“The Beaver Monologues” is set to return to Bluffton University in the spring of 2020. As of now, performance dates are set for March 20 and 21, but they are subject to change.
“The Beaver Monologues” is inspired by Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” which was designed to reflect on the woman’s experience.
According to EveEnsler.org, “ ‘The Vagina Monologues’ introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices.”
This year, junior social work major Kori Frey will be the student director with Heidi Mercer serving as the faculty adviser.
“[Our goal is to] further inclusivity to allow all identities to be able to talk about the human experience as a whole,” said Frey.
To help with this year’s production, previous directors Rebecca Juliana and Justina Fuqua will come back to serve as mentors.
“The Beaver Monologues” was first presented in the spring of 2016. Prior to this Juliana directed a version of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues in the spring of 2015 as an honors project.
After this, “The Beaver Monologues” were produced the following year.
“This production focused on the experiences of women in our community,” according to the Beaver Monologues website. “In the combined interest of social work and theatre, Rebecca collected anonymous submissions from the Bluffton community, both on and off-campus. These submissions discussed the real and sometimes difficult topics regarding experiences of being a woman, oppression and gender awareness.”
In the spring of 2017 and 2018, Fuqua took over as director for “The Beaver Monologues,” and in 2018 men and non-binary identifying people were also invited to audition to participate in the production.
“Justina continued this project and demonstrated the importance of a ‘living’ production,” according to the Beaver Monologues website. “If the performance is to bring together a community, it must move and develop with the community it is representing.”
“The Beaver Monologues” is accepting submissions until midnight Jan. 19. Work can be submitted at https://beavermonologues.wixsite.com/beaverwomen/submissions.
Auditions will be from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. Jan. 21 and 23 for those who wish to participate in the Beaver Monologues. The location is yet to be determined.
