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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE October 18, 2002

eveningsout

The play that has become a cultural movement 'The Vagina Monologues' comes to Columbus and Toledo

by Kaizaad Kotwal

The Vagina Monologues has become a worldwide phenomenon in the six years since its opening in New York City. The play, 90 minutes without intermission, is a collection of monologues about what it means to be a

tensely personal testimonies are the basis for The Vagina Monologues.

Through the monologues, Ensler explores the power, pain, wisdom, outrage, mystery, excitement and humor hidden within women. The monologues are frank, explicit and unmitigatedly human.

From an off-Broadway hit. The Vagina Monologues has grown into an international cultural movement of sorts, having been produced in over 40 countries along with two U.S. national tours.

One of the U.S. tours will be in Columbus between October 22 and 27 at the Southern Theatre. The other will be in Toledo on the same dates, at the Valentine Theater.

Ensler and her play have become activists in spreading the word about violence against women all across the globe. In 1998, as an outgrowth of the success of the show, a non-profit organization named V-Day was born in an attempt to raise funds to aid grassroots organizations working to stop violence against women and girls.

Starla Benford

woman, what it means to belong to a gender often abused, violated and misused only because one possesses a biological entity called the vagina.

Eve Ensler, herself a survivor of incest. interviewed over 200 women, and these in-

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V-Day also works to help women who are survivors of violence.

Between February and March of each year, V-Day sponsors events across the globe to

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raise money and awareness in an effort to end violence against women of all casts, creeds, nationalities, religions, ethnic backgrounds, economic classes and geographical origins. At V-Day 2001, Madison Square Garden in New York City sold out as Ensler was joined by luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Glenn Close, Calista Flockhart, Marisa Tomei, Rosie Perez, Queen Latifah, Julie Kavner and over 65 others.

In addition, that same year, there were over 800 other V-Day benefits performed all over the world.

To date the professional productions of The Vagina Monologues have raised over $5 million and this year, V-Day plans on giving away $10 million to global organizations fighting the subjugation of women.

The Columbus performance will donate part of its proceeds to Choices, which offers a wide range of services for victims and

More than

show tunes

Cleveland-Fresh from a one-night stopover in Columbus, the love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine is back on the North Coast.

Varla Jean Merman's latest show, I've Got the Music in Me, showcases the comedy and song stylings of the "legendary" chanteuse belting out her trademark "more than show tunes," including the new songs "Why Can't the Rappers Teach Their Children How to Speak" and "Coffee Enya-Ma."

Combining the fiery good looks of Ann-Margret, the décolletage of Dolly Parton, the voice of Joan Sutherland on ecstasy and a unique comedic punch, Varla Jean will also present her new videos "Varla Jeans: The Denim Line" and "Where Are You, My Baby Velveeta," among others.

Jeffery Roberson, in his alter ego of Varla Jean Merman, will be at the Cleveland Public Theater through October 20. Tickets are available at 216-631-2727.

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survivors of domestic violence, family members, friends, employers and professionals in central Ohio.

New York actors Starla Benford and Kristen Lee Kelly will join a local guest actor Shawn Ireland the Southern Theatre performance.

At the Southern Theater, performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $26.75 to $46.75. Tickets can be purchased by calling any Ticketmaster location or 614-431-3600.

Tickets for Valentine Theater performances can be purchased at the Valentine's box office, 419-242-2787.

For more information about The Vagina Monologues, see www.thevagina monologues.com. For further information about working with or contributing to V-Day's efforts go to www.vday.org.

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