The Oracle

Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Evan Montgomery "The Vagina Monologues" returns to Tech.

In a global effort to stop violence against women, the Tech Players will present "The Vagina Monologues" as a part of the V-Day college campaign benefit.

Running in its sixth year at Tech, "The Vagina Monologues" will run at 8 p.m. Feb. 12-14 at the Backdoor Playhouse located in the rear of the Jere Whitson building.

"The show portrays a woman's experience," Producer Mark Creter said. "Although the play is called 'The Vagina Monologues,' it should still speak to everyone"

Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Dotson-Creter, the production consists of female cast members from Tech and dancers from Stage One Dance Studio. Proceeds from the production will support the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Written by Eve Ensler, the varying monologues focus on everything from sex and love to menstruation and mutilation. The monologues emerged from her 200 plus interviews of women across the globe.

Every year new monologues are added to highlight issues affecting women around the world. This year, a Hurricane Katrina victim speaks out in the latest piece added to the monologues.

Initially, Ensler performed every monologue herself; however, the monologues grew to be performed in cities all across America and at hundreds of college campuses.

The monologues have sparked a worldwide "V-Day Campaign" with the sole purpose of stopping violence against women. Now, the campaign has affected over 120 countries, with more than 4,000 V-Day benefits taking place worldwide last year.

Since its beginning in 1998, the V-Day campaign raised more than $60 million for local beneficiaries working to end female violence. Tech joins the fight as it takes part in the V-Day 2009 College Campaign.

"I had no idea the Vagina Monologues and V-Day would become what they've become," Ensler said in an interview on Women.com. "It's way beyond any dream I had and it has completely changed my life... I feel a determination I've never felt before in my life. And the possibility of really, really impacting and changing things-- that, in fact, we could create a world where women could live safely and freely without being abused or raped.... One of the reasons I do this is that every night women leave that theater changed."

However, females are not the only ones to be affected by this production.

"It's a very good opportunity to for men to understand women," Stage Manager Evan Montgomery said. "It's a window into explaining how women feel. The reason I love it is because I think a lot of times guys can find their place through a woman. A woman can put new perspectives on things for men. The monologues give a different, open viewpoint. It really is an amazing show, a very artful, empowering production."

Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for general admission. For reservations or questions call the Playhouse box office at 372-6595.

For more information on The Vagina Monologues and the V-Day campaign visit www.vday.org

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