Well, it’s all over for the year….and our 2011 production of “The Vagina Monologues” and our Red Tent day for women was a great success.

We hope you all enjoyed your time with us.  And if you couldn’t make it this year, don’t worry, we’ll be back again in March 2012.

Our morning began at 6:00AM with our load in by the posse’s ground crew.  These are the behind the scenes folks who make everything look as if it was always this way inside Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.  We normally take about 8 hours to set up our tent and vendor tables, but since the Mardi Gras ball was the night before, we couldn’t get into the space until 6AM…that’s only 3 hours to load in and set up – yikes.  Well, with this crew, it all went smoothly.  Wouldn’t have happened without them, so finger snaps all around.

Our registration table was up and running by 8:30AM and people were already at the door, ready for a day of pampering.  Our volunteers working the door kept it all going smoothly.  Best part is, we had over 400 women walk through the space this year – that’s almost TWICE as many as last year.  Seems like this event is growing in leaps and bounds!  We can’t wait to see what next year brings.

So the ladies entered the space and were treated to some great vendors – the G Spot, Paul Mitchell School, Gloss & Glamour, Lincoln Tech massage school, Henna by Heather, and lots of great vendors in the first room, like Providence PinUp and the Gloria Gemma Foundation.

As the day progressed, there were a few wait lines for popular spots like Gerel Lee’s reflexology, but seriously…who wouldn’t want their feet massaged?

For those wanting a quieter experience there were Reiki practitioners and yoga classes in the morning, and the CHI Center and Sarah Abernety intuitive readings in a quiet corner of the venue.

One of my favorite things during the day was watching the generational groups walk through…mom, daughter and granddaughters sharing some quality time together was such a treat to see.  We’re so glad we got to provide a space for that to happen!  And what better lesson to teach young women then to take time for themselves each day.  We need to take care of ourselves first, and then take care of others.  Let’s make that a mantra, shall we?

And wasn’t it fun to make new friends while waiting for a service like a manicure or hair styling?  And those great little gift bags from the G Spot folks…thanks for the little chocolates…yum!

A community of women – that’s what it’s all about, right?

During the entire day women came into the actual red tent and were guided by trained counselors…encouraged to share their wisdom and tell their stories.  We were glad to see so many women come back from last year’s event, and honored to share their time and experiences.  This is really the best part of the day for us…a sacred space.

And then, as the Red Tent event wrapped up….we started getting ready for our production of Eve Ensler’s play “The VAGINA Monologues”.  Boy were we ready!

We welcomed everyone – both women and men – into the space by inviting them to walk through the doorway – through the vaginal doorway, that is.  I mean, we’ve all been through one before, though we might not remember it… and how cute was it that if you reached up to touch the clitoris, it had bells inside it that would ring.  Go ahead, ring the chimes!

We began our evening by honoring Wilfredo Perez Jr, our 2011 Vagina Warrior Award winner.  Will is using his life to help the people of Haiti help themselves…by sharing his medical knowledge to teach them basic first aid and hygiene, so that they can teach others in their community.  He is the very essence of a man making a difference in women’s lives.  Please check out his website at www.willinhaiti.org for more information about his project.  He really is a remarkable young man in the world.

And then the ladies took the stage….and can I just say… they owned it

People started giggling after a few minutes, and then there was outright laughter, which turned into hilarity.

But there were several sobering moments.  Statistics about women around the world, and stories from women who suffered domestic violence and sexual assault.  Not easy to hear, but an important part about why we do this – because every woman has a story…and they all deserve to be heard.

We’re pretty sure everybody had a good time…at least we know we did.  And there were some fun parting gifts…a raffle of a Badmimi giant vagina pillow… and some fun flags on the tables with great sayings (which people waved during parts of the production – yay!).

So the evening ended on a high note…we all enjoyed our time together.

And now we’re on to planning for next year’s events.  Yup, it starts already.

So you know…we’re always looking for a few folks to join the RI Pussy Posse.  Want to join the fun?  Who knows what next year could bring?????

Check out our websites at www.vdayrimonologues.weebly.com and www.redtentri.weebly.com.

Can you believe it?  We are SOLD OUT for our production of “The Vagina Monologues” tomorrow.

Sold our last ticket last night and have spent the day gathering all the goodies and getting ready to set up tomorrow morning.  We just finished pouring our last chocolate pussy pop, we’ve fluffed and glittered up the last centerpiece, and the programs are printed, folded and stapled together.  We’re ready to go!

