Students Present ‘The Vagina Monologues’
Alma College students are raising awareness and funds for Gratiot
County Women’s Aid Services through performances of "The Vagina
Monologues."
The students will perform the play at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, 20 and 21 in
Jones Auditorium in the Tyler Van Dusen Campus Center at Alma College.
Tickets are $3 or a donation at the door.
“This is probably something that should be done every year on every
campus because it’s not just about a performance; it’s about raising
awareness and funds to combat violence against women and girls
worldwide,” said Joanne Gilbert, chair and associate professor of
communications and co-director of Women’s Studies.
The play’s participants include residents of the McCurdy House, the
Alma College Women’s Resource Center, and other students pursuing
degrees in theatre. The student directors are Rebecca Peacock and
Ashley Masoner.
The benefit performances of playwright/founder Eve Ensler's
award-winning play are presented as part of V-Day, a global movement to
end violence against women and girls and raise funds and
awareness. The “V” in V-Day stands for victory, valentine and
vagina.
The benefit production was first performed in Alma as part of the V-Day
campaign in 2002. Gilbert was inspired to bring the play to Alma after
seeing it performed. The first production raised $4,000 for women’s aid
due to overwhelming support.
“It was very powerful,” Gilbert said.
The monologues are based on interviews with more than 200 women about
their vaginas. It addresses everything from sexual abuse to
self-discovery for women.
“We were worried what we think about vaginas, and even more worried
that we don’t think about them,” according to one line of the script.
In 2006, more than 2,700 V-Day events in 1,150 communities and colleges took place in the United States and around the world.
To date, V-Day has raised more than $35 million and educated millions
about the issue of violence against women; crafted international
educational, media and PSA campaigns; launched the Karama program in
the Middle East; funded more than 5,000 community-based anti-violence
programs; reopened shelters; and funded safe houses in South Dakota,
Egypt, Iraq and Kenya.
The V-Day College Campaign strives to empower women to find their
collective voices and demand an end to the epidemic levels of violence
and abuse on their campuses, in their communities and around the world,
according to Gilbert.
The benefit productions of “The Vagina Monologues” typically take place
between Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 and International Women’s Day on
March 8.
Posted: Mon, February 12th, 2007 at 9:14AM
