"The Vagina Monolgues," the ground-and taboo-breaking Obie Award-winning play written by Eve Ensler, opens on Saturday, March 15 at The Waldo for four performances. Considered a landmark play for raising awareness about women's bodies and issues related to female sexuality, the show has been described as “outlandishly hilarious and devastatingly beautiful, tapping into the deep well of human emotions.”

“Though this play was written nearly 30 years ago, the issues and challenges it conveys relating to the burdens and joys of female sexuality, empowerment, body awareness, rape, trauma and abuse could not be more timely today,” said Susan Hodder, cast member and director of the production and executive director of the theatre. “This raw and unapologetic show challenges audiences - disturbing at times, funny, familiar and celebratory at others. Part of Ensler’s genius is the intimate roller coaster ride of emotions this play evokes.”

The six-woman cast - Susan LaVerdiere, Violet Ferlito, Emma Theobalds, Lara Rakocevic, Christine Andersen and Hodder - all from the local area, portray a spectrum of characters including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a transgender woman, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnessed her daughter giving birth, a Bosnian rape survivor, and others. Ensler’s characters are based on 200 real interviews with a diverse range of women sharing their personal stories.

The New York Times described The Vagina Monologues as “one of the most important plays of the past 25 years: Ensler’s hilarious, eye-opening tour into the last frontier, the forbidden zone at the heart of every woman.”

Due to the adult nature of the play’s content, this show is not recommended for children.

The Vagina Monologues performances are March 15, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., and a single matinee performance on Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m.   

Advance online tickets are just $15 and now on sale at thewaldotheatre.org/thevaginamonologues. Business sponsors include: Bixby Chocolate, Rising Tide Co-op, Wanderwood, Perch Café and Bakery, and Uproot Pie Company.