The Vagina Monologues

Auditions were held for the 10th year of the upcoming play

“Do you love Vaginas?”

Student coordinator of Vagina Monologues, ChaVon McMurray, believes that question is the key to grab people’s attention and get them out to the show.

Auditions were held for the upcoming performance of the Vagina Monologues Nov. 13 and 15.

The Vagina Monologues is an all-female play made up of a series of monologues created from real stories. Eve Ensler is the woman behind the Vagina Monologues and created the play in 1996 after interviewing 200 women about their views on sex, violence and relationships.

The initial message behind the play was women empowerment and femininity. Eventually the monologues became a major part of the V-day campaign to end domestic violence against women and girls.

Jackie Wright, the other student coordinator for the Vagina Monologues, said she could describe the play in one word: sisterhood.

McMurray, Ferris senior in applied speech communication, said, “I want people to see the importance of what the Vagina Monologues is and the meaning behind the actual show.”

This is the 10th year that Ferris will be putting on the Vagina Monologues, and McMurray and Wright are hoping to make the play as big as possible.

“[Our goal is] to spread awareness about vaginas and what they actually mean to us. One of the big things is showing awareness about domestic violence,” Wright, Ferris senior in social work, said.

Every year, the proceeds of the Vagina Monologues put on by Ferris go to benefit the Women’s Information Services, Inc. (WISE), the domestic abuse and sexual assault shelter, located in Big Rapids, which serves families in need in Newaygo, Mecosta and Osceola counties.

For the past few years, Ferris has not raised as much money for the local WISE shelter as they previously had. Wright said she wanted to be a student coordinator to help raise more money. Their goal this year is to donate $5,000.

“For first-time viewers, I hope they see the importance of what Ferris has done as well as other universities and production companies have done throughout the world. I want them to know the importance of domestic violence,” McMurray said.

Wright also encourages people who have never seen the play to come on out and see what it is all about.

“Some [monologues] are funny, some are sad, some are unsettling and some are hilarious. It’s a good time, and I guarantee if you come see, you will enjoy it,” Wright said.

The play will be held March 1, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for students will cost $5 and $10 for the general public.