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UW-RF Presents "The Vagina Monologues"

By Molly Exner
UW-RF News Bureau

FEB. 11, 2005--The UW-River Falls' Student Senate Women's Initiatives Committee offers a benefit production of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 17-19 in Brandy's of the UW-RF Hagestad Student Center. Ticket prices are $5 for students; $8 for nonstudents.

The second annual UW-RF production of "The Vagina Monologues" is part of a global movement to stop violence against women. Part of V-Day River Falls 2005 and the V-Day College Campaign, the play is an outreach effort to promote creative events that increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations.

V-Day, which stands for victory, valentine and vagina, is a nonprofit organization that distributes funds to grassroots, national and international organizations and programs that generate broader attention for the fight to stop worldwide violence against women.

Kendra Plant, UW-RF business major and music minor from Blaine, Minn., directs and coordinates the play. Plant says, "The play deals with bruises and neglect but also can be very funny and entertaining. People come out after seeing the play with a whole new experience."

Last year 1,100 communities hosted V-Day benefits around the world. V-Day celebrates the work of those nicknamed "vagina warriors," or the women and men working toward ending violence against women at the community level.

"The Vagina Monolgues" has been hailed by the New York Times as "funny" and "poignant" and by the Daily News as "intelligent" and "courageous." The play, which was first performed off-Broadway by Ensler, dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women's experiences.

According to Plant, some of the material is "very straightforward and shocking."

Plant says she's always loved acting and jumped at the chance to be part of women's group coming together to make a difference, by not only raising money but by raising awareness about the issues.

Assistant directors Naomi Bielefeldt, a theater major from Altoona, Wis. and Erin Fiser, a music major from Ladysmith, Wis., helped out with casting, directing, marketing and production and were part of the driving force that made the production possible.

Plant says the production crew contributed to create an "empowering experience" for all those involved and hopes that those who come to see the performance experience the same.

For the second year in a row, the UW-RF production raises proceeds for Turningpoint, a nonprofit organization serving victims of family violence and sexual assault located in River Falls, Wis. Turningpoint has been in existence for 18 years and is the only shelter program within a 60-mile radius of western Wisconsin.

Plant says, "We wanted to have the money working in the community. That's how what V-Day is all about."

Production of "The Vagina Monologues," advised by UW-RF Leadership Center Involvement Coordinator Miriam Huffman, is an event developed by the V-Day College Campaign, which strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the epidemic levels of violence and abuse on their campuses, in their communities and around the world by creating a global community against violence towards females.

Tickets for the all three performances can be purchased at 7 p.m. on show nights or in advance at the Leadership Center Front desk in the UW-RF Hagestad Student Center. Also, "The Vagina Monologues" buttons and vagina-shaped chocolate candy will be sold at performances while supplies last.

To learn more about V-Day River Falls, call Kendra Plant at 715/425-3153 or e-mail at Kendra.i.plant@uwrf.edu. To learn more about V-Day, the V-Day College Campaign or the V-Day Worldwide Campaign visit www.vday.org.

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