February 11, 2004 — In recognition of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls, the Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) Presenter’s Office will present a special benefit production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

This year’s V-Day event will take place on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m., in the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall. All tickets are $25 for the general public and $15 for University students, with a limit of two student discount tickets with a valid University ID. Tickets are available at the Kingsbury Hall ticket office, the University of Utah Union Desk and all ArtTix outlets; by phone at 801-581-7100, 801-355-ARTS, or 1-888-451-ARTS; and online at www.arttix.org.

Initially slated for Valentine’s Day, V-Day has been expanded to include any celebration of its kind in February that increases awareness, raises money and revitalizes existing anti-violence organizations. For V-Day, Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues,” offers the play free to non-profits and colleges around the world to be produced without royalties. Profits from the events go to local groups involved in helping to stop violence against women and an annual international charity. The proceeds from the 2004 Utah production of the “The Vagina Monologues” performances will go to support programs at the University of Utah’s Women’s Resource Center, the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA) and the YWCA’s Women’s Shelter.

The Los Angeles Times, notes, “‘The Vagina Monologues’ is not just a play anymore. It’s a social movement.”

Professional and non-professional producers worldwide apply to be chosen as recipients of the V-Day event. Local advocate for women, Babs De Lay, who also performed in the 2000 and 2003 “The Vagina Monologues” productions in Salt Lake City has again been awarded the opportunity to produce and direct Utah’s 2004 production. De Lay will be working with various departments at the University of Utah to include student actresses, designers and technicians in the show. This year’s V-Day production allows for a larger presentation of “The Vagina Monologues,” with more monologues and actors on the stage. This year “The Vagina Monologues” will feature appearances by Utah State Representative Jackie Biskupski, V-Day producer-director De Lay, along with Anne Burkholder, Laurie Mecham, Patty Reagan, Kerrie Galloway, Jenny Thomas, Jennifer Seelig, Yvette Zayas, Donna Land Maldonado, Lara Jones and Carla Cuch.

This year’s V-Day will include new “VAGINA WARRIORS AWARDS,” which will be presented to community members who have been dedicated to the prevention of violence against women and girls.

The V-Day benefit production of “The Vagina Monologues” is also sponsored, in part, by KUER FM90, Salt Lake City Weekly and KRCL Community Radio.

For more information, or to schedule an interview with producer-director Babs De Lay, contact Lance W. Duffin at 801-585-9050 or lduffin@asuu.utah.edu.