Tonight marks one of this year's first celebrations of "V-day" with the debut of UW's annual performance of The Vagina Monologues.

The production, put on by the ASUW's Women's Action Commission (WAC) and Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX), continues its performance this year under director Annie O'Connell-Torgersen.

An off-Broadway play written by Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues is a series of monologues (exactly how many varies with each production), with each monologue relating to the vagina in some way.

"The Vagina Monologues" is a fundamental part of the "V-Day" campaign, a global movement to end violence against women.

To date, the "V-Day" movement has raised more than $30 million for anti-violence organizations, in large part due to productions of The Vagina Monologues.

"V-Day," which stands for "Victory, Valentine, Vagina," links Valentine's Day and its connotations of love with ending violence against women.

It's no coincidence that nearly all productions occur around Valentine's Day, and the UW's production is no exception.

All ticket proceeds go to Home Alive, a Seattle-based, anti-violence, non-profit organization. The cost of production is sponsored by ASUW WAC and VOX, and most of the cast and crew are volunteers who decided to get involved for various reasons, ranging from acting experience to simply "because I have a vagina," said O'Connell-Torgersen.

As to what the play is about, the answer is simple.

"Vaginas," O'Connell-Torgersen said.

The overall theme is women with a recurring idea of the vagina as a tool of female empowerment.

"[The Vagina Monologues] empowers women," said freshman actress Emily Fairbrook.

Although the show is produced every year, each show has its own reasons for attending.

This year's production contains a segment entitled "Crooked Braid," a scene not present in past shows.

"Each performance is different," O'Connell-Torgersen said.

Tickets are available in advance at the HUB ticket office, $5 for students, $7 for general admission. Tickets can also be purchased for $10 and at the door.

Reach contributing writer Wayne Gerard at development@thedaily.washington.edu.