Vaginas take front and center stage this spring

While the various parts of the human body enjoy equal representation in most theatrical performances, the vagina is the only reproductive organ to have an entire production dedicated to it at Seattle U.

Seattle University's Society of Feminists, SOF, will be working in collaboration with the Fine Arts Department to put on "The Vagina Monologues."

"I realized that it is something that says so much about women's self-empowerment," said Stephanie Malinowski, junior English and women studies major and president of the Society of Feminists. "It gives a spotlight to issues that are sometimes censored."

"The Vagina Monologues" is an award-winning episodic play written in 1998 by American playwright Eve Ensler. As the title suggests, it is a series of monologues that are meant to emphasize female empowerment, feminism and female rights.

"What we usually think of as feminism is more localized," said Colton Josephson, senior drama major and one of the members of the Drama Club producing the play. "This is a traveling collection of women's stories. Some are funny, some are bittersweet and some are downright upsetting. All of them, however, deal with the worldwide feminist movement."

Ensler also launched a feminist movement known as V-day, which is celebrated between Feb. 1 and March 31 every year. The play is part of that movement.

"On V-day, everyone celebrates womanhood. Women as well as men are totally involved," Josephson said.

Each monologue somehow relates to the vagina, whether through love, sex, menstruation or orgasm. A new monologue is added each year in order to underscore a new and pressing issue regarding women's rights.

"The play raises awareness on women's issues that are sometimes given a negative connotation," said Kenna Kettrick, senior drama, history and English major. "People need to be aware that this is a matter of empowerment. It educates people who don't think about this very much in a format that is very engaging."

The production is set to run the first weekend of March in celebration of V-day. "The Vagina Monologues" used to be produced regularly at Seattle University during winter quarter. The play has not been produced at Seattle U since 2006. SOF and the Drama department hope to instigate a revival this year come March.

"The play varies from production to production, but the focus is typically put on the acting and the words rather than a lot of different props and costumes," Kettrick said.

The play is not formatted like a typical theatrical production. There are no grand set pieces nor is there a significantly large cast.

Although it can be produced in a variety of ways, "The Vagina Monologues" usually involves one or more female actresses delivering their monologues one at a time. The play can have as few as a single actress delivering all of the monologues or as many as 25 women each giving their own separate piece.

Auditions were held last weekend. SOF will use a full cast of actresses for the production.

Several students involved in the production of the play expressed this is a good opportunity for students to get involved in something outside of their major and gain a balanced education.

"This play brings in the whole community," Malinowski said. "It delivers an in-your-face message about violence toward women."