Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues returns to Toronto once again in support of V-Day. This year will feature two performances hosted by Toronto MP Olivia Chow and Dr. Marla Shapiro, respectively, and boasting such top Toronto talent as Lauren Collins, Traci Melchor and Tara Slone.

On Saturday March 3rd, Workman Theatre will host an all-ages Community Outreach performance. Tickets are $19.50. Sunday March 4th will see the gala performance at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Tickets cost $36.50 and are open to everyone age 19 and older. Both shows are on sale now.

Guests of this year's production include Lauren Collins, one of the young stars of Degrassi: The Next Generation; Traci Melchor, MuchMoreMusic VJ and MuchMusic VJ Search judge; Tara Slone, Toronto musician who fronted the band Joydrop and a contestant on the CBS television series Rock Star: INXS; Amanda Tapping, star of the television series Stargate SG-1 and local indie music darlings Wendy Lands, Mia Sheard and Simon Wilcox.

The Community Outreach show on March 3rd will be hosted by Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow. Chow has spent over 20 years in politics, spending several years at the municipal level before winning a seat in federal parliament as a member of the NDP.

The March 4th performance will be hosted by Dr. Marla Shapiro, medical consultant for CTV National News and Canada AM. She also hosts the show Balance: Television for Living Well and has a bi-weekly column in The Globe and Mail. In 2006, Shapiro released the book Life in the Balance: My Journey With Breast Cancer.

Ninety per cent of the proceeds from the show will go to the Anduhyaun Residence, a shelter for abused Native women and children. The remaining proceeds go to the V-Day 2007 Global Spotlight, Women In War Zones, benefitting organizations that assist women affected by violence in the Sudan, Iraq and the Congo.

As always, V-Day would not be a success without the support of many generous sponsors. This year's sponsors include: Isabella Hotel, Richard Dubois Photography, School of Hair & Makeup Art, NOW Magazine & NOW Lounge, Labspace Studio, Gladstone Hotel, and the Harris Institute for the Arts.

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. The event generates broader attention for the fight to stop worldwide violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery.

The Vagina Monologues features performances about real women and their testimonials about female sexuality. It was written by playwright Eve Ensler, who received an Obie-Award in 2001.

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Available for interviews, V-Day Cast Tanisha Taitt, Producer, V-Day Toronto

The Vagina Monologues
Saturday March 3, 2007 at 5:00PM
Hosted by Olivia Chow
Workman Theatre
1001 Queen Street West
Tickets $19.50
All Ages

Sunday March 4, 2007 at 5:00PM
Hosted by Dr. Marla Shapiro
Phoenix Concert Theatre
410 Sherbourne Street
Tickets $36.50
Ages 19+

To purchase tickets, please visit
www.ticketweb.ca

For more information on V-Day, please visit
www.vday.org and www.vdaytoronto.overhear.com