"The Vagina Monologues" Return to UTC

The UTC Women’s Action Council presents the 4th annual production of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues” Monday, February 9th and Tuesday, February 10th, with performances beginning at 7 p.m. nightly in the Roland Hayes Hall of the UTC Fine Arts Center.

Admission is $6.00 for students and $10.00 for community members. For ticket information, contact the UTC Box Office at 425-4269.

“V-DAY has brought together UTC students, faculty, staff, and local women from all backgrounds, working together for each other's well being,” says Shannon Marie Smith, UTC V-DAY event organizer. “UTC's involvement with 'The Vagina Monologues' is the epitome of the engaged metropolitan-university initiative as we strive to raise awareness, services and support for women and girls who have been victimized in our community."

“The Vagina Monologues” is a show based on interviews with over 200 women. A celebration of women’s sexuality and strength, the production exposes the violations that women endure throughout the world.

“The United Nations has declared that violence against women is the number one health hazard to women internationally. Too often, it has been viewed as a private matter and victims often bear their pain alone and in silence,” according to Dr. Helen Eigenberg, professor and head of the Department of Criminal Justice at UTC. “The Vagina Monologues gives visibility to a serious social problem and provides a voice for women who are not able or who are not allowed to speak their truth or tell of their experiences. It is a fun and powerful way to get people to think about the ways in which the mere possession of a vagina is used to create and justify social arrangements that have a huge impact upon the day to day lives of women.”

In 2002, more than 800 V-Day benefit events were presented by local volunteer activists around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. This year, the show at UTC is one of 2,000 worldwide. Sharon Hill, political science professor and UTC faculty advisor of the production says “The Vagina Monologues” are a unique and extraordinary way to increase awareness of the continuing violence against women and girls, worldwide.

“In addition, this production has raised thousands of dollars to assist agencies in their mission to improve the lives of and create opportunities for everyone. I am committed to the V-Day Campaign and the Vagina Monologues because I know that there is so much that women and girls can accomplish, when the violence stops," Hill said.V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop worldwide violence against women and girls including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sexual slavery. V-Day provides funding to create and nurture innovative programs to stop the violence. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

“I am so proud to be part of the V-Day performances of The Vagina Monologues here in Chattanooga,” says Kate Briere, director. “This is what working in the theatre means...involvement, stirring things up, promoting worthy causes, and actively making a difference.”