Austin Peay State University to hold 19th annual production of “The Vagina Monologues”

Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Women’s and Gender Studies Program and the APSU Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance will host the 19^th annual production of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play, “The Vagina Monologues,” at 7:00pm on February 26th and February 28th, 2020 in the University’s Clement Auditorium. 

The annual production is part of the international VDAY campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls and money to fund agencies that support survivors of interpersonal violence.

This year, Austin Peay State University’s production will feature the monologues “The Man Prayer” and “Respect.” “The Man Prayer,” which will be performed by APSU male students, defines masculinity in new terms — terms that do not rely on conquest and subjugation to represent men’s power.

“Respect,” which is written in honor of Aretha Franklin, highlights the struggles of black women in American society. This monologue takes a historical look at all that black women have endured.

The money raised from the two performances will be donated to Clarksville’s Sexual Assault Center and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. The Sexual Assault Center needs more space to serve community members. A waiting list of 25-30 visitors is frequently the reality, with half of the list often filled with children.

The Women’s and Gender Studies Program and the APSU Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance hope to raise the needed money to expand services for clients of the Sexual Assault Center so that no member of the community must wait to start their healing journey.

This year’s show is co-directed by two students who are both veteran performers of the show and double minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and African American Studies. Adria George is a history major, and Courtney Woodard is a social work major.

First produced at Austin Peay State University in 2002, “The Vagina Monologues” has been performed every year, raising more than $20,000 that has been donated to the Sexual Assault Center, Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and Urban Ministries Safehouse in Clarksville. 

By joining V-DAY’s global fundraising efforts, APSU participates with tens of thousands of communities and college campuses to perform in over 140 countries, raise consciousness, change laws to protect women and girls, fund rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters, educate their communities and raise over $100 million in urgently needed funds for groups doing the essential work of ending violence and serving survivors and their families.

Additionally, a portion of the APSU Clothesline Project will be displayed in Clement Lobby.

For information, or information about supporting the show or the Clothesline Project, call Dr. Jill Eichhorn, eichhornje@apsu.edu, or 931.221.6314.