ASUO Women’s Center will present the first of three showings of “The Vagina Monologues” to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the protection of women from violence and the female anatomy. The first show commences tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Agate Auditorium, and it will run through Saturday.
The play, which was written by Eve Ensler in the mid-1990s, is a series of one-person acts dealing with women’s sexuality issues, from menstruation to sexual assault. The University’s showing of “The Vagina Monologues” uses a portion of the original script that was assigned specifically for college performances. The college version of “The Vagina Monologues” was created as a response to high rape statistics on campuses nationwide. Each year, Ensler writes a new monologue for campus productions, and this year’s new piece deals with women in Iraq.
“Vagina” producer Guru Simrat Khalsa said the show’s topics include orgasms, molestation, puberty and rape. She said attending the play can have an empowering effect on women.
“It brings up issues that women don’t talk about normally,” she said. “It makes them prouder of who they are as women and encourages them not to hide who they are.”
Women’s Center spokeswoman Sarah Wells said the play blends serious and humorous topics.
“Some topics are funny, like the taboo of saying the word ‘vagina,’” she said. “The show connects to a tragedy level and also gets you to laugh.”
The 14-member all-female cast of University students and community members range from 13 years old to middle-aged. Actresses will dress in red and black and perform against a background of banners with minimal props. Director Katie McClatchey said the show draws audience members to the actresses’ emotions.
“The show is very physically active,” she said. “The energy comes from the actresses themselves.”
The performance will be followed by an open mic where audience members can voice their feelings about the show and share their own stories about women’s sexuality issues. The Women’s Center will also host a raffle and provide a large sheet of butcher paper for attendees to sign during and after the performance.
“The Vagina Monologues” is being performed in conjunction with V-Day, a global movement with the goal of ending violence targeted toward women. Ensler and a group of New York women founded V-Day in 1998 as an outgrowth from the success of the play; today V-Day sponsors campaigns and programs that work to stop such atrocities such as rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and slavery. The “V” in V-Day stands for victory, valentine and vagina.
Wells said the performance runs on Valentine’s Day weekend to emphasize all forms of love. She added the message of the production places importance on loving yourself, which is just as crucial as having love in a relationship.
Khalsa said by holding the show on the holiday of love, people are reminded not all relationships are full of valentine bliss.
“Because the show is running around Valentine’s Day, it brings attention to the fact that a lot of relationships don’t have love,” she said.
Wells said the show’s focus is to publicize the fight to end violence and to give women the courage to stand up for themselves.
“The message is that violence against women is happening,” she said. “They aren’t alone, and a strong community is being created to they can stand up against it.”
The Women’s Center will host a discussion forum Monday at 6 p.m. in the EMU Fir Room. The free event will give people the opportunity to talk about how the show affected them and voice their own concerns about violence against women.
Tickets for “The Vagina Monologues” are $7 for students and $10 for general admission and are available at the EMU Ticket Office.

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• ‘Vagina
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• ‘Vagina
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