Women’s Center hosts auditions for ‘Monologues’

The Women’s Center has an exciting performance opportunityon the horizon. The only requirements: you must be a student andhave a vagina.

Auditions for “The Vagina Monologues” will be heldon Nov. 17 and 18 from 5-8 p.m. Ten to 12 women are chosen to readfor “The Vagina Monologues,” said Courtney Aberle,coordinator of the SMU Women’s Center.

Started in 1996 in New York, the performance piece is a seriesof monologues written by Eve Ensler about female sexuality.

“We are looking for people who are committed to themission of ending violence against women,” Aberle said,”and women who have a lot of confidence since they will haveto get in front of their peers to talk about women’ssexuality.”

About 60 women have auditioned over the last two years topresent controversial subjects such as rape and female genitalmutilation.

“It is almost completely student-run and student-performedby students of all backgrounds and majors,” Aberle said.

The play will be different this year said Amy Dominguez,producer of “The Vagina Monologues” and co-president ofthe Women’s Interest Network. Some plans include decoratingthe doors like vaginas, having two co-directors and including acharacter spotlight.

“It is not a showcase of talent, but a spotlight ofwomen’s issues,” Dominguez said. “We want to makethe event intimate — one-on-one.”

Over 800 cities participated in V-Day last year, according toofficials.

“Each university holds the event around the same date,Feb. 14, known as V-Day — for Valentine’s Day —to fight violence against women,” said last year’sguest performer Karen Click, coordinator of Asian American StudentServices at SMU.

Click emphasized the importance of faculty involvement to showthe students that talking about sex is safe.

“‘The Vagina Monologues’ mean being able tomodel to others that you do have a voice,” Click said.”Since it is entertaining, it is an easy way to talk aboutthe body and what happens to it.”

According to officials, about 600 people attended the event atSMU last year. “We are holding the event on Feb. 13 tohopefully bring in a bigger crowd,” Aberle said.

Proceeds from the event go to the Family Place, a nonprofitorganization that provides counseling and shelter to women andfamilies suffering from domestic violence.