“The Vagina Monologues” is the first in a series of events this week that focus on women’s sexual safety and identity.

The play opens tonight and will run through Saturday in Sturm Hall Auditorium.

The Rape Awareness and Assistance Program (RAAP), Gateway Battered Women’s Shelter, and the women of Afghanistan will all benefit from the proceeds of the three nights.

RAAP, Planned Parenthood, DU Campus Safety and Project Safeguard plan to have tables with information set up before and after the play.

“The Vagina Monologues” is a play by Eve Ensler that began as a one-woman show and has grown into a movement that colleges and universities around the country are taking part in.

Ensler interviewed over 200 women about their vaginas. She then structured the play to be a series of monologues based on their responses.

“It includes talking about sex, the first time you get your period, birth (and) violence against women,” said sophomore Lys Smith, technical coordinator for the play.

After each show the cast will be available for a “Talk Back” session that will probably be held in Driscoll. It will be an unstructured event where audience members can meet with the cast to discuss issues in the play. Counselors will also be available.

“The idea is to have a bunch of tables about organizations about what’s out there for (women),” said fourth year student Celeste Grover, president of the Undergraduate Women’s Council (UWC).

The UWC is connected to the event because its members are in charge of selling tickets and other duties in the front of the house. They are also planning other events in conjunction with “The Vagina Monologues.”

“The celebration of V-Day (lasts) the whole month,” said Grover.

V-Day is an international movement that honors Feb. 14 as “Vagina Day,” rather than Valentines Day. It’s purpose, according to officials in the movement, is “to celebrate women and girls and their vaginas, and to stop the violence being perpetuated against them all over the world.”

Events include Take Back the Night, and Rape-Free Zones. Take Back the Night is a march designed to symbolize women reclaiming locations where they have previously felt unsafe. It will begin this year with a free performance by singer Wendy Woo at 7 p.m. in Sidelines Pub. The women will march from Driscoll Stage to various places around campus.

Rape Free Zones are another way that women can symbolically “take back your space,” said Grover. During the past week, red ribbons with the words “Rape Free Zone” attached have been available on Driscoll Bridge. Students are encouraged to tie them onto trees, cars, doorknobs or backpacks in order to show that they are living in a rape-free zone.

“I hope people realize it’s past time that women take back their bodies,” said Grover.

“The Vagina Monologues” begin at 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday and are the first in a series of events to commemorate V-Day.

“If one woman can come out of this with being able to talk about her body, I’ll be happy,” said Grover.