Three Benefit Performances of “The Vagina Monologues” Scheduled for Feb. 2-4
Tuesday, January 31 2012
MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Women’s Center is presenting their 10th annual V-Day benefit production of Eve Ensler’s celebrated play, The Vagina Monologues, Feb. 2-4 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre in downtown Moscow.
V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. The campaign includes the performance of creative events such as plays, readings, documentary showings and educational “teach-ins” to increase awareness, raise funds and revitalize existing organizations that advocate for an end to gender-based violence.
Last year, over 5,800 V-Day benefits took place around the world, raising funds and awareness towards ending violence against women. Since 1998, V-Day has raised over $85 million for local beneficiaries working to end violence against women and girls. The University of Idaho Women’s Center has joined this global movement as part of the V Day 2012 College Campaign. The beneficiaries of the 2012 Moscow production proceeds are Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse (ATVP), the global V-Day Foundation and the University of Idaho Women’s Center.
Hailed by The New York Times as "funny" and "poignant," and by the Daily News as "intelligent" and "courageous," The Vagina Monologues, first performed by Ensler in a solo off-Broadway show, dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women’s experiences.
Every year, Ensler writes a Spotlight Monologue to highlight a global incident of gender-based violence. The script for this year’s play features the brand-new monologue For My Sisters in Portauprincebukavuneworleans and is aimed at raising awareness of the violence perpetrated against three communities of women and girls; in Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in 2010; in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the result of a 15-year bloody civil war; and in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The Vagina Monologues will be performed at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, Feb. 2, Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. Tickets cost $10 for advance purchase and may be obtained from the University of Idaho Women’s Center, located in the Memorial Gym, Room 109. Tickets also may be purchased in the Moscow community from Eclectica, which shares commercial space with Safari Pearl, located at 221 E. Third St., in Moscow. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the door for $15. Advance purchase is highly recommended, as the show sells out every year.
Additional V-Day 2012 events include a special art exhibition and reception on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at Sisters’ Brew Coffee House, located at 218 S. Main St., in Moscow. The public is invited to view original artwork inspired by the themes "Womanhood" and "Empowering Women," meet the artists, enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries, make a donation to the V-Day Campaign, and purchase tickets for this year's production of The Vagina Monologues. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, there will be a free screening of the documentary What I Want My Words To Do To You at 12:30 p.m., in the Women’s Center, located in room 109 of the Memorial Gym on the U-Idaho campus. This powerful film documents a writing workshop led by Ensler for 15 women inmates of New York’s Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, most of who were convicted of murder. The women delve into and expose their most terrifying realities as they grapple with the nature of their crimes and their own culpability. The film culminates in an emotionally-charged prison performance of the women's writing by Mary Alice, Glenn Close, Hazelle Goodman, Rosie Perez and Marisa Tomei. All are welcome to attend the screening, which is free of charge.
For more information about The Vagina Monologues or related V-Day events, please contact the Women’s Center at (208) 885-6616 or email
wcenter@uidaho.edu.
More information about the global V-Day Campaign is available at
www.vday.org.
Since 1972, the University of Idaho Women's Center has been a voice for gender equity on campus, discussing issues of concern to women and other targeted groups, holding informational conferences, organizing educational programs, networking and engaging the campus and local communities in dialogue in an effort to build a more inclusive and compassionate society. For more information, call (208) 885-6616 or visit
www.uidaho.edu/womenscenter.
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About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals, and competes in the Western Athletic Conference. Learn more:
www.uidaho.edu.