'The Yellow Dress' to be Performed at Wilton Library to Prevent Domestic Violence

WILTON, CT — Teen PeaceWorks, Wilton Domestic Violence Task Force and Wilton Library are presenting a performance of “The Yellow Dress” on Thursday, September 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness month this October, according to Kaitlin McNamara, co-president of the Teen PeaceWorks club at Wilton High School.

“The Yellow Dress” was born from the tragedy of a family who lost their 23-year-old daughter, Deana Brisbois, as a result of domestic violence. According to Web of Hope, Deana's family and friends founded Deana's Fund and donated money raised from a golf tournament to women's shelters. The golf tournament became an annual event, and in 1995 the organization supported the development of a play to prevent dating violence called "The Yellow Dress." The dramatic one-woman play is based on the stories of young women who were victims of dating violence.

Kaitlin McNamara and Kaitlin Zappaterrini, co-presidents of the Teen PeaceWorks club at Wilton High School saw the play at the Wilton Library in 8th grade. "We were so moved by that performance we immediately joined the club when we got to the high school," McNamara said. "The performance was very powerful and everyone there was affected by it, but sadly the audience was lacking in the very audience it was targeted at, high school students. The performance illustrates what an abusive relationship looks like, and we want students to be able to identify the tell-tale signs. Recognizing that a relationship is abusive either, for yourself, or for a friend, can be life changing. Knowing how to comfort and guide someone in this situation can be the difference between losing a friend, or saving one."

The play was written by Deborah Lake Fortson and produced by Sydney Hayes Patton. It will be presented at the Wilton Library on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 from 7 to 8 p.m.

Image via YouTube screen grab