Director/actor Ellie Busby of Waldoboro has been bringing V-Day benefit performances of Eve Ensler's play, “The Vagina Monologues” to local stages for 14 years. This year the show will be at The Waldo Theater for two performances, April 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.

V-Day is the name for the global movement created by Ensler to end violence against women and girls. The 'V' stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

This year, Busby invited an old high school theater friend, Ida Zecco, nee Senerchia, to join the cast this year.

Zecco is a professional actress and a member of Actor's Equity Association (AEA). Her theatrical career includes leading roles in opera, drama, comedy and musical theater throughout New England, New York City, and Europe. She has also made several TV appearances on “America's Most Wanted” and “Spencer for Hire.” Zecco has produced and directed many films and received many awards, one of particular note was a special feature for PBS dealing with antisemitism.

Here's the kicker: the two have not seen each other since high school graduation in 1970. The last time the two friends shared a stage was in a West Warwick High School production of “The King And I.” Zecco played Lady Tiang, the first wife of the King, and Busby was, as she recalls, “The third wife from the left plastered with body dyes that had to be removed with Brillo later on.”

Busby credits Facebook with their reuniting.

“We found one another about three years ago, and it was like we were still 17,” Busby said. “The discoveries of our similarities and how close we remain in our belief systems after all these years led me to ask if Ida would consider coming to Maine for this benefit.”

Ever since their old high school days, both women have remained in the footlights. Busby has been a theater director and actor in local and regional theater, while Zecco took her tremendous talents worldwide.

Zecco has played some of the world's most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, The Park Plaza, The Charles Playhouse, Trinity Repertory Theater of Providence, Danny's Skylight Room, and The Duplex Cabaret Theatre. She has appeared as a guest artist in music festivals in Paris, Rome, Milan, La Scala, Spiletto, Prague, Warsaw, Tokyo, Salzburg, Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, Barcelona, Denmark, Helsinki, Beijing, Vienna, Hong Kong, Singapore, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Waldoboro, Maine can proudly add their name to her list of impressive credits.

Busby has remained passionate and committed to the ending violence against women and children all of her adult life, and Ensler's “V-Day” takes those efforts to local and global stages.

“It is more important than ever that we all help to raise funds and awareness for New Hope For Women and Hospitality House (homeless shelter in Knox County),” Busby said. “You can’t be safe from violence with no place to sleep.”

Ninety percent of local profits For The Vagina Monologues go directly to New Hope For Women and Hospitality House. The last 10 percent, the SPOTLIGHT donation, is sent to V-Day to build shelters and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

Virginia Byrne, theater critic for Offstage Voice says, “If you ever have the opportunity to see Ida Zecco onstage, run, do not walk, to the box office.”

Performances of “The Vagina Monologues: Rising for Justice,” will be on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. Call 207-832-6060 for reservations and group rates.

The Waldo Theatre is located at 916 Main Street in Waldoboro.