Sedona, AZ-7/20/25 – Emerson Theater Collaborative is proud to present the world premiere of Silence is Not Golden by Anita Yellin Simons, September 12-14, 2025, at Verde Valley School’s Brady Hall. This thought-provoking production explores the complexities of domestic abuse. This production is made possible by Janis Ian and Rude Girl Publishing Inc.
Before the days of Phil Donahue or Oprah, no one talked about domestic abuse or self-esteem — it was a private and embarrassing subject. Linda, a young newlywed, is so in love with her husband Larry that she believes him when he tells her everything is her fault. The two of them are back in their home state of Ohio, but Linda has no friends and no one to talk to since her family moved to California. Each time there is an “incident,” she continues to stand by her man and wait for a better day. What other choice does she have? Finally, she reaches her limit and fights back. But at what cost to her?
Anita Yellin Simons is a political activist and award-winning playwright who combines her love of history and activism in her plays. In addition to Silence is Not Golden, her work includes Goodbye Memories about Anne Frank before going into hiding, was produced by the La Jolla JCC in 2011. Heartland (co-written with Lojo Simon), about German POWs working on American farms and what happened to thousands of German-Americans sent to internment camps during WWII, was produced by MiraCosta College in 2008. In Sanity, about a family’s struggle with teenage drug addiction, had a staged reading at the Coronado Playhouse in 2014. She is currently working on a short play collection of American women trailblazers who changed history, titled The Rest Of Herstory.
Silence is Not Golden is produced by Camilla Ross and directed by Ross and Kaycee Palumbo. Camilla Ross is an award-winning producer, director, playwright, actor and president of the company Emerson Theater Collaborative. Her most recent projects included Driving Miss Daisy, Almost Maine, The Awesome Difficult Work of Love, and Hour Farther by Tony-nominated playwright, producer, and actor David Greer. Hour Father featured Keith David from Oprah’s Greenleaf. Kacee Palumbo is an actor, writer, and director who’s worked extensively in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Japan. Performances include Virginia in The Last Laugh, Veronica in The Hollow, and originating the role of Crystal in Friendly Acquaintances at the LA MET. Television appearances include Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, and host of the Japanese television series, Seeing Eye to Eye.
Actors in this production include Annie Thomas, an actor/composer/singer/dancer at NYU Tisch studying under the prestigious Lee Strasberg studio. She also composes scores for Off-Broadway shows. ETC Alumni Audrey Young has performed with Arizona Theatre Company and The Arizona Repertory Theatre. She was the recipient of the Viola Award for Emerging Artist in 2020 and portrayed Gerte Schulte in the 2023 Viola Award winning production of Crumbs from the Table of Joy. Los Angeles-based Joel Austin, whose work includes performances in Proof and The Petrified Forest. Joel Diggs, who performed in ETC’s Driving Miss Daisy, other productions include The Piano Lesson and Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom. NYC-based Kandy Kapelle, who has worked across stage, film, and digital media, and Jake Monson, a junior currently boarding at Verde Valley School, who has been in several productions at Theatrikos Theater Co. in Flagstaff
The creative crew includes Sean Spencer, Sarah Woods, Ginny Burkitt, Terra Shelman, and Craig Schneider
This project is supported in part by the Arizona Community Foundation, Janis Ian/Rude Girl Publishing Inc., and supports the Verde Valley Sanctuary.
Silence in Not Golden is dedicated to the memory of Kelly Paduchowski.
Performances at the Verde Valley School’s Brady Hall, 3511 Verde Valley School Road, take place on Friday and Saturday, September 12 and 13, at 7 pm and Sunday, September 14, at 2 pm. Tickets: Reserved Seating: $55, General Admission: $40 in advance $50 at the door. To purchase tickets, please go to: https://bit.ly/etc-silence-tickets or call (860) 705-9711. For more information, go to www.emersontheatercollaborative.org
The Emerson Theater Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and thought-provoking theater both in southeastern Connecticut and Sedona, Arizona. Founded in 2008 to give voice to actors’ innate talent for character development.
ETC explores timely themes and issues through new, original works and modern theatrical classics. We develop and nurture both emerging and professional artists and collaborate with the Emerson College network of alumni and students.