“Until the violence stops.” “My vagina has a voice.” “Value your vagina.” “My vagina thinks globally.”

The 15 actresses of “The Vagina Monologues” at TCU are wearing buttons with these sayings to bring awareness to their play and V-Week.

The actresses will perform monologues based on real stories of women discovering their sexuality, discussing rape, ranting about female stereotypes and reclaiming sexuality through respecting and understanding their bodies.

According to a letter written by “The Vagina Monologues” author and V-Day founder Eve Ensler, the message of the monologues is to stop and reduce violence against women, celebrate saying the word vagina, open safe houses and talk about various womens’ issues.

April 12 will mark the 10th year of V-Day, which is celebrated in 120 countries and has raised about $50 million in donations, according to the letter. Funds raised at TCU will be donated to the The Women’s Center of Tarrant County, TCU Assault Prevention Theatre, TCU Wisdom on Women and the V-Day campaign, said a V-Week campaign coordinator.

Karen Steele, director of women’s studies, said the play has been staged all over the world in New York, London, Africa and other venues, even some with no more than a dirt floor.

Connie de Veer, assistant theater professor and faculty adviser for V-Week for the second year, said the monologues evoke a range of emotion, and self-respect for women is the most powerful message of the play.

“It is a moving piece of theater – the monologues are funny, poignant and sad,” she said.

De Veer said she hears people unfamiliar with the purpose of the play say it’s man-hating and feminist, but its goal is to show off female pride and confidence.

Betsy Gilbert, V-Week campaign coordinator and student director of the play, said men who attend will have a better understanding of women.

“If you try it, then you can judge,” Gilbert said.

Many people are put off by the title, de Veer said, but Ensler had a purpose to her words.

“The title is meant to elevate the word and elevate women in a very essential way,” de Veer said.

Jo Andrews, a junior actress, said the play is not what one would expect.

Andrews returned from last year’s cast to participate again but changed roles. She plays a dominatrix in the monologue “The Woman Who Likes to Make Vaginas Happy.”

She said the actresses have to prepare for more than just their characters’ personalities to fulfill their roles. Andrews had to perfect the range of her character’s 15 different moans.

“I say vagina 20 times, clitoris seven times and orgasm five times,” said Brooke LeBleu, a freshman actress. “As soon as you say these things, you know people will have an opinion one way or another.”

The experience of standing up in front of many judging faces is invigorating for Brittany Richards, a sophomore actress and theater major.

“In my monologue, there are a lot of words I have never said before,” Richards said.

She said most women relate to her monologue because it is universal and informative. She said the script showed her the importance of discussing the vagina, which most people are close-minded to.

Gilbert said she hopes that the events before the play will allow students to become interested in the project and come to see the show. In addition to events before the play, shirts, buttons, wristbands, a Facebook group and word of mouth are ways to catch the attention of all students, she said.

De Veer said vagina is not a dirty word because it is everyone’s passage into this life.

“So much of it is inside the body and much of it is not visible on the outside and the assumption is that it is quiet or it should be hidden, though, in terms of its power in life, it is pretty powerful,” she said.