The Vagina Monologues: “The vaginas are back!”
Later today, MSUM’s Women’s Center and Campus Feminist Organization will put on the Vagina Monologues once again. As their DragonCentral post says, “The vaginas are back!” The event will be tonight from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the Fox Recital Hall. You can buy tickets here or buy them at the event. All proceeds will go to the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center here in Fargo-Moorhead.
The Vagina Monologues is a play written with a series of stories told by different women. Some themes explored in the stories are sexual experiences, body image, genital mutilation, and so on. For the past three years, Dana Bisignani, MSUM’s Women’s Center Coordinator, has been putting it on to raise money for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center (RACC).
I interviewed Dana Bisignani to get more insight on the event.
Q: What’s the most important part of it?
Dana: It’s important to different people in different ways. The cast has fun and, by the end, gains more confidence. It means a lot to students to know they are doing something for the RACC. That is the point. The RACC is an important community partner for MSUM and a critical resource for the community.
New audience members learn a lot about women’s embodied experience. Returning audience members are re-inspired and always have a good laugh, which is important in the middle of the winter.
Q: What do you hope to come out of it?
Dana: More tickets sold mean more money for the RACC. I also hope students in the production have a transformative experience that stays with them.
Q: How many students and community members are involved?
Dana: Some community members from last year are returning for the trans chorus, so that’s four community members, one that has re-enrolled at MSUM. Along with them, there are 10 MSUM students, 1 NDSU student, and Anne Blackhurst will be playing a part.
Another thing to add is that even though the Vagina Monologues have been around since the 80’s, the story still has lots to teach us.