The Vagina Monologues

(Yes I said Vagina. Vagina, vagina, vagina. Okay? Are you over it now?)

The Vagina Monologues will be presented at 8pm on March 10. The show is a V-Day Campaign fundraiser sponsored by Family Services. Proceeds from ticket sales will also go toward Family Services' programs for battered women.

I post this now for several reasons. The first reason is the most important one. Please go ahead and mark this date on your calendars. Please plan on purchasing tickets to see this empowering show. Leave husbands and boyfriends at home (unless they are open-minded to lots of vagina talk) and bring your girlfriends, your mothers, your sisters, your cousins, your co-workers and your neighbors. Money raised is used to help stop violence against women. All women.

The second reason I post now is because I want you to have plenty of time to get prepared for the power of The Vagina Monologues. Yes, the word vagina is referenced frequently throughout the show. No, there aren't naked women onstage showing off their vaginas. There is no nudity; only shades of black, red and pink. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will get angry as you listen to each of the pieces various women present. You will leave the theater with a renewed appreciation of womanhood. My mom, my manager, my supervisor and one of my best (male) friends have attended previous performances. Each of them left the theater in awe.

The third reason is that for the second consecutive year, I will be in the show. (I also did the show back in 2004 for the Community Theatre of Greensboro.) Once again, I will be performing the "Reclaiming Cunt" monologue. (Yes I said cunt. And if you find that word a bit harder to get over, well, that's exactly the point of my piece.)

We started rehearsals with a read-through yesterday and let me just tell you how honored I am to be included in this cast of absolutely amazing women. Even though I am familiar with the show, I found myself laughing and crying to the new voices presenting standard monologues. There are two new monologues this year, and both brought tears to everyone's eyes.

Please mark your calendars now. I can't wait for you to meet my wonderful castmates in this incredible show.