The MU Women’s Center hosts the play “The Vagina Monologues” every February in support of victims of sexual violence.

The center produces the play each year in connection to V-Day, an annual event focusing on ending gender-based violence, according to the center’s website. This year’s ticket revenues will be directed to MU’s Stop the Violence fund and towards the National V-Day Campaign.

Written by playwright Eve Ensler, “The Vagina Monologues” traverses through themes of sexual encounters, both consensual and nonconsensual, sex work and body image under the scope of females of different demographics and ages, according to Ensler’s website.

“[The play] empowers me because it really makes me feel the solidarity between women,” performer Lexi Gonzalez said. “It helps destigmatize a lot of topics that aren’t talked about that surround women and their sexual experiences.”

The women’s center has been hosting the event annually for 17 years, with the exception of 2017 due to the lack of a coordinator, women’s center member Danielle Dominique said.

Freshman Jessica Delgado said she looks forward to the performance and values its significance to the community.

“[The play] shows everyone that even though people can have something terrible happen to them, it doesn’t have to bring them down,” Delgado said.

“The Vagina Monologues” holds importance to audience members and cast members alike, Gonzalez said.

“[I sat in the audience] to get a feel for what ‘The Vagina Monologues’ were and it was so captivating,” Gonzalez said. “I knew immediately that the following year I had to audition and be a part of something that was so empowering to women.”

Sophomore Dominique Darville said she had heard about the event through a newsletter and is looking forward to attending the play.

“I think it’s important to talk about [these topics],” Darville said. “Specifically for things like sexual assault, there are many lingering effects after the fact that can affect how someone lives their life.”

Tickets for “The Vagina Monologues” will be sold for $12 in advance and $15 at the door. It will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Missouri Theatre.

_Edited by Ethan Brown | ebrown@themaneater.com_