The University of Tampa is once again taking part in V-Day, the global movement to end violence against girls and women.
The Vagina Monologues, a benefit production originally scripted by V-Day Founder Eve Ensler, will be performed Saturday at 7 p.m. in Reeve’s Theater.
UT’s tradition started 12 years ago and is something that the community proudly takes part in.
On Valentine’s Day 1998, in New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, the very first performance of The Vagina Monologues was staged for a sold out audience of 2,500 people.
Renowned actresses Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon appeared in that debut performance.
Now V-Day has grown and spread far beyond the borders of New York.
The Crown Vic Theatre in London held its own V-Day performance the next year, with its own share of world famous performers such as Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Christiane Amanpour.
Today, hundreds of thousands are exposed to V-Day and millions of dollars have been raised for anti-violence charities that have resulted from V-Day events.
Over 400 cities participated in the V-Day Campaign, for a grand total of over 3,000 benefits in 58 countries world wide.
V-Day is by far one of the university’s most monumental annual events.
UT is one of 700 colleges that have accepted the V-Day invitation to participate in its College Campaign. Through performances at schools, thousands of students are exposed to V-Day and its message.
UT student Charu Bahl has been an active member in the university’s V-Day activities and annual performance since her freshman year.
“The show is sponsored by Residence Life and you have to audition to be in it,” said Bahl. “Any female student, faculty and staff can audition for the monologues.”
All interested members of the UT community are encouraged to audition.
“The audition process is really simple; you go in front of the chairpersons for the show and perform one or two monologues on the spot. It is not nerve-wrecking at all.”
Bahl says that some girls simply read the introduction pieces as their audition.
“The chairpersons decide who would be a fit for the monologues that they have chosen for that year.
“Every year, we have some returning monologues that the audiences have liked and then we have new ones to keep the audiences excited and entertained.”
UT’s male population, V-Day is not for women alone.
On the contrary, there are hundreds of male participants of V-Day and its message.
Mark Matousek, author and close friend of Eve Ensler, pioneered a male side to V-Day: men sharing stories of witnessing female abuse and shedding light on, what Matousek calls “The epidemic of violence being perpetrated by members of our sex.”
“It became clear to me (as it already was to Eve) that violence against women was not merely a female issue, it was a human dilemma twisting the lives and consciences of men…[Their] voices needed to be heard in order for the dialogue that began 10 years ago with the founding of V-Day to be complete.
“In the months to come, we will be presenting a series of pieces written by men with the hope of bridging this gender gap.”
All audiences, regardless of gender, have something to gain from watching the show. All proceeds from the performances go to various anti-violence charities for women and girls.
“The show,” Bahl said, “is a lighter way to reflect on a more serious issue.
“I believe that people come back and see these monologues because even though they are entertaining, there’s a strong message behind them. So come out and support us.”
Sophie Erber can be contacted at serber@ut.edu.