Lincoln University will present "The Vagina Monologues" March 6 as part of a fundraising event to honor V-Day, a global movement that began 15 years ago to end violence against women and girls. Each year, more than 5,800 V-Day events are organized at campuses across the country.
The university's staff and students will appear in the Obie award-winning play, a series of funny, moving and sometimes dark monologues written and performed by Eve Ensler in 1996 in Greenwich Village. Originally a one-woman show, Ensler eventually recruited a "who's who" list of actors to play the roles on stage, including Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosario Dawson and Kate Winslet. So far "The Vagina Monologues" has been performed in more than 140 countries as well as a televised production on HBO.
LU's Wellness Connection group decided to connect the play to V-Day events, so that proceeds from ticket sales may go to the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service in Jefferson City. The agency provides services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. It also serves as a shelter for these individuals.
LU's production of "The Vagina Monologues" is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at LU's Mitchell Auditorium on the Jefferson City campus. Tickets are $10 for the public and $5 for students.
Stephanie Clark, chair of LU's Women's Leadership Academy, said the play is significant on college campuses because college is when many girls are on their own for the first time.
"Basically, for women to have a feeling of control over their own bodies, and not be subjected to violence, or pressure to have sex, or to fit in," Clark said. "Sexual assault, nationwide, is a problem on college campuses.
"This show in Jefferson City, I think, is long overdue."