Even if you didn’t get a ticket for the Monologues, you can still join us at the Red Tent from 9AM-4PM at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, for our day of pampering for women.  Admission is $20.00 at the door – cash or check ONLY.  No credit cards are accepted at the door.

We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the women in our community.  And to everyone who bought a ticket to our 4:30PM show, thanks so much for all your support!

We’ll see you all tomorrow!

Many thanks to all the local newspapers and radio stations that are sharing the information about our V-Day events this year.

Monday’s Providence Journal will have a short article and great photo about our cast for this year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues” and talk a bit about our Red Tent event too!  check it out here.

Tickets to see the Monologues are still available, but we’re selling them fast.  You can buy them online right HERE.  Only $25.00 and it includes a yummy dessert buffet catered by Russell Morin Catering!  And yes, we encourage men to come and see the production!

Before the Monologues at 4:30PM on Sunday, March 6th – you can enjoy our Red Tent event.  From 9:00AM till 4:00PM, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet will be the site of our third annual Red Tent, a place where women are invited to gather and enjoy a day of pampering and celebrating all that is female (sorry, no guys allowed!).

So, for a $20.00 general admission (tickets at the door, there are no pre-event ticket sales), you’ll be able to enter the space and enjoy things like -

getting your hair styled, a mini-facial, makeup application, a manicure, a wonderful massage, reiki, take a yoga class, learn to belly dance, intuitive readings, shop at the marketplace with more than 30 women-owned vendors, stop and have a yummy lunch, and continue to enjoy the space.

Be sure to stop inside of our beautiful red tent, where women are encouraged to share their stories and wisdom with other women – a safe space facilitated by trained counselors.  Because, what women really need is a good listening to!

We hope that you’ll venture out on Sunday, March 6th and join us at the beautiful Rhodes on the Pawtuxet for a day for women, about women, by women.  Come join us and rejuvenate and celebrate all that you are….at the Red Tent.

Then afterwards, at 4:30PM, everyone is invited to enjoy our community production of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues.”  A great way to end the day.  And the best part is that all proceeds from both events will be donated to the RI Crisis Assistance Center -working to end violence against women and girls right here in Rhode Island.

For more information about either event please click below

The Vagina Monologues

The Red Tent

Well the time is fast approaching (3 weeks from today!) for both the RED TENT and our production of The VAGINA Monologues, both at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

The posse has been meeting and rehearsing and they’re ready to share stories about vaginas!  This year there’s a new monologue about the women of Haiti, and 10% of proceeds from March 6th’s production will be donated to the V-Day spotlight campaign, helping to rebuild the women’s shelter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that was destroyed by the earthquake.  It’s a really beautiful monologue about women’s courage and particularly speaks about Miriam Merlot, an activist at the shelter who was killed in the earthquake.  I dare you to listen and not shed a tear.

So, the cast is having a slumber party next Friday night as our final gear-up to the big event.  Really.  Can you imagine it?  The cast camped out in one place overnight – that’s a lot of estrogen in one house!  These bonding exercises are always so much fun and really let’s the ladies get to know each other on a deeper level – and it makes for a better show!  Because seriously, to get up on a stage and talk about vaginas takes a lot of courage – and these ladies have it!

Tickets are still available for the 4:30PM show on March 6th.  You can click HERE and order them online.  Limited number of tickets MAY be available at the door if we haven’t sold out in advance.

Now, the RED TENT….

Vendors are signing on like crazy and it’s going to be a full house for our Red Tent event on March 6th from 9AM – 4PM.

Here’s how it works….

You pay $20 at the door and receive a wrist band that allows you access into the Red Tent area all day.  With that wristband, you are given access to services provided by local salons and spas – things like, hairstyling, facials, makeup application, manicures, massage, reflexology, reiki, yoga classes, belly dancing lessons, kickboxing, intuitive readings, NIA classes, and a great marketplace showcasing local RI women’s arts and crafts.  And all for free!  Also available, for a small fee, will be henna tattooing, eyebrow threading, and even teeth whitening (small fee is to cover cost of materials used).

What a great way to beat the winter blues with your girlfriends!  Browse through the marketplace, take a yoga class, receive a reiki session, learn to belly dance or kickbox, get a massage, and then get your hair styled, a facial, makeup applied, a manicure…..aaaaaah.  Then you can sit a spell inside of our beautiful red tent, and make new friends with other pampered ladies!  Sounds pretty good right about now, doesn’t it?

