Shannon Cordeiro
SOAR Coordinator
shannon@ricadv.org
Tickets are $20.
All proceeds benefit the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and SOAR.
If you experience a technical issue with registration or have other ticket-related questions, please contact Kenia Trinidad at 401-467-9940.
For people with disabilities, accessible seating is available. Please contact Kenia Trinidad at 401-467-9940.
About SOAR:
SOAR (Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships) is a nationally recognized task force of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, made up of survivors of domestic violence. SOAR's mission is to promote, advocate, and work toward the elimination of domestic violence and to embody and give visibility to the voices of abused women. SOAR is the only group in Rhode Island specifically working on systems change that entirely consists of domestic violence survivors, and is a leader among similar groups in the nation.
Awards:
Mary Byron Celebrating Solutions Award
In 2012, SOAR was one of four recipients of this national award for their work on the Child Custody and Visitation initiative, where they implemented innovative solutions to end domestic violence and protect survivors and their families.
Victims' Grove Ceremony Award
In 2013, SOAR members received special recognition from the Attorney General during National Crime Victims' Rights Week for their performance in Behind Closed Doors. The SOAR members' performance also earned them a special Congressional Recognition from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
RI Attorney General's Annual Justice Award for Domestic Violence Prevention
On September 5, 2013, Trinity Repertory Company was recognized for their contributions to ending domestic violence through their involvement with Behind Closed Doors.
Behind Closed Doors is an original play written and performed by 15 survivors of domestic violence from SOAR, Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships, a task force of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV). This performance is a true account of their experiences with domestic violence, hope, and survival, seeking to draw you into their lives to dispel the stigmas of this often misunderstood abuse.
The script was crafted by Trinity Repertory Company teaching artists, who mentored the SOAR members in cultivating their performances. The play was developed over ten 90-minute sessions in which the survivors journaled, wrote poetry, and told stories that were weaved into a play composed completely of their own words. The women speak both their own words and the words of their fellow survivors. All proceeds from Behind Closed Doors benefit SOAR and RICADV in raising awareness to end domestic violence.
Reflections on Behind Closed Doors:
"It was the most compelling presentation regarding domestic violence I have seen. With real-life stories presented in a creative way, the play took the audience from early warning signs of domestic violence, to psychological control and physical abuse, to escape and finally ongoing survivorship; it encompassed all aspects of the cycle of violence. The strength of the fifteen women presenting their stories was inspiring on many levels. Everyone should view this play, especially young people starting out in new relationships." ~ Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin
"Behind Closed Doors was such an inspiring, educational, and emotional presentation. Going in, I was prepared to listen to women's stories about domestic violence, but I had no idea that I would be leaving with a realization of how common and destructive domestic violence is." ~Attendee
"My initial reaction was summed up into one word: wow. There were more emotions expressed in that play than any other play that I have ever been to, and this I feel is important because it was real-life experiences that were being told." ~Attendee
"I would like to start off by saying that this was the most influential school event that I have been to in my college career. The courage that these women put on display to tell their stories was something that I had never seen before. I am thankful that I was there to witness it." ~Student
About the Director of Behind Closed Doors:
Jordan Butterfield is the Education Programs Manager and Teaching Artist at Trinity Repertory Company. She teaches classes on-site, oversees the general curriculum planning for the department, and leads workshops at schools throughout Rhode Island, spreading the importance of theater in the classroom. She also founded TRAIN (Trinity Rep Active Imagination Network), which is a theater program specially designed for children on the autism spectrum and with other cognitive or physical disabilities. Through TRAIN, she is the drama instructor at Pathways Strategic Teaching Center, The Autism Project, Hasbro Partial Hospitalization Program, The Groden Center, and Seven Hills RI. She is a graduate of Brandeis University, where she double majored in history and theater arts with concentrations in acting and dramaturgy. At Brandeis, she performed in The Who’s Tommy directed by Eric Hill and the world premiere of the musical The Two Orphans by Theresa Rebeck directed by Dennis Garnhum. She also trained at the Autism Treatment Center of America in the SonRise floor-time technique.