SHERMAN, TEXAS—The Austin College theatre program will present a benefit performance reading of Eve Ensler’s play, The Vagina Monologues, on February 15 at 7:30 p.m. as the cornerstone of campus participation in the 2012 V-Day Campaign, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.
The performance will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Ida Green Theatre of Ida Green Communication Center. Tickets will be available for $8 to the general public, $5 for Austin College students, with all proceeds benefitting a Sherman organization that assists women. Tickets will be on sale at the box office the night of the performance. Subject matter is suitable to a mature audience as the play explores the humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage, and excitement in women’s experiences, including violence. Explicit language is used.
The production will be directed by Kathleen Campbell, professor of theatre, with sophomore Jessica Pehrson of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, as stage manager. Sophomore Conner Skinner of Hallsville, Texas, will run sound for the performances, which also will be signed for the hearing impaired by junior Hillary Van Ness of Corona Del Mar, California, also a member of the cast.
Additional funds will be raised through a campus cupcake sale. Additionally, Until the Violence Stops, a documentary about Eve Ensler and the V-Day movement, will be presented at no charge at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. A question-and-answer session will follow with Megan McCullough, adjunct instructor in media studies; Jeremy Posadas, instructor in religious studies; and Rose Rothmeier, dean of student services and counseling.
The Kappa social sorority, led by president Ali Fritsche, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, is assisting the theatre program with the organization of V-Day events.
Student members of the cast include the following students, listed by hometown, along with the local high school from which they graduated, and their parents’ names. Four members of the faculty and staff also have roles in the production.
Arlington, Texas
Sarah Wilhelm, Arlington High School, daughter of Susan Chandler of Arlington, Texas and Alan Wilhelm of Cotopaxi, Colorado;
Austin, Texas
Amy Anderson, Liberal Arts and Science Academy, daughter of Brian and Linda Anderson;
Belton, Texas
Emma Merlo, Harker Heights High School, daughter of Joseph and Barbara Merlo;
Carrollton, Texas
Brittnay Connor, Mansfield High School, daughter of no parents listed;
Corona Del Mar, California
Hillary Van Ness, Orange County High School of the Arts, son of Dawn Van Ness of Corona Del Mar and Mark Van Ness of Ridgefield, California;
Cotopaxi, Colorado
Sarah Wilhelm, Arlington High School, daughter of Alan Wilhelm of Cotopaxi and Susan Chandler of Arlington, Texas;
Dallas, Texas
Kara Murphy, J J Pearce High School, daughter of Bob and Margo Murphy;
Fairview, Texas
Elizabeth "Libby" Wise, Lovejoy High School, daughter of Rick and Janet Wise;
Fort Worth, Texas
Madison "Maddy" Fouga, Trinity Valley School, daughter of Nancy and Steve Fouga;
Anika Payne, R.L. Paschal High School, daughter of Jennifer Nichols and Ted Nichols-Payne;
Gilmer, Texas
Chianti Walker, Seagoville High School, daughter of Allen A.K. Walker, Jr. of Gilmer, Texas, and Tameggie Jones of Seagoville, Texas;
Plano, Texas
Rachel Riess, Plano Senior High School, daughter of Mike and Lisa Riess;
Stefany Cruz, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of Maria Vicente of Plano, Texas and Manuel Cruz of Dallas, Texas;
Pottsboro, Texas
Madeline Cohn, Pottsboro High School, daughter of George and Selina Nabholtz of Pottsboro and Lew Cohn of Sherman;
Ridgefield, California
Hillary Van Ness, , of Mark Van Ness of Ridgefield and Dawn Van Ness of Corona Del Mar, California;
Round Rock, Texas
Danielle "Dani" Henricks, Round Rock High School, daughter of David and Michele Henricks;
Elizabeth "Lizzy" Lincoln, Round Rock Christian Academy, daughter of Charles and Caren Lincoln;
Seagoville, Texas
Chianti Walker, Seagoville High School, daughter of Tameggie Jones of Seagoville, Texas, and Allen A.K. Walker, Jr. of Gilmer, Texas;
Southlake, Texas
Mary Caroline Ingram, Carroll Senior High School, daughter of Tracy Ingram and Andy Ingram;
Whitewright, Texas
Stephanie Schultz, Whitewright High School, daughter of Scott and Glenda Schultz.
In 2011, over 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. Performance is just the beginning; V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films, and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women.
The V-Day movement is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world, in 140 countries from Europe to Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and all of North America. V-Day, a non-profit corporation, distributes funds to grassroots, national and international organizations and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls. In 2001, V-Day was named one of Worth Magazine's "100 Best Charities," in 2006 one of Marie Claire Magazine's Top Ten Charities, and in 2010 was named as one of the Top-Rated organizations on GreatNonprofits. In 11 years, the V-Day movement has raised more than $85 million.
The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives.