V-Day is coming!


WHAT: ASU presents Eve Ensler’s acclaimed play “The Vagina Monologues,” as part of V-Day 2002: The College Campaign.
WHEN: Sat., Feb. 23, 2002, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
WHERE: Neeb Hall, on the ASU campus in Tempe. 
TICKETS: Advance tickets are $13 for students and $16 for adults; day-of-show tickets are $16 for students and $19 for adults.
INFORMATION, TICKETS: 480-965-6447.

For the fourth straight year, Arizona State University brings the national phenomenon, Eve Ensler's acclaimed play "The Vagina Monologues," to the Valley, as part of V-Day 2002: The College Campaign. A diverse cast of over 50 ASU students will perform this Obie Award-winning production.

The V-Day College Campaign invites colleges and universities around the world to mount benefit productions of “The Vagina Monologues” on their campuses on or around Valentine’s Day to raise money and awareness to stop violence against women.

All proceeds from the ASU performance will go to three Phoenix-area shelters for abused and battered women and their children: CASA (Center Against Sexual Abuse), My Sister’s Place and De Colores.

ASU joins over 550 other colleges and universities in staging performances of Ensler’s play. Performances are being staged all over the United States and in Australia, Canada, England, France, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines and Scotland.

Hailed by The New York Times as “funny” and “poignant” and by The Daily News as “intelligent” and “courageous,” the play dives into the mystery, humor, pain, wisdom, power, outrage and excitement buried in woman’s experiences. The play consists of 21 monologues based on Ensler’s interviews with hundreds of women.

The first V-Day was held in 1998 in an off-Broadway theatre in New York, and Ensler’s play was performed by some of the country’s biggest stars: Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei, Uma Thurman, Winona Ryder, Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, Rosie Perez, Kathy Najimy and Calista Flockhart.

The courtyards around the venue will open two hours prior to show time and feature original artwork and live music, as well as information tables and silent witnesses. The production is co-sponsored by the Department of Women’s Studies, the Student Health Center, the ASU Inter-group Relations Center and the Herberger College of Fine Arts.

About ASU’s Director

Meredith Pieratt is the director of the ASU production. Pieratt, 20, is a third-year theatre major who hails from San Diego, California. She performed in last year’s production and was incredibly moved by the experience.

“This is empowering,” Pieratt says. “Last year an audience member approached me after the performance. Crying, she said, “Thank you, this show has changed my life.” I knew right then that my life had been changed as well.

“V-Day gives people hope to know that they are not alone. There are so many of us who want to work toward stopping violence against women. Women and girls need to stop hurting and being afraid.”

PLEASE NOTE: This performance contains material that may be objectionable to children and some adults.

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu