The Women’s Resource Center is holding auditions Feb. 14 and 15 in the Ferguson Theater for their production of “The Vagina Monologues” in honor of sexual awareness month.
“The Vagina Monologues” is a play about the trials and tribulations of womanhood written by Eve Ensler. It will be performed in the Ferguson Theater April 16 and 17.
“[Ensler] wrote ‘The Vagina Monologues’ following interviews she conducted with a few hundred women about their experiences,” Zoe Storey, a senior majoring in history and student coordinator for the event, said. “The monologues bring to light issues of sexual assault, violence, and other issues unique to women but in a way that allows women to celebrate and reclaim their sexuality and personhood.”
Several other student organizations, including the theatre honor society, Alpha Psi Omega, The Student Leadership Council and the gender and race studies honor society, are joining with the WRC to assist with this production as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
All proceeds from the event will go to benefit the WRC, Storey said.
(See also “WRC hosts Chocolate Festival”)
Although the name of the play can be considered controversial, the overarching message of bringing awareness to violence against women is a topic everyone can agree is important.
“I think some people are uncomfortable with the word vagina. I do not think anyone is against raising awareness and combating violence against women,” Baillie Schantz, a graduate teaching assistant in the department of gender and race studies, said. “Students will be able to relate to it. It is stories of women. Some of the monologues focus on relationships, while others take a comical stance on things like unwanted body hair.”
The primary focus for the WRC right now is recruiting actors.
“The APO is partnering with the SLC to recruit actors and put together the production,” Storey said.
They are not seeking actors with a plethora experience, but rather women who can relate with and portrayed the emotions of the monologues to the best of their ability.
“The Student Leadership Council is putting on a play and most of the students on the council have no theater experience, but the monologues are written with that intent. Most organizations that produce ‘The Vagina Monologues’ have no theatre connections,” Storey said.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
