From its beginnings as an off-Broadway episodic play in 1996, “The Vagina Monologues” has turned into a global non-profit movement raising funds and awareness for women’s anti-violence groups.
On April 12, California State University, Stanislaus is partnering with the Center Stage Conservatory of Modesto to bring the play to the Turlock university campus.
Started by feminist plawright Eve Ensler, “The Vagina Monologues” seeks to bring attention to the feminine experience through a series of monologues performed by various women on topics such as love, sex, birth, rape and sexual assault, and other common experiences of women worldwide.
After conducting interviews of hundreds of women about their views on sex, relationships, and violence against women, Ensler put together the first set of monologues in 1996. Since then the monologues have been revised numerous times, and new monologues are added each year to address current issues facing women globally.
The powerful production also began the V-Day movement – a global annual event from February 1 to April 30 in which participants hold performances of the show and other related events to benefit rape crisis centers, shelters for women, and other resource centers for victims of violence and sexual abuse.
The Vagina Monologues will play at CSU Stanislaus from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 12 in the Event Center on campus. The show is free and open to the public, however, due to the nature of the topics that will be addressed during the show, an adult should accompany guests under the age of 18.
