Vagina Monologues celebrate women and activism

The Vagina Monologues return to Luther once again, this time in a new location. The newly renovated Valders 206 will house three performances March 12 at 7 p.m., March 13 at 4 p.m. and March 14 at 2 p.m.

The Monologues will still include many of its audience’s favorites, but each year, Monologues author Eve Ensler selects a new piece as the “spotlight” monologue, which is last in the show’s lineup.

In addition to a new location and the new “spotlight” monologue, third-year Monologues participant Linnea Graffunder (‘10) said audiences should expect another change. A presentation will play prior to the show, giving the audience information about each of the actresses.

“You’ll get to know more about the cast,” Graffunder said. “There’s a lot of new energy in the show this year.”

That new energy comes from the many new performers in this year’s Vagina Monologues.

“An astronomical number of people auditioned this year,” Graffunder said.

Makara Fairman (‘10) is one of this year’s student directors, along with Melanie Kirk (‘12) and Jessica Janezic (‘10). As directors, these three women are in charge of running auditions, casting the show and holding weekly rehearsals.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of it, but I thought I would get stage fright,” Fairman said. “This is a good way for me to be involved.”

Vagina Monologues tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Ten percent of the money earned goes to V-Day, a non-profit organization set up by author Ensler. V-Day is dedicated to ending violence against women around the world, and in ten years of Vagina Monologues performances, the organization has raised over $70 million.

Luther’s Vagina Monologues donates the other 90 percent of the money made on ticket sales and donations to Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, a local organization that works to promote healthy and safe living environments for children and adults.

V-Day and Helping Services of Northeast Iowa aren’t the only reasons Luther women participate in the Vagina Monologues.

“It’s new every year to me, because there are always new women and I have a new part,” Graffunder said. “It’s been inspirational for me to mature in how I see the Monologues as a form of activism.”

While the Vagina Monologues inspire the women involved, the performance is meant to motivate audience members to take issues of violence against women seriously.

“I think it’s a great conversation starter, even for people who have seen it before,” Graffunder said. “It affects you differently every time. It allows people to open up about serious issues.”

Fairman believes that the Monlogues’ message can speak to everyone.

“If you really listen to the Monologues, they apply to both men and women from all walks of life,” Fairman said. “I don’t know many people who haven’t left a performance feeling empowered.”

Encouraging activism is one of the Monologues’ major goals.

“I want everyone to leave knowing that we all have a voice and everyone can do something,” Fairman said.