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.
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