I started to write “Vagina Stories” as the headline for this post but changed it because it sounded a little shocking and could be misunderstood.  That’s when I realized the power that Eve Ensler’s  award winning play’s title has had on normalizing the word vagina.  Not only can people actually say it in public but it screams from posters all over town.

In the original Broadway version of The Vagina Monologues, Ensler performed every story herself.  The V-Day University of Arizona Benefit Production will feature undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and alumni who have joined together to bring you three nights of hilarious and captivating performances.

These stories are particularly powerful and moving because they are told from a personal point of view. According to Wikipedia, “Every monologue somehow relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the variety of names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.”

V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues.  Thousands participate each year in raising awareness and have contributed to over $70 million raised to stop violence against women and girls.

Performances are February 18, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Social Sciences 100.  Doors open at 7 p.m. so that attendees may peruse educational displays and booths by campus and community organizations.

Tickets are $10 in advance (available on the University mall) and $12 at the door. Additional donations are welcome. All proceeds will be donated to the campus OASIS Center For Sexual Assault & Relationship Violence and the V-Day Spotlight Cause: The Women & Girls of The Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been chosen a second year
as V-Day’s spotlight campaign.  The women in the DRC are at a large
risk for gender-based violence.  Though the war is officially over,
the chaos of unregulated military forces have lead to a devastating
situation for women and girls in the DRC.  V-Day is currently working
on opening the City of Joy, a facility for survivors of sexual
violence.

For more information about The Vagina Monologues, please contact azvagwarriors@yahoo.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 2:47 pm and is filed under Arts. Tags for this post: monologue, stories, storytelling, Vagina Monologues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.