The Vagina Monologues

A national movement to stop violence against women and girls has

made its way to CSU.

V-day is a national organization dedicated to this cause, and in

support of V-day the Hartshorn Health Center’s Based on Life

Theater is sponsoring a production of “The Vagina Monologues” this

Saturday and Sunday.

The V in V-day stands not just for Valentine, but also for

victory and vagina and actually grew out of Eve Ensler’s “The

Vagina Monologues.”

“The Vagina Monologues are about women’s empowerment and things

that women go through nationally and internationally,” said Frances

Southwick, who co-directed and produced the production. These

issues weren’t discussed before Ensler compiled the monologues,

Southwick said.

In compiling the monologues Ensler conducted over 200 interviews

with women worldwide. From those interviews came a play that

celebrates women’s sexuality and strength while exposing violations

that women endure throughout the world.

Southwick, who is a senior pre-med and philosophy major,

co-directed and produced the show with Elli Malone, a sophomore

English major. The two have been working since August of 2003 to

bring “The Vagina Monologues” to campus.

“Once you have your mind set on a goal, like putting on this

production, there aren’t a lot of things stopping you,” said

Southwick, who has been involved with the production of the show at

CSU for the last two years. “I develop personally every time I do

the show.”

Since its initial performance in 1998 “The Vagina Monologues”

has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. The play has been

translated into 25 languages and appeared in playhouses around the

world. Last year “The Vagina Monologues” was performed in 800

different venues worldwide and raised more than $7 million dollars

for local organizations benefiting women.

“Its (influence is) growing every year because people realize

the issues are important,” Southwick said.

“The Vagina Monologues” achieves many different purposes, Malone

said.

“I feel it is important on two different levels,” she said. “One

being to raise awareness and also to raise money.”

Proceeds from this year’s show benefit CSU’s Women’s Programs

and Studies and other local organizations dedicated to stopping

violence against women.

But despite annual performances the show does not stagnant

because Ensler changes the script every year. This year she is

focusing on the war in Iraq and Juarez, Mexico.

“There is one monologue about how rape has been used as a tactic

of war in Bosnia and Kosovo,” said Ali Hoskins, a sophomore

anthropology major who is acting in the show.

Tickets for the show are $7 at the student center information

desk and Johnson Hall.

“At first women were reluctant to talk,” Ensler said in the

show’s introduction. “But once they got going you couldn’t stop

them. Women secretly love to talk about their vaginas. Mainly

because no one has ever asked them before.”

The first show of “The Vagina Monologues” takes place on

Saturday at 7 p.m. with a final performance at 2 p.m. Sunday in the

Lory Student Center Theatre.