Performances of ‘Vagina Monologues’ slated for Bilyeu Theatre in February

The Idaho State University Janet C. Anderson Gender Resource Center will participate in the 2007 V-Day College Campaign and sponsor a production of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15-17 in the Diane and Chick Bilyeu Theatre in Frazier Hall on the ISU campus.

This year’s performance will mark the seventh year ISU has participated in the International V-Day movement by sponsoring a benefit performance of “The Vagina Monologues.” Performers are from the ISU and Pocatello community.

Admission for the performance is $8, or $4 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the Anderson Gender Center on campus or at the door. Each year the V-Day college campaign raises funds to support victims of domestic violence. All proceeds from ISU’s performance will go to Project Hope, ISU’s advocate program, which provides supportive assistance to students, faculty, staff and their friends and family who suffer the effects of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and other crimes.

Last year, more than 1,100 communities hosted V-Day benefits around the world raising funds and awareness towards ending violence against women. From Oklahoma City to London to Cairo, V-Day benefits celebrated the work of local “Vagina Warriors,” women and men working toward ending violence against women at the community level.  These highly successful events raised more than $4 million through performances of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play, “The Vagina Monologues.”  The play has been hailed by the New York Times as “funny” and “poignant” and by the Daily News as “intelligent” and “courageous.” “The Vagina Monologues,” which was first performed off-Broadway by Ensler, dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women’s experiences. Ensler has performed the play to great acclaim throughout the world.V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery.The theme for this year is “Reclaiming Peace,” making the connection between the worldwide anti-violence work of V-Day activists and our collective desire for

peace/an end to armed conflicts. Additionally, each year V-Day spotlights a particular group of women who are experiencing violence with the goal of raising awareness and funds to put a worldwide media spotlight on this area and to raise funds to aide groups who are addressing it. The V-Day 2007 spotlight will be on Women in Conflict Zones because war exponentially increases the crimes of violence against women and girls. In equal measure the strength and resilience of women in rebuilding their communities and leading governments to peaceful solutions will be celebrated.

Through V-Day campaigns, local volunteers and college students produce annual benefit performances of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” to raise awareness and funds for anti-violence groups within their own communities. In 2006, more than 2,500 V-Day benefit events were presented by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.

V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women. The V-Day movement is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world, in 81 countries from Europe to Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, and all of North America.

V-Day, a non-profit corporation, distributes funds to grassroots, national and international organizations and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls.  In its first year of incorporation (2001), V-Day was named one of Worth Magazine’s “100 Best Charities.” In eight years, the V-Day movement has raised over $30 million.

For more information about the national V-Day organization, visit  www.vday.org.

For more information about ISU V-Day activities, contact the Anderson Gender Resource Center, (208) 282-2805 or Deb Easterly at (208) 282-2618.