“The Vagina Monologues" at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre -- February 6 through 9.
Thursday, February 6, through Sunday, February 9
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue, Moline IL
Writing about the iconic stage presentation The Vagina Monologues in a 2018 article, the New York Times stated, “No recent hour of theatre has had a greater impact worldwide.” And patrons of Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre will no doubt understand why that claim was made when Eve Ensler's revered work is staged in a February 6 through 9 production, the Times adding that the play is "probably the most important piece of political theatre of the last decade."
A lauded stage presentation that's also something of an international feminist movement, The Vagina Monologues explores consensual and nonconsensual sexual experiences, body image, genital mutilation, direct and indirect encounters with reproduction, vaginal care, menstrual periods, prostitution, and several other topics through the eyes of women with various ages, races, sexualities, and other differences. Playwright Ensler originally starred in both the HERE premiere and in the first off-Broadway production, which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit and the West Side Theater. When Ensler left the play, it was recast with three celebrity monologists, and The Vagina Manologues has subsequently been staged internationally, with a television version featuring Ensler produced by HBO.
In 1998, Ensler and others, including Willa Shalit, a producer of the Westside Theatre production, launched V-Day, a global non-profit movement that has raised more than $100 million for groups working to end violence against women (including those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence) through benefits of The Vagina Monologues. In 2011, Ensler was also awarded the Isabelle Stevenson Award at the 65th Tony Awards, which recognizes an individual from the theater community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of humanitarian, social service, or charitable organizations for her creation of the V-Day movement.
Making her directing debut for Playcrafters with The Vagina Monologues is venue favorite Shyan DeVoss, previously a performer in such Barn Theatre productions as The House of Blue Leaves, Witness for the Prosecution, Little Women, and 12 Angry Jurors. Augustana graduate DeVoss is also a veteran of the college's annual Vagina Monologues presentations, and her cast for the show's latest Quad Cities staging boasts 11 area talents: Jane Bostian; Pam Cantrell; Jacque Cohoon; Leslie Day; Baile Hager; Ashley Hoskins; Ash Hynes; Jessica Klockau; Bez McMullen; Tabitha Oles; and Cindy Ramos.
The Vagina Monologue runs at Moline's Barn Theatre from February 6 through 9, with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Admission is $15-18, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)762-0330 and visiting Playcrafters.com.