A fun day out for the girls (sorry fellas, no guys allowed!).  And one of the best parts is that all proceeds from the Red Tent will be donated to the RI Crisis Assistance Center, that works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  So spend a day feeling good and doing good!

For more information about the Red Tent click HERE.

For more information about The Vagina Monologues, click HERE.

With undying gratitude to Providence PinUp and Krista Handfield Photography, here are a few of the posters we’ll be circulating for our production of
“the VAGINA Monologues”…..pinup style!

We hope to see you there for an afternoon of fun with your girlfriends!  Tickets are now available online at    brown paper tickets.

With our events less than 6 weeks away (gulp!) we’re really starting to gather lots of folks together to make this a great V-Day RI!

Our Red Tent event will be on Sunday, March 6th from 9:00AM – 4:00PM at the beautiful Rhodes on the Pawtuxet and immediately afterwards at 4:30PM will be our production of “The VAGINA Monologues”.  It’s going to be a busy day!

Vendors are signing up like crazy for our Red Tent day for women.  For a $20 general admission fee, women will be able to spend the day receiving services like hairstyling, facials, manicures, pedicures, makeup application, henna tattooing, spray tanning, eyebrow threading, yoga classes, reiki, NIA classes, reflexology, massage, and shop at our international bazaar.  What a great way to spend the day getting pampered with your girlfriends!

We’re thrilled to welcome the G Spot, Paul Mitchell School, Aveda, Heavenly Hugs, NIA, Gerel Lee Reflexology, Lincoln School of Massage, Jessica Buehler bellydancing, Gloria Gemma Breast bus, the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health, Providence Pinup, Wild Buddha Designs, T York Stained Glass, Ava Anderson Skin Care and many others.  It’s going to be quite a full house!

Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.  There’s plenty of on site parking and a cash bar will be available all day.

What better way to beat the winter blues than to spend a day getting pampered.

Spread the word and make it a day out with the girls!

Well, here she is ladies and gentlemen….the 2011 RI Pussy Posse logo!

C’mon, can’t you see yourselves walking through the local mall with your tee shirt, logo emblazoned on the chest, fingers pointing in your direction?

What’s life without a little giggle?

But seriously, the Rhode Island Pussy Posse is comprised of local women (and men!) who work countless hours each year putting together events throughout the state to bring the issue of violence against women & girls front and center.  Hundreds of hours of planning and meetings and brainstorming go into bringing multiple events during V-season (February 1- April 30) and this year we’re hosting several.

“The VAGINA Monologues”

is always the centerpiece of what we do, and 2011 will be no different.  Fifteen Rhode Island women will be lending their voices on Sunday, March 6th at 4:30PM at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston – so join in the fun!  Proceeds from this event will be donated to the RI Crisis Assistance Center, working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Also on March 6th, from 9:00AM till 4:00PM we’ll host The RED TENT – a day of pampering for women.  Vendors from all around the state will set up stations at Rhodes and will provide (for a $20 admission fee):

hairstyling – manicures – facials – makeup application – henna tattooing – massage – spray tanning – eyebrow threading – reiki – bellydancing classes – kickboxing instruction – NIA classes – health screenings – great handmade items for sale in our marketplace – and of course, the Red Tent itself, where women can gather and share their stories.

We’re also in the process of planning a production of “Any One of Us”, Eve Ensler’s compilation of writings from women in American prisons.  Directed by Ruth Wartenberg, local women will lend their voices to the stories and proceeds will benefit Open Doors, a local program working with women recently released from prison.  After the production there will be a panel discussion about the state of women prisoners in Rhode Island.

Also in the works are both a V-girls Poetry Slam and a V-Men Workshop.

Stay tuned for more information.  We’ll be updating this blog several times a week as info becomes available.  And don’t forget to follow us on this blog!

The official countdown to V-Day Rhode Island 2011 has begun and we’re just a few months away!

This year we’ll be holding several theatrical events around the state during February & March.  Among them will be Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues” read by 15 Rhode Island women.  We’ll also be hosting a reading of “Any One of Us: Women’s Words from Prison”, a V-Men workshop, and a V-Girls Poetry Slam.  And lastly, we’ll hold our third annual Red Tent day for women.

Rehearsals are ready to begin for all productions and we’re starting to work on both our printed materials and a short film about the events.  Check back regularly to see what’s going on…and subscribe to this blog to stay informed.

Kerry Burns, James Lawrence, Kristy Wiences – members of the V-Day RI 2011 Pussy Posse