In 1996, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues opened at The West Side Theater in New York. Two years later, Willa Shalit (the producer of the West Side production), along with Ensler and others, started the V-Day Movement to end violence against women and girls around the world.

Two years ago, Alex Matsuo started V-Day Raleigh, including producing a benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues. This year’s event takes place February 11th-12th at the North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre and benefits Interact. For more information or tickets, visit vdayraleigh.org.

Hear what Yvonne Anderson, the director of this year’s production, and Judy McCord, actress, had to say abou the impact of The Vagina Monologues, the role of political theater, and this year’s V-Day Raleigh event.