
I am grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to do it again. I especially appreciate all the women involved and the new friendships I have gained through this experience.



Cecilia Villero
A social worker/sexuality educator by day and an Athena's Goddess by night, Cecilia is passionate about promoting a healthy view of sexuality and self-care. Naturally, being a part of V-Day felt like the next step in spreading her "healthy, happy vulva" message.  Though this is her first time performing in the Vagina Monologues, she is no stranger to being on stage. Cecilia has studied and performed Middle Eastern dance, and most recently danced as Mary in "Raks Nativity: A Christmas Pageant Told With Middle Eastern Music." She is excited to be part of this year's cast and is looking forward to flexing her acting muscles in addition to her kegels.










Melissa Bornmann 




Melissa is new to Boston and is excited to be back in theater after a six year hiatus.  The Vagina Monologues marks her foray back into serious theater, having been a musical theater geek most of her adult life.  She is thrilled to be working with CCCP and is honored to be part of such an amazing group of people.  In her spare time Melissa is a Goddess with Athena's Home Novelties, whose mission is to empower women and men down the path of sexual education in the safe, comfortable environment of their own homes by offering high quality products. (www.athenashn.com/2246)  She also spins and breathes - so multi-talented!  She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support, and Edna for her < 3.


Why are you involved in V Day?

I believe that by telling our stories, we begin to heal through sharing.  I want to make a difference in people's lives and by sharing my own story of survival, I can reach others who think recovery is not possible.  Everyone deserves to feel safe and loved, and yet our world is far from that.  We have to stop the violence against women, and it begins in our homes, in our conversations, in everything we do.  It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to give a voice to the women of The Vagina Monologues - their stories have moved, touched and inspired the world for the last 14 years and will live on as long as we keep up the fight to end this violence.  Being a part of TVM has rekindled my love of the theater but more importantly, my desire to share and make connections.  Ask yourself:  What are YOU doing to make a difference?


Delisa Vieir


















Corbie-Cohen, Carmen

Carmen Cohen is participating in her fourth performance of the Vagina Monologues. She has performed various monologues also with Lesley University's and Suffolk University's presentation of the Vagina Monologues. She is a wife and mother of two children and hopes to serve as an inspiration to others to explore their own creative sides. She has worked in the field of education for over 9 years and is currently earning her Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy.















Dayenne c. b. Walters


 Dayenne c. byron Walters (Boston, Massachusetts) was recently cast as Mrs. Bennet in the Theatre@First (Somerville Theatre) adaption of Pride and Prejudice. Previous feature roles include Vera, in the "The Oldest Profession" by Paula Vogel, for Theatre@First, Barebones Production, Gammy, in “Giddy in Love”, an independent film, the TCAN Players' production of "Doubt", by John Patrick Shanley, as Mrs. Muller, in the Actors' Shakespeare Project’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and readings of "Our Girl from Trenton" by Cliff Odle (New Urban Theatre Lab), and “A to Z” by Monica Raymond, at the Boston Playwright’s Theatre.
She is a dancer/choreographer with Benkadi Drum and Dance, an African dance company. Her choreography has been staged at Boston City Hall, the Somerville Theatre and at the Dance Complex.








Neha Gandhi

I grew up watching my mom fighting for women rights and helping domestic violence victims . I feel terribly handicapped and disillusioned by the claims being made all over the world about equality between sexes. I ache to do something for the women fraternity.Being an actress, I feel this a great platform for me to show my support for the great cause that the show stands for.I feel honored to be part of this show for the 2nd time.In Bombay, the Vagina Monologues is always performed by celebrities only. Now I feel that we are no less than celebrities ourselves!!!”



Nikki Pirog


Nikki is your typical vegetarian bookworm juggler who likes to curl up with a good zombie movie in her spare time. In her non-spare time, she works as an American Sign Language interpreter for a local elementary school. She is also quite pleased to be celebrating her 7th year in helping to end violence against women.
















Stephanie Trilling



I am happy to be a part of this community production of V-Day!  I love the vagina monologues for all of the laughter, moans, anger, and tears.  I work at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) and believe that strong communities can end sexual violence by rejecting rape supportive norms and promoting a culture of safety, respect, and support to all people.  My wish is for all young people to grow up in a world that teaches them to love and respect vaginas!















Susan "Pebbles" Semedo


It is a privilege and an honor to once again be a part of The Vagina Monologues.  Besides being a unique bonding experience between an amazing group of women, it's a chance to give a voice to those who do not have one.  It's not only a chance to bring light to the dark subject of violence against women, but also to show that there is hope.  

I lend my voice for my niece, my goddaughters, and all the other women and girls who I pray never have to experience the horrific abuse so many women have had to endure in our backyard and around the globe. 














Lindsay Beene


Hey y'all! I hail from the land of BBQ, Bibles, and booze: Tennessee. My love of the ocean and longing for a more progressive community are what brought me to New England. I was born with a love to ham it up and theater has proved the ideal outlet for me. I have participated in productions both on and backstage, and performed in the Vagina Monologues during my time at Maryville College. 
I am involved with The Vagina Monologues to celebrate the accomplishments of women worldwide for equal opportunity in work, healthcare, and quality of life. Additionally I chose participate in the Monologues to draw awareness to the on going needs of women in our own country, and in the international community, who still lack basic rights and access to necessary healthcare. I want to help give these women a voice. 
I am looking forward to working with a cast of strong women to tell the real stories of hope, anxiety, humor, bravery, fear, love, and ultimately vaginas.


Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen is an actress, writer and film historian working in educational media & A/V technology. Last year, she served as a contributing writer and feature performer in the Cambridge, MA review The Nitty Gritty Show: Beyond the Queer Veneer and has graced the stage at The Middle East Upstairs as part of Nerdy Cabaret, singing and performing in musical comedy/improv skits. She is excited to be treading the boards once more in this spring's production of the Vagina Monologues, a project that means a lot to her as, "Sadly, I have known so many women who are survivors of abuse --physical, verbal, emotional-- and being a part of something that aims to put a stop to such violence, and perhaps help to heal hearts and minds, is a privilege and a challenge."






Valerie Tobia


I became inspired and interested in the Vagina Monologues during
college when I saw my first performance of the play.  It was amazing,
empowering, sad and educational all in the same moment.  A few years
later I banded together with Caitlin our amazing Director and a few
friends to develop what is now V-Day Cambridge Cooperative Community.
I am so amazed at the success it has had and the amount of awareness
and change it has brought to our community! I am excited to get back
on stage this year and perform with another PHENOMENAL group of women.

Personally and professionally I feel a draw to this work.  We need to
talk, we need to share, we need to scream in outrage and spread our
message as widely as possible!  As a Sexual Health and HIV Educator
and Public Health Social Worker, advocating for change and talking
about violence against women and children is part of my daily work.
The Vagina Monologues and the V-Day Campaign allows us to gather as a
community in an intimate, real and personal space to speak out against
these issues.  Art is protest, Art is awareness, Art is therapy, Art
is change.




Sunday, February 12, 2012

V Season Updates !!

Author and Founder of the Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler is travelling around the world .... Why ?
Why ofcourse ... Its V Season !!!
On February 12th, she will be giving the Australian Human Rights Centre Annual Lecture at the Sydney Theatre. Eve will then travel to the San Francisco Bay Area. On February 23rd, 'An Evening with Eve Ensler' at Stanford University will kick off their annual V-Week activities, and on February 24th, Eve will head to Dominican University of California for a public conversation with author Isabel Allende.

V Day is a unified struggle of liberation against violence against women ... and women from Occupy Wall Street are not behind.On February 26th, V-Day organizers Hannah Morgan and Dakota Russell, together with a group of women involved with Occupy Wall Street (OWS), are putting on a V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues. The cast will include activists from OWS and allied organizations, as well as Eve Ensler, Laura Flanders, Alix Olson, and Terry Tempest Williams.

To know more about Eve's V season journey and to purchase tickets for the various events - visit


Ahhh !! Don't we wish that one day Eve could attend V Day Cambridge's performance of the Vagina Monologues and may be even do a guest appearance in that !! 
Wishful thinking ?:)
Here's hoping & three Vagina Cheers to that !!!






Source Credit : http://www.vday.org

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

City of Joy Celebrates First Graduating Class !!!







On January 28, V-Day and the Foundation Panzi (DRC) celebrated the first graduating class of City of Joy in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). City of Joy, a revolutionary community for women survivors of gender violence, opened its doors to the pilot class of 42 women this summer. V-Day Founder/Artistic Director Eve Ensler, Executive Director Susan Swan, Communications & Campaigns Manager Kate Fisher, photographer and longtime V-Activist Paula Allen, and a delegation of incredible visionaries including V-Board members Pat Mitchell, Emily Scott Pottruck, and Amy Rao, and supporters Lauren Davis, Frannie Kieschnick, Belinda Munoz, Andrew Dew Steele, Erin Strain, and Marsha Williams all were welcomed at City of Joy to witness and celebrate the graduation ceremony of this first incredible class.

The Founder of V-day Eve Ensler writes:
Dearest Activists,
I am rejoicing, breathing in the victory and glorious time in Bukavu, the joy and aliveness in the expressions of the women of City of Joy, the music of their rising, the intensity of their recovery and the aliveness of their dreams. I want to thank each one of you for making this happen. I want to thank you for your time and devotion and brilliance and faith and work and love. I want to do a special shout for our Mama Christine [V-Day Congo Director & Director of City of Joy Christine Schuler Deschryver] who birthed City of Joy with her might and heart and Mama Bachu [City of Joy Programs Director] who focused her energy and Mama care of our girls, and Dr. Mukwege whose love and gentleness and vision surrounds all things. I want to thank the wondrous team at City of Joy who with such care and attention loved 42 women back to life. Thank you everyone of you who made this miracle possible--who believed in the women of Congo, who know that miracles happen when you value and trust and support and nurture and get out of the way. We need your support and your faith until the rising...

Read the entire article here: http://www.vday.org/node/2838

Also, Read the coverage featured on CNN.



Our heartiest congratulations to all the 42 women who graduated and kudos to V-Day and Foundation Panzi !!!





(Source Credit : http://www.vday.org )