The Yellow Dress

CHS seniors and juniors set for a powerful presentation 

On Monday, February 10, Canton High School will host the The Yellow Dress, a renowned dating violence prevention play. The production was developed and produced by Deana’s Educational Theater, a non-profit organization that uses theater and interactive trainings to teach audiences of all ages about dating violence, harassment and respect. All Grade 11 and Grade 12 students will view the play in the CHS Auditorium.

The following paragraph is Deana’s Educational Theater’s description of The Yellow Dress.

The Yellow Dress is a powerful one-woman play that stimulates a thought-provoking discussion about relationships. The actress portrays the progression of an abusive relationship, starting with young love and ending in tragedy. The program consists of a 30-minute performance and a 30-minute interactive discussion with our actors. The play will help students recognize the different types of dating violence, how to identify the early warning signs, and where to seek help if they or a friend are involved in a violent relationship. The Yellow Dress program is produced and directed by Deana’s Educational Theater, a non-profit organization based in Wakefield, MA that is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships. Deana’s Educational Theater, formerly known as Deana’s Fund, was established in 1994 after the death of Deana Brisbois, a young woman from Topsfield, MA who was a victim of dating violence. The organization provides theater & arts-based educational programs to schools and communities all over the world.

I highly encourage all parents and students to visit the Deana’s Educational Theater website www.deanaseducationaltheater.org to learn more about the play and the organization. This programming, much like Rachel’s Challenge and the Chris Herren presentation, is aimed at enhancing a student’s social growth and fostering responsible and respectful relationships -- one of the CHS core values.

Since the topic may be emotional and spark many feelings, we have made arrangements for our guidance, counseling and wellness staff members to help facilitate and support the discussion. 

I would like to thank Nurse Leader Janet Donnelly, K-12 Wellness Coordinator Katey Swanson, Assistant Principal Henry McDeed, and Dean of Students Jim Goff for coordinating this event. In particular, I would like to thank CAPE for awarding the grant that brought The Yellow Dress to CHS.

As a staff, we believe the The Yellow Dress will have a powerful and positive impact on our students. However, if you do not want your child to participate in this program, please notify Principal Derek Folan at foland@cantonma.org by Friday, February 9, 2014.