V-Day TO Presents THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES and A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER

V-Day Toronto takes to the stage with two exciting theatre productions marking the 12th anniversary of the global movement to stop violence against women and girls.

This March, V-Day Toronto supports the V-Day worldwide campaign with two very special events:

- Eve Ensler's Obie Award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues, featuring Paula Brancati, March 13 and 14. 

- A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, a groundbreaking collection of writings, March 20 and 21.

The Vagina Monologues is a smart, moving and hilarious look at female sexuality in all its facets. It inspired V-Day, a dynamic international grassroots movement with the goal of ending violence against women. V-Day is now active in 90 countries around the world. In a phenomenon that has swept the globe, the play has been translated and performed in 24 languages. Often imitated but never duplicated, Eve Ensler's masterpiece gives voice to women's deepest fantasties and fears through stories of intimacy, vulnerablity and sexual self-discovery.

Based on interviews with over 200 women about their memories and experiences of sexuality, Eve Ensler's masterpiece gives voice to women's deepest fantasies and fears, guaranteeing that no one who sees it will ever look at the female body, ponder the female mind, or think of womanhood in quite the same way again. It is witty and irreverent, compassionate and wise. "At first women were reluctant to talk," Ensler says. "They were a little shy. But once they got going, you couldn't stop them."

A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer is a groundbreaking collection of writings and monologues by world-renowned figures, commissioned by V-Day. The collection, edited by Eve Ensler, brings the issue of violence against women and girls to the forefront of our consciousness.
The diverse voices (Michael Cunningham, Kathy Najimy and Maya Angelou to name a few) featured in the piece rise up in a collective roar to break open, expose, and examine the insidiousness of brutality, neglect and exploitation.

These writings are inspired, funny, angry, heartfelt, tragic, and gorgeous. But above all, together they create a true and profound portrait of this issue's effect on every one of us. Whereas its predecessor The Vagina Monologues was a collection of stories about womanhood, A Memory, A
Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer is an unabashed and disturbingly beautiful look at violence against women and a shout out to the world to demand an end to it.

All proceeds from both V-Day Toronto productions will benefit Toronto-based charities, YWCA Toronto Shelters and METRAC (The Metro Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children).

The Vagina Monologues
The Capitol Theatre
2492 Yonge St, Toronto
March 13, 2010 - 7:30 PM
March 14, 2010 - 5:00 PM

A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer
Buddies in Bad Times Cabaret
12 Alexander St, Toronto
March 20, 2010 - 7:30 PM
March 21, 2010 - 2:00 PM

Tickets: Adults $21, Students $16 at www.ticketbreak.com

About the Charities
This year, 90% of all proceeds from the performances will benefit Toronto-based charities.
The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, a not-for-profit, community-based organization that works to prevent and end violence against diverse women, youth, and children. METRAC has three main program areas: Community Safety, Community Justice, and Community Outreach and Education. YWCA Toronto's women's shelters have been in operation since 1991. The shelter provides safe and secure emergency shelter for women and their children who are fleeing violence. YWCA Toronto is the city's trusted multi-service organization by, for and about women and girls. Focusing on long-term solutions, YWCA helps women and girls achieve equality, economic sustainability and lives free from violence. Funds donated will help support more than 40 programs: housing and support, girls' and family programs, employment and skills development, and advocacy.

In addition, 10% of the money earned through the Toronto performances will go directly to V-Day for their 2010 Spotlight Cause. This year, they are donating money to build The City of Joy benefiting the Women and Girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. It is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day events bring increased attention to the fight to stop worldwide violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery.

For more information, please visit www.vdaytoronto.com

Tickets available online or at the door: www.ticketbreak.com

To learn more about YWCA Toronto please visit www.ywcatoronto.org
To learn more about METRAC please visit www.metrac.org

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