Undoubtedly one of the most stigmatized and tabooed words around the world in the 21st century. That’s exactly why “The Vagina Monologues” was born, to break all the stereotypes and create a space for equality and open conversation focused on women.

The group of 20 women will reenact Eve Ensler’s script, a play that puts together experiences of different women taken from interviews all around the world. The NEIU production gave a new spin to the text as it includes a spotlight piece of the cast’s own existences.

“‘The Vagina Monologues’ is [about] not being afraid to say vagina; to talk about the highs and lows that come hand-in-hand with being a woman, but also to raise awareness on women empowerment,” cast member and psychology major Diamond Barnes said.

“The concept of the play intrigued me because the stories are from experiences of actual women,” Suzanne Navarrete, an Elementary Education major, said. “The message I want the audience to leave with is: as women, we face many problems that many times go unseen. These stories have deep meaning to how some women feel about themselves and how other people in their lives have affected the way they think. Women are powerful and rise above all the stereotypes and stigmas placed upon them.”

The Obie Award-winning show is an uncensored tale of various women’s issues like sex, childbirth, rape and gender identity based on different backgrounds and experiences. It focuses on the struggles and joy of being a women.

Director Mary Kroeck was approached by the Pedroso Center to carry out a performance for Women’s History Month after she successfully directed “Real Women Have Curves.” Kroeck suggested doing “The Vagina Monologues” because it’s a show talking about issues that are important to the NEIU community,

With the current US political climate, feminism is looked at as a “dirty word,” and there’s still a long way to go to achieve gender equality. “Rape culture is still prevalent in our society and issues relating to women’s rights are rarely discussed in an open context,” Kroeck said. “The show is about having open conversations on what women have to go through on a daily basis.”

“The Vagina Monologues” will be taking place as part of V Day, an organization that runs different art pieces for charity purposes and it’s a tool for activism to draw the public’s attention to women’s issues. The proceeds of the show will be donated to Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the V Day Foundation. Tickets for students are $5 and $10 for general public.

“The Vagina Monologues” is the tour of a forbidden zone that introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices based on real experiences.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity and join the cast on March 30 for an unforgettable night.