http://www.westga.edu/~wgpr/news/vagina.html
This is post on the front page of State University of West GA
www.westga.edu
February 9, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - This year, as always, Valentine’s Day brings love and romance. At the State University of West Georgia it also brings an awareness campaign to help stop violence against women and girls.
As part of a global movement, students will present benefit performances of Eve Ensler’s Obie Award-winning play The Vagina Monologues on Monday, Feb. 23, and Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Kathy Cashen Recital Hall and on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the Bonner Lecture Hall. All the performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.
A series of monologues based on Ensler’s interviews with over 200 women, The Vagina Monologues demonstrates women’s sexuality and strength, and exposes violations that they endure throughout the world. Hundreds of colleges and universities around the globe have presented benefit productions of the play for the V-Day anti-violence movement.
V-Day is a nonprofit organization that promotes creative events to increase awareness of violence against women and girls and financially support and encourage the spirit of other anti-violence organizations. It was started by Ensler, who found that every time she performed The Vagina Monologues, women would confront her with terrible stories about their own experiences with violence.
In response, Ensler began using her performances to raise much-needed funds for organizations working to stop violence, and her efforts have since grown into a worldwide movement.
UWG students will conduct fundraisers all month long to support V-Day. During February, at a table outside of the University Community Center, hearts will be sold for $1 each to be dedicated to someone and then displayed in some way during The Vagina Monologues and/or in Cashen Hall.
Now also a popular book, The Vagina Monologues might best be summed up by the description on the back cover of a recent edition: “A poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier, the ultimate forbidden zone, The Vagina Monologues is a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery.”
The cast of this year’s UWG production includes Kelly Williams from Columbus, Jamie Gibson from Albany, Gillian Wilson from Carrollton, Sheryland Neal from Mableton and director Michelle Theriac from Cumming.
The ‘V’ in V-Day stands for Victory over Violence, Valentine’s Day and Vagina.
“Much of the violence against women occurs around the vagina or because women are different than men in that they have vaginas,” explains the V-Day web site. “If we can’t say the word, how can we talk about the issue seriously? Bringing the word into common usage allows us to openly address the terrible issues of violence.”
The play contains graphic language and some disturbing references to violence and oppression. Performances are not recommended for children.
Tickets are $5 for UWG students and $10 for the general public. For more information, contact Shelly Elman, theatre director, at 770-836-4792. For more information about V-Day, visit its web site at
www.vday.org.
________________________________
I just had to share this with every one!
Threaded Mode