Talking About the “V” Word

Posted by Donna Schmidt on Feb 13, 2012 in Theatre | 3 comments

On March 15, 16, and 17th eighteen women from all over Rockland County will be performing monologues about vaginas.

The approximately hour and a half performance is part of a worldwide movement to end violence against women and girls and is a part of V-Day. The women span in age from 18 to approximately 65. The facilitator, Arielle Bareket, grew up in Suffern and her Dad is a gynecologist in Tallman. Arielle’s Mom, Kathryn, is a mother of three daughters and a son. The word vagina was used hundreds of time in their home over the years. After using the word so much at home, she thought it would be fun to say the word repeatedly on stage and to support her daughter.

“Everyone, including me, comes from a long line of vaginas,” Arielle explains, “that is where we all started.” And if you purchase a T-Shirt at the performance as part of the fundraising efforts for V-Day, that is what it will say “I come from a long line of Vaginas; Rockland County Vagina Monologues 2012.”

V-Day began on Valentine’s Day in1998 by Eve Ensler, a playwright and activist, who wrote a play called The Vagina Monologues in 1994. Originally staffed by volunteers, V-Day’s first fundraiser was at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and that show raised $250,000 in one evening.

The “V” stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

V-Day’s mission demands that violence against women and girls end. Once a year in February, March and April, Ensler allows groups all over the world to produce a performance of her play, as well as other works created by V-Day and to use the proceeds for local projects and programs that work to end violence toward women and girls. There are currently over $5,800 events annually. The Rockland County Vagina Monologues funds will go to the Volunteer Counseling Services Inc. of Rockland and Rockland Family Shelter.

Bareket, who graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2010, is an Assistant Farmer at Cropsey Community Farm in New City. “I just put Vagina Monologue fliers out there and held auditions in November,” she explained. “I was in two productions of The Vagina Monologues in College and it was such a powerful and positive experience for me. There are so many levels of what we are doing. On one level, we have this women’s circle where we can feel comfortable talking about these issues on a more personal level. Then there is the educational aspect of it whereby just putting on this production and talking to people about it we are educating our audience about these issues. Then there is the direct action aspect of it. All of the proceeds from the play go to supporting the wonderful local organizations here in Rockland County who are working to end violence in our own community.”

The show includes such monologues as “My Angry Vagina,” ”My Vagina Was My Village”, “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could”, “Because he liked to look at It” and “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy”. Each year Ensler writes a spotlight monologue that can be performed. This year’s Spotlight Monologue is called “For My Sisters in Portauprincebukavuneworleasons” and is spotlighting the common history of racism, poverty, slavery, colonialism and war that has thrown women into an endless cycle of violence and disempowerment. V-Day’s work in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo, post-Katrina New Orleans, and the earthquake devastated country of Haiti is to reveal links between these issues and to support women on the ground who are struggling for liberation and a violence-free culture.

Ensel also recently wrote a piece entitled “Over It” for the Huffington Post. This work will also be included in this local production. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eve-ensler/over-it_b_1089013.html.

Buffy Cardoza, a photographer who lives in New City, who will be performing shared, “I joined the group to be part of an amazing organization of women who mostly have never professionally acted. We are willing to do something so important, slightly embarrassing, and wonderfully entertaining for the sake of women. The show will make you squirm…make you cry…make you laugh and ultimately make you proud to be a woman or support one. Ultimately I am terrified to perform, however I choose to raise awareness about many real current issues, raise funds and to give women a voice while I amateurly portray a lesbian sex worker.”

“I wanted to do something different and kind of raunchy,” explained Tamika Adjemian who acts with the ‘Strange Bedfellows’, an adult troop of the Children’s Shakespeare Theater in Palisades. “It turns out that the monologues are far from that, they are poignant, beautiful and very real. Growing up in a single Mom household, we never spoke about vaginas, it was very taboo. But here as a group of women of all ages, we discuss and share…it is a challenging and great experience.” When not acting, Tamika runs a small Jam and Preserve business while also teaching all methods of food preservation through her business Belle Jar Canning (http://bellejarcanning.com), sews things to sell, occasionally teaches through Clarkstown Parks and Rec, cares for 13 chickens, is mom to 2 young ladies, and married to Daniel Hanchrow.

Who: Rockland County Vagina Monologues are ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR RAFFLES. The performance is sponsored by the Gay/Straight Alliance at Rockland Community College. Donation checks should be made payable to VSC Inc. The Vagina Monologues 77 South Main Street New City, NY 10956 or contact Arielle at 845-558-0222.

The cast members are: Introduction: Kathryn Bareket, Eleanor Held, Candela Rodriguez Hair: Elizabeth Sweeney Lists: Karen Gabai, Ariel Lopez, Ana Coelno The Flood: Cristina Biaggi & Connie Coker Vagina Workshop: Andria Charney & Diana Green Happy Fact: Elizabeth Sweeney Because He Liked To Look At It: Catherine Olori Not So Happy Fact: Ana Coelno What If I Told You I Did Not Have A Vagina: Cathleen St. Victor My Angry Vagina: Tamika Adjemian My Vagina Was My Village: Arielle Bareket The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could: Eleanor Held Cunt: Amelia Auman 6 Year Old Girl: Ariel Lopez The Woman Who Loved To Make Vaginas Happy: Buffy Cardoza I Was There In The Room: Cherie Pasano Spotlight: Candela Rodriguez.

Why: 90% of proceeds will go to Volunteer Counseling Service of Rockland and Rockland Family Shelter. 10% goes directly to V Day. Funds are raised by ticket sales, sponsorships, program advertising sales, raffles, merchandise and food items sold on the night of the performance, T Shirts and button sales.

Where and When: The Vagina Monologues will be performed at the Student Union Center Building at Rockland Community College on March 15,16 and 17th at 7pm. Reservations for Groups of ten or more. Doors open at 7pm for a Vagina Fair (raffles, merchandise, live music etc.) and the show is at 8pm.

There is a $20 suggested donation. Pay as little or as much as you can afford. See Rockland County Vagina Monologues on facebook.

English Literature Major and Journalism Minor, Donna Schmidt’s first job was writing for the Enterprise Newspaper in Westchester County, New York. She has always been fascinated by the written word and the smell of newsprint. Both her father and grandfather were printers. She grew up around ink, creativity and fabulous food. After working at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan as a Tour and Travel Manager, she worked at several ad agencies building her account management skills. Later while a young Mother, she worked for several nursery schools and part time at her husband’s publishing company while raising two children. She is currently the President/Owner of a small publishing company, Donnin Publishing; she has been a contributor to a variety of local publications and blogs. Contact Donna.