V-DAY 2004 posted 2/3/04

V-Day Adrian College, a benefit production of Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues" will take place on Saturday, February 7, at 7:00 pm in the Adrian Room of Ritchie Dining Hall on the Adrian College campus. This is the second year in a row that the College has sponsored a production of the ground-breaking Obie Award-winning play. This year's production, sponsored by the college's Safe place organization, will raise money to support local efforts to combat violence against women. Tickets are $5, and available at the door.

Hailed by the New York Times as "funny" and "poignant" and by the Daily news as "intelligent" and "courageous," "The Vagina Monologues" was first performed Off-Broadway by the playwright, Eve Ensler. Through a series of monologues spoken by a variety of women, the play examines the mystery, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement of women's experiences. The play has been performed in major cities through the United States, Europe and the Middle East, and is made available without fees for colleges to perform each year for benefit programs only.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. According to a 2000 United Nations Study on the Status of Women, somewhere in America a woman is battered, usually by her intimate partner, every 15 seconds. Through programs such as "The Vagina Monologues" and other creative events, colleges and other groups increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. In 2003, nearly 1,000 V-Day benefits were presented by volunteer activists around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.

The V-Day movement is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world. In 2001, V-Day was named one of Worth Magazine's "100 Best Charities." In its first six years, V-Day has raised over $20 million for grassroots, national and international organizations and programs.

Release by Cindy Bily.