Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, The Vagina Monologues will return to the Fourth Universalist Society for the second year in a row. Last year’s performance was sold out with standing room only. Thanks to the support of the congregation, $5,000 was raised to benefit projects which combat violence against women and girls.

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, The Vagina Monologues will return to the Fourth Universalist Society for the second year in a row. Last year’s performance was sold out with standing room only. Thanks to the support of the congregation, $5,000 was raised to benefit projects which combat violence against women and girls.

Eve Ensler’s powerful, award-winning play-that-spawned-a-grassroots-social-movement will be presented in the sanctuary on Feb. 27 at 8:00 p.m. This year’s special guest performer will be Tovah Feldshuh, a Tony-nominated actress, singer and playwright. Joining her on stage will be volunteers and professional actresses across the age spectrum from the teens to the eighties.

A matinee performance will take place in the sanctuary on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 3:00 p.m. This was added after the earthquake in Haiti so that funds can go to benefit the V-Day Haiti Rescue Fund.

To purchase tickets online, go here. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $10 for seniors/students and $50 and up for premium seating in the first three rows.

Organized by Deborah Roth, and directed by Nancy Robillard, the cast will join “Vagina Warriors” in 25+ other productions around New York City this season, all presenting benefit productions in support of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. In 2009, over 4200 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the urgency of ending violence against women.

To date, the V-Day Movement has raised over $70 million for international projects and local beneficiary organizations. It has increased public consciousness about what must be done to send the spectrum of violence that ranges across battery, rape, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery. The movement has crafted international educational, media and Public Service Announcement campaigns, reopened shelters and funded over 11,000 community based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

Each production of The Vagina Monologues raises funds for local beneficiaries. Fourth U’s Saturday night production will benefit the New York Asian Women’s Center and GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services). The New York Asian Women’s Center helps battered women overcome violence and govern their own lives, free of abuse. The organization raises public awareness about domestic violence, advocates for the rights of battered women and creates an agenda for social change. GEMS is the nation’s largest organization empowering girls and young women who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS helps to transform public perception, revolutionize the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth and end the commercial exploitation and trafficking of children.

A portion of the benefit proceeds will support the V-Day Spotlight Campaign in the Congo, a global initiative to demand an end to the wide-scale atrocities committed against women and girls in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Women and men of all ages are invited to participate in a variety of support activities. If you would like to participate, please download the application form here (after audition form) and submit it by e-mail to Deborah Roth at dsrothny@aol.com or give her the hard copy at church. Questions? Call Deborah at 212-665-9660. Or sign up sheets are available in the sanctuary after church. We encourage you to “Give D-Day One Day” of your time and energy.

We’re looking forward to seeing you for at least one of our two performances where art meets social activism.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010
7:00 PM — Come join us for our pre-performance VAGINA FAIR—a celebration of female anatomy that features, crafts, music and tables providing information on our local sponsors and beneficiaries. You will also be able to buy your own V-Day bracelet and munch on fabulous V-goodies, including our hand-made, delectable chocolate Vagina-pops!
8:00 PM — THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010
2:00 PM — VAGINA FAIR
3:00 PM — THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Sunday, March 14, 2010 — Congo Teach-In, time to be announced

Check out www.vday.org for more information about the V-Day movement.