2006 WSU Benefit Production of “The Vagina Monologues” Announces Beneficiaries

PULLMAN, Wash. — The 2006 WSU benefit production of “The Vagina Monologues” has selected Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the V-Day Spotlight 2006: Justice to ‘Comfort Women’ as the beneficiaries for the 2006 performance.

The cast and crew choose organizations that focus on ending violence against women as beneficiaries each year. The National V-Day organization also selects a different international group to raise awareness and funds for every year.

Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse is a local non-profit organization that has been serving victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence since 1979. ATVP has offices in Pullman and Moscow, and provides services such as 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, legal, medical and child advocacy, emergency shelter, referrals and support groups. All of ATVP’s services are free, confidential and provided without discrimination.

The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence has created the Louisiana Domestic Violence Victim’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Hurricane Katrina destroyed four domestic violence shelters and two non-residential programs in Louisiana. Donations will be used to relocate abused women and children directly affected by Hurricane Katrina and to buy food and supplies for victims.

The V-Day 2006 Spotlight: Justice to ‘Comfort Women’ seeks to secure an apology and monetary damage to the aging Comfort Women. Comfort Women are women who were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Army during World War II. The Japanese government has never accepted responsibility. It is estimated that there were between 50,000 and 200,000 Comfort Women.

The WSU benefit production of “The Vagina Monologues” will be Feb. 24 and 25 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. All performances will take place in Jones Theatre in Daggy Hall. Tickets go on sale Feb. 13 at the west entrance of the Compton Union Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at The Women’s Resource Center, The Daily Grind and Brused Books during normal hours of operation.

“The Vagina Monologues” is a play based on Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women about their experiences with sex, violence and life in general. The result is a combination of voices with happy, sad, funny, heartbreaking, empowering and outrageous stories to tell. “The Vagina Monologues” are part of V-Day, a worldwide effort to stop violence against women through education, awareness and fundraising.

For more information about the beneficiaries or about the WSU production of “The Vagina Monologues,” please contact Diane Curewitz at vdaywsu@wsu.edu or (509) 335-7472, or visit the V-Day WSU Web site at www.hws.wsu.edu/vdaywsu.