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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE March 3, 2006

ABI

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRÉ

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Photo of Jose Mennel Carreño by Fabrizio Ferri,

DEREK EVANS

Erin Eilbeck talks about looking at and exploring your vagina for the first time.

Full-on vagitude at the Grid

by Dana Aritonovich

Cleveland-A weekend of performances of The Vagina Monologues raised nearly $1,200 for local domestic violence services.

The February 24 and 25 performances at the Grid, sponsored by the Cleveland LGBT Center and the V-Day movement, made use of the talents of 14 Cleveland area women.

"I think it's great," said Sue GibbonsLopatka, manager of the Grid. “It's great to

see new faces here, and to be a part of the Cleveland community."

Over 200 people came out to watch the show over both nights.

Chelsea Phillips, a volunteer for the LGBT Center's youth program, was involved with The Vagina Monologues at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. When she moved to Cleveland, she missed being part of the annual show. This time, she got to direct and perform.

"It's about celebrating yourself, and it's

comforting to see that other people are going through some of the same things that you are," Phillips says.

The plight of women around the globe is an important aspect of the Monologues. “There are a lot of things going on in the world that we don't hear about in the U.S.," she adds, noting that 130 million women have undergone female genital mutilation.

"Say It" was based on interviews with "comfort women," who were forced by the Japanese military into prostitution during World War II. Four women performed this piece, taking turns asking the Japanese government to officially apologize for their role in these atrocities.

Along with the serious stories, there are humorous tales like "The Vagina Workshop" and "My Angry Vagina," all of which are intended to be a celebration of women and their struggles.

For more information about V-Day, go to www.vday.org.

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