Once again, Fall River joined the global effort to stop violence against women and girls with a reading from the "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler, at the Eagle Performing Arts Center on April 5, 2014. Each of the monologues  relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the variety of names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality. Ensler wrote, "I'm obsessed with women being violated and raped, and with incest. All of these things are deeply connected to our vaginas." Ten percent of the proceeds goes to the National V-Day Committee (in lieu of copyright fees), and the rest goes to benefit the Katie Brown Educational Program whose curriculum teaches students to identify the many types of violence, and empowers them to develop the skills necessary to prevent violence from becoming a factor in their relationships. Click here for a 90-minute video of the presentation. Click here for pictures of last year's presentation. For more information, contact Wendy Garf-Lipp of United Neighbors of Fall River at 508-324-7900.

(Top row, left) Katie Brown Educational Program staff members Stephanie Joyal, Chrissey Casse, and Claire McVicker were on hand to table the event. (Top row, center) Colby Bergeron, Wendy Garf-Lipp, Brian Moses and Philip York pose for a photo at the ticket desk. (Top row, right) Performance directors Debb Orlando and Annemarie Holly welcome the audience to the event. (Row two) Micheal Lipp enjoys his wife, Wendy's, performance. (Row three) Tabitha Gendreau joins Debb and Janel Pilotte for a monologue before Elizabeth Malkin performs. (Row four) Jen Vincent, Janet Pilotte and Shela Carreiro each deliver more monologues. (Row five) Jahnna Khour, Jennifer Preston and Brittany Nardi add their dramatic stories. (Bottom row) Debb and Annemarie finish their performances before the group poses for a group photo at the end of the evening.