By Staff Writer Tamendy Raymond.

The Torch had the lovely opportunity to interview women’s and gender studies major, Black literature studies minor, and Rho Rhose senior Ayden Holliday.
On Wednesday February 27, 2019, she hosted UMassD’s 2019 auditions for the Vagina Monologues.

This is not a yearly production; however, it has been performed on campus before.
The play was created with the hopes that women can continue to advocate for and direct the Vagina Monologues on campus.

As a play compromised of different narratives of women all over the world, “it seeks to educate people about and eliminate violence against women because 1 in 3 women will be physically and or sexually abused in her lifetime,” states UMassD NAACP President, Ayden Holliday.

The stories were gathered from women all around the world and those who auditioned will perform them by reading a few lines that speak out to them.

“The first round of auditions went way better than expected,” Holliday says. “We are about to cast 10 amazing women in the play. But, I’m looking forward to this Wednesday’s auditions,” Holliday excitedly says.

The next round of auditions were held this past Wednesday March 6 from 8-9 PM.
The Vagina Monologues introduces a controversial and wildly divergent gathering of the voices of different females, breaking taboos by talking and stripping away fear and shame through a funny and emotionally affecting play.

Creating a safe place to talk about specific body parts that people are afraid to talk about.
“I think society needs to do a better job at empowering marginalized groups in general. [By] educating the community on power, privilege and oppression, [I] hope that people leave the play feeling informed, empowered and more open [to talk] about women’s bodies and women issues,” states Holliday.

The show is for everyone to enjoy not only for women.

It’s created for all intended audiences who want to learn and be entertained, with the hopes that “women feel empowered to speak up and normalize their experiences and [that] everyone else takes away a feeling of communal love and responsibility to eliminate gender-based oppression and violence against women,” continued Holliday.

“Everyone should come to the show expecting to have a great fun time. There will be a show and raffle. Some people might laugh and some might cry,” she says.
In the end, continued Holliday, “I hope people go home and talk about what they say [they have] learned and [what they] felt while watching the play because that is how knowledge is transferred.”

The Vagina Monologues is a kick off to a bigger women’s empowerment group on campus called “My Sister’s Keeper,” the group will be announced at the show.

The group is open to all women and will meet every Wednesday 8PM-9:30PM. They are expecting to start in April, just to talk, support, educate, and have fun with one another as a community.
Spread the word, for the show will be held March 30, 2019 at the Frederick Douglass Unity House from 6:30-8:00 PM.