Tucson, AZ (September 15, 2025) —For fifty years, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse has provided safety and healing for people experiencing abuse. At Emerge, safety means more than just physical safety. It means fostering an environment where survivors feel heard, seen, and empowered. It means holding those who cause harm accountable while creating opportunities for genuine repair. And it means embracing joy as a radical act—because every survivor deserves to experience a life filled with possibility, love, and celebration.
In honor of this legacy, a special anniversary celebration and show is planned for Sunday, September 28, at the ASDB Berger Performing Arts Center located at 1200 W Speedway Blvd. from 2:30 to 5 pm.
The show will be directed by longtime Emerge supporter Susan Claassen, former Invisible Theatre Managing Artistic Director, who, after 50 years, has evolved to Emeritus. Hosted by the comedy duo “Mols and Suz” (aka Molly McKasson and Susan Claassen), who entertained at the Center’s opening in 1975, Claassen has gathered an extraordinary ensemble of award-winning musical performing artists in the region, including Rob Boone, Christine Vivona, Betsy Kruse Craig, Armen Dirtadian, and Crystal Stark. Throughout the evening, they will pay musical tribute to Emerge’s “Golden” 50-year history, aligning with momentous events through the half-century, including the appointment of Arizona’s Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court, the election of Barack Obama, and other cultural highlights with songs like “R.E.S.P.E.C.T”, “Impossible Dream”, “Rise Up”, and more…