Annual ‘Vagina Monologues’ gets updated for 2012 show

Since 1996, it's been performed on stages on Broadway, off-Broadway, on college campuses, high school auditoriums and everywhere in between. Monologues have been delivered by Melissa Etheridge, Whoopi Goldberg and countless girls-next-door. "The Vagina Monologues" has become an institution for women, and more recently, for UCCS.

When asked about it, psychology freshman Brittany Martin giggled. "I don't know. Kind of weird," she said.

Melanie Strescino, a sophomore in the same major, has a similar take. "It's probably funny."

This is many students' first reaction when hearing about the upcoming play. There is more than meets the eye about this performance, however.

The show, written by Eve Ensler and staged internationally, focuses on a wide range of women's issues, flowing back and forth between vignettes that range from humorous and relatable to sobering and edgy.

"The Vagina Monologues" is an annual piece for UCCS, and visual arts and performing senior Chris Medina will be back to direct the show for a second year, despite the fact that he's male.

"If I can direct 10, or 12, or 16, or 18 women, and I survive, I can do anything," he said.

When Medina became involved three years ago, he immediately connected to the play. He said, "I was very interested in the cause, and I am very fascinated by the aspect of the activism and the theatricality of it mixed together. That's kind of where it started."

Although happy with the production in 2011, Medina and his cast of 11 women plan to add a few new aspects to the 2012 show.

"This year it's going to be a little more theatrical than it was last year. Last year it was minimal, we did it in the gallery. I kind of set it up so it was almost a cabaret feel, there were chairs and small tables everywhere," he said.

"This year it's going to be more of a nightclub-like lounge feeling. The girls are going to be assuming roles that would be for a ladies night or girls night out. I'm trying some stuff this year that I've never tried before, so I'm nervous, slash excited, slash very interested to see what happens."

Each year, the author of the play adds a new spotlight monologue. This year's addition focuses on Port-au-Prince and the Women and Children of Haiti.

"I think that's probably the most interesting piece because you can do any play all the time, but in order to keep it fresh and keep it relevant? She's able to focus on something that's happening in the world. It may be Congo or Haiti, or women in Darfur, or Middle Eastern women – anything. It's great."

Even better, in Medina's mind, is the cause behind the Monologues. Proceeds from the show will benefit TESSA and V-Day, organizations devoted to stopping domestic violence against women and children in Colorado Springs and across the world.

"We are pretty much promising what we raise to go to TESSA. That's something that's really great, because something like V-Day, which is an organization that's utilized all over the world, they ask for 10 percent of what you raise."

"For 90 percent of something that you do, in any aspect, to be able to go directly into your community is awesome," said Medina. "This year, we're trying to raise $10,000."

There will be a silent auction after the last show to help reach this goal.