CAST OF 2009 VAGINA MONOLOGUES, expect a new cast offering the same message about celebrating women. photo coutesty of AMANDA KRAFFT
One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, according to a 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey. Drake University students can support ending violence against women by attending “The Vagina Monologues” Thursday through Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Bulldog Theatre as a part of Drake’s V-Day Campaign.
“The V-Day Campaign is a global movement to stop violence against women,” said Miranda DuPont, the organizer of last year’s production. “The V-Day Campaign was founded by ‘The Vagina Monologues’ playwright Eve Ensler, and V-Day events like ‘The Vagina Monologues’ are held every year all over the world to raise awareness about violence against women.”
This is ninth year that the international V-Day campaign has been celebrated at Drake, with 90 percent of the proceeds going to a local anti-violence organization. In the past years of the international V-Day campaigns, more than $50 million has been raised for local anti-violence groups.
“This week, Drake will be one of thousands of events around the world channeling their creative energy into making a difference as part of the V-Day Campaign,” said senior La’Cee Groetken, a performer in this year’s show. “It is our intention to make V-Day 2010 Drake University a huge success.”
This year the money from Drake’s production will be donated to the Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), which supports victims and survivors of sexual assault. The rest of the profits will go to the V-Day campaign, which helps to combat violence against women and girls in this global movement.
“It’s great way to spend an evening, and in the process you will be giving money to a great cause,” said senior Amanda Krafft, the director of the show. “The show is funny and sad, and while some people assume it is anti-penis, it isn’t! ‘The Vagina Monologues’ isn’t about man-hating. Instead it is a celebration of women and a telling of the many experiences women can have.”
“The Vagina Monologues” is a performance compiled from a collection of interviews with hundreds of women by Eve Ensler. The topics range from body image issues to the female orgasm to sexual assault.
A Vagina Carnival will be held at 6 p.m. in Lower Olmsted before the performances, including a bake sale and a Break-the-Silence Auction and Raffle.
“There is an auction that occurs as well for gift baskets and the like,” said Groetken. “Students should definitely come as there will be numerous goodies to be purchased, as well as handouts from the various organizations that will be tabling.”
“It is a lot of fun and all the money from ticket sales, the silent auction and candy goes to charity,” said Krafft. “Also, I bet most people haven’t seen chocolate vaginas and if you want to see them, and eat them, you should come to the show.”
In 2009, over 4,000 V-Day benefit events produced by volunteer activists took place in the U.S. and 120 countries around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls, according to the V-Day Web site.
There are 13 members involved in the production this year. The event is put on by the Drake V-Day organization and Students for Women’s Issues, and the carnival is hosted by various local and campus organizations, including Student Senate and the American Cancer Society.
Tickets are $5 with a Drake ID and $10 without. Tickets are on sale at the Student Life Center or at the door on performance nights.
“This show is a call to end violence against women and girls, which is something everyone, women and men, have a vested interest in doing,” Krafft said. “A live performance that makes you laugh and cry is pretty impressive, and this one will definitely do both.”
