‘Vagina Monologues’
organizers encourage
all to audition
The ASUO Women’s Center is organizing auditions for the fifth annual “Vagina Monologues” at the University, and everyone is invited to try out for a part. Auditions were held Tuesday night and will be held again tonight at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in 177 Lawrence. Call backs will be held Thursday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in PLC 180.
“It’s a cold audition so they don’t need to prepare anything,” ASUO Women’s Center Education Outreach Coordinator Guru Simrat Khalsa said.
Khalsa, who is organizing the auditions, said it would be better if people were familiar with the play.
“It’s all related to women’s sexuality,” she said.
“The Vagina Monologues” is a collection of experiences of women around the world gathered by author Eve Ensler. A few different monologues are incorporated each year at the University production, and the play has completely sold out for the past three years, Khalsa said.
She said about 75 people tried out last year, and she is expecting the same for this year.
About one dozen people will be cast to read various monologues from the play, which is tentatively scheduled for February.
Khalsa said the purpose of the monologues, which is part of a nationwide campaign, is to bring awareness to women’s issues.
“The main purpose is to stop violence against women,” she said.
Khalsa said anybody who has an interest in the subject is welcome to audition, and the parts are not exclusive to women.
“The monologues have a variety of ages and people,” she said.
She said the national campaign, which is called V-Day, is held at more than 900 campuses across the country.
Khalsa said she is currently fundraising in the community to support the production of the monologues on campus. She is planning a silent auction in which artists from the community will be asked to donate works to the cause, and she is asking for donations from community members and student groups.
Any profits gained from the February production will be donated to organizations in the community supporting women’s rights and working to end violence against women.
“It’s a very powerful piece,” she said. “It has a very strong message to convey.”
— Chelsea Duncan
