Women’s Initiative will hold auditions for the Vagina Monologues, an annual show spotlighting women’s experiences, on Nov. 12.
The show is part of the national V-Day campaign, which raises awareness of women’s issues around the world. The campaign collects monologues from women of many demographics with topics ranging from lighthearted and quirky to heavy and dramatic.
Women’s Initiative Co-Director of Performance and Speaking Initiatives Starr Brainard, a senior in College of Arts and Sciences, will be this year’s show director, organizing the event logistics and guiding the creative process. She will consult with other members of the club during the audition process, but the final casting decisions rest on her shoulders.
Students interested in auditioning do not need to bring anything or prepare.
“Bring yourself and don’t be afraid to be ridiculous and just let it all out there,” Brainard said. “We’re all understanding, we know they have only 15 minutes to prepare.”
Theater experience is welcome but not required. Brainard expects many of the students will be making their stage debuts.
“They just need to exude whatever the flavor of the monologue is,” she said. “We aren’t expecting anyone super experienced.”
Cameron Schuette, a sophomore in School of Public Affairs, heard about the show last year and is excited to audition this week. She’s going to do her best when she’s auditioning and not think too much about it beforehand.
“I think Vagina Monologues is an important event for women on our campus, and I would love to be a part of it,” she said. “I plan on just giving it my all when I am there.”
Schuette and her fellow auditioners will interpret and perform a monologue that will not be included in the February show. Brainard expects a cast of approximately 30 students, including crew members.
Regular rehearsals, two per week, will begin next semester after an initial cast meeting in December.
Audiences should expect storytelling and specificity in the show on Feb. 6-8. The V-Day Initiative has not finalized the show’s structure yet, according to Brainard, but it will be a mix of single-person and group scenes linked by the common theme of women’s experiences with their vaginas.
Auditions for “The Vagina Monologues” will be held Nov. 12 from 5:45-9 p.m. in Letts Lower Level Conference Room, Nov. 14 from 8-11 p.m. in MGC 244 and Nov. 16 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in in Leonard Classroom 121.
