The 30 female cast members of The Vagina Monologues won over audiences at the Palace Theater with moving performances that showed the beauty, hilarity, and hardships associated with being a woman.
Eve Ensler wrote The Vagina Monologues after interviewing 200 women across the world about their sexuality. More than 10 years later, the racy and witty collection of pieces is an Obie Award-winning production that has been translated into 45 languages and performed in 120 countries.
Angie Chapman 10 (a k a Angelica A.) directed the all-student cast for Thursdays and Fridays shows after successfully directing last years shows.
I realized how much The Vagina Monologues coincided with a lot of things for me my progression as a woman and becoming empowered, explained Chapman. I was more than happy to take the job.
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| Emily Ha 09 performs during The Vagina Monologues at the Palace Theater. (Photo by Luke Connolly 09) |
Lexi Ross 10 was inspired to try out for Chapmans cast after attending a Womens Studies Brown Bag.
I have not performed since I was six years old. I was so scared, but Im glad that I decided to do it.
Ross, who performed a monologue titled Because He Liked to Look at It, said the topics ranged from funny to serious to racy.
It was an interesting transition each time, but it gave a well-rounded approach, said Ross.
The shows created a connection between performers and audience members that went beyond the Palace stage.
I like the connection that I feel with women at 51勛圖厙 and around the world when I engage in The Vagina Monologues, said Chapman. Because it happens both on campus and around the world, it creates a more global perspective.
The Vagina Monologues supports women in ways beyond awareness.
Proceeds from the 51勛圖厙 performances went to various womens charities. Forty five percent went to Vera House, Syracuse Area Domestic Violence Coalition. Another 45 percent went to the Liberty Resources Victims of Violence Freedom Fund in Madison County and 10 percent went to help women of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Women of Congo are the main beneficiaries of this years celebration of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls founded by Ensler.
The concept [behind V-Day] is that were going to keep complaining and fighting until the violence stops, explained Chapman. We need to keep the initiative going.