Emerson Theater Collaborative President Camilla Ross recently presented a check to Verde Valley Sanctuary nonprofit for $3,946 as a donation of the proceeds from her most recent production, “Silence is Not Golden.”
Written by Anita Yellin Simons, “Silence is Not Golden” was presented to the public during a three-day stretch in September at Verde Valley School’s Brady Hall. It was written and produced to raise awareness on domestic and sexual violence.
Ross stated Emerson Theater Collaborative’s mission has always been to use theater as a catalyst for conversation, connection and social change. With “Silence is Not Golden,” the group turned their focus to domestic violence.
“This production was a call to awareness. It was an opportunity to break through the silence that too often surrounds abuse and to honor the courage of survivors,” Ross stated. “Our creative team and cast have approached this work with sensitivity and deep respect, knowing that theatre can hold space for truth-telling and healing.”
Arizona consistently ranks among the states with high rates of reported domestic violence, with nearly one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
“This production is dedicated to Kelly Paduchowski, who lost her life on June 30, 2024. We honored her memory, and we thank her family for sharing in this moment with us,” Ross stated. “It was a deep privilege to produce and direct this production and support the work of Verde Valley Sanctuary.”
Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, according to a 2020 study by the Department of Justice. Furthermore, only 19% of sexual assaults are committed by a stranger, with 72% by a current or former spouse, partner or acquaintance.
VVS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide safety, services and comfort to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, offers a pet-friendly emergency shelter and crisis hotline, transitional housing, lay legal advocacy, community-based advocacy, public outreach and awareness and youth violence prevention education. In fiscal year 2024-25, VVS provided services to more than 1,500 survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including nearly 9,500 bed nights provided and almost 1,300 crisis hotline calls answered, a 28% increase from the previous year.
“We want to thank Camilla, Anita and the Emerson Theater Collaborative for bringing awareness and space to highlight insidiousness and complexities of domestic violence relationships,” VVS Executive Director Jessye Johnson stated. “These conversations need to be had because we all know someone who has been, or is, affected by domestic violence.”
