Vagina. Let's all say it together, Va-gi-na.

The Vagina Monologues, a series of humorous and serious pieces expressing women's issues and their bodies, will hit the stage at 8 tonight in Schwab Auditorium. The theatre group, under the Penn State Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA), will perform the play. Since tickets are not being distributed for the performance, patrons are asked to be at the show by 7:30 p.m.

What started as small talk between playwright Eve Ensler and her friends about their vaginas, took on the form of something more than was originally intended. Ensler, an award-winning poet, activist and screenwriter, interviewed women from all over the world, of all ages and ethnicities, to share their own personal stories about their vaginas. After hearing so many women eager to tell their stories, Ensler was moved, and so The Vagina Monologues was born. But there is more to these pieces than female genitalia.

"This is not a male-bashing event at all," said co-director Tiffanie Lewis. This is Lewis' (junior-journalism and psychology) second year taking part in The Monologues; she was part of the cast last year.

Contrary to popular belief, this play is not very controversial, but is an understanding of women's issues, V.A. Lopes, the production's director, said. Lopes (senior-media studies and criminal justice) co-directed the play last year, and was part of the cast the year before.

Lewis said the play draws attention to women's issues and is part of the V-Day Challenge, a day feminists declared as their own to raise global awareness to the domestic and sexual violence toward women.

"Women are more and more undervalued in our culture, and this is one way to get valued more," said Virginia Smith, senior lecturer of English. "The goal is for both men and women to value women more."

The Vagina Monologues is one of the books read in Smiths' ENGL/WMNST 194 (Women Writers) class.

But this play isn't only intended for women. Lopes has found that, in the past couple years, men have made up almost 60 percent of the audience. Lopes said she thinks this is mainly because they are interested in the play and the problems plaguing women. She said her six male roommates all enjoy the play, and said she feels it's important for men to see it.

"The play exposes women's issues, with a little humor, and I think they identify with that," Lopes said.

Not only does this play express the humor of being a woman, but it also touches on the struggles women face in a male-centered society.

"In our phalocentric society it is socially important to talk about female sexuality," Smith said. She has been teaching WMNST 194 on and off for 10 years, and just started taking her class to the performance last spring. Smith tried out last fall and got a part, but had to turn it down since teaching four courses and caring for her family was too much to handle at the time.

"People believe this play is divisive, when it should be bringing us together," Smith said. "And we can only do this when we understand how men and women function together."

The HBO special of The Monologues was performed solo by Ensler, but in the on-and off-Broadway productions, which is the framework for tonight's performance, the play is a bit different. Some pieces have two or three women in an act, making the monologues a bit more fun and interesting, Lopes said.

Because the V-Day Challenge distributes the scripts every year, the performance is always different. Lines and pieces are added or deleted from the show, so the play always varies from the book. This year there are four new pieces.

"I love the book, and I have never seen the play, so I am interested in how it's going to be performed," Kristin Kamenicky (junior-public relations) said.

In October, auditions were open to any student or woman in the community interested. Over 100 women tried out and 35 women were selected this year to be in the monologues -- two are members of the community. And acting was not the only criteria for the audition.

"Women are picked not only for their acting skills, but if we feel that they would learn from each other," Lopes said. "It's about creating bonds, influencing each other, and it's about experience."

"The cast is one of the largest diversity groups I have ever seen," said Sabina Ptasznik (freshman-theater), who is originally from Poland, as well as the narrator for the monologues. "We are all doing this because it means something," she said.

Lopes said she also feels The Vagina Monologues are accepted more now than in the past.

"This year, the play has taken a huge step in the level of acceptance on campus. Getting to perform in Schwab is a big step, since, last year, the show was in Thomas Building," she said.

Lopes says FMLA owes this to the huge backing from various clubs, organizations and residence halls associations on campus.

"Because it's so popular worldwide, people are understanding it better, so it is accepted more," she said.