Vagina Monologues

Dear Andrea,

Words can’t really express what this experience means to me. I walked into the audition a scared girl and walked out of our last performance a confident woman. We, as a cast, promoted an atmosphere of love and support. That could not have happened without your eternal positivity, purpose, and drive. We WERE the examples of how to combat violence against women- by building other women up, accepting them, rooting for them, and loving them- when so many people are trying to do the opposite to women.

As a director, you allowed me to make mistakes while making me feel like a rock star when I succeeded. I couldn’t ask for a better combination from a director, or a loved one!

Thank YOU! Tell Eve Ensler you KICKED BUTT! You expressed your unique vision with professionalism, class and poise!

Love,

Justine

Dear Andrea,

This production has meant more to me than I ever could have imagined.

I have not felt like such an important part of something SO MAJOR in, well maybe ever. This was the most amazing, talented, energetic, funny, loving, beautiful, successful, motivated and inspirational group of women I have ever met. This union was no coincidence. We were all meant to be in each other’s lives in one way or another.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Your’s Andrea, is made from steel. Bulletproof, unyielding and indestructible.

Your vision was clear. Your direction was purposeful. This was such a success, not only because you saw all of our potential, but because you believe in what The Vagina Monologues stands for.

I am a better actress, women and friend because of this experience.

Thank you!

Love always,

Avel Juliette Horn-Muller

___________

Hi Andrea!

What I got out of this was a renewed love of theater and a renewed sense of myself as an actress. This entire process started out in an exercise of facing fears. I gained so much more than a chance to act.

I found new friendships and was able to connect to a diverse group of women. I don’t have many female friends and don’t make friends easily in general. I feel that by the end of this I was a part of an amazing group that will be hard to split up.

Also, watching/listening to everyone’s performance night after night was such a special way to see everyone grow and change and add something better and more amazing to this very moving piece. All of this wouldn’t have been possible if the vibe didn’t start at the top.

You, Lauren, and Dee Dee set the tone from the start, even from the Facebook invite. This was always set to be an ensemble and you succeeded in creating so much more than that. You also created a totally kick ass show! You have such vision and know how to get what you want out of everything. Your notes were always so helpful and spot-on.

Dear Andrea,

I just wanted to take the time to personally thank you for all your efforts on making our production of “Vagina Monologues” such a success. No one can deny the talent and passion our cast possessed but without you none of this would have ever been possible. You took fifteen unique women and brought us together as a family.

As a theatre educator and a director myself I truly respect the way you ran rehearsals. Even though time was of the essence you never neglected taking time to let us to build a community within our cast and crew and bond. I’ll never forget the “roses and thorns” we’d share before each rehearsal and show or the ensemble building activities we took part in as a cast. Getting to know each and every one of my cast mates and production team “off stage” made all the difference in my experience with this production.

As a full time public school teacher, I never thought I’d be able to be part of a show during the school-year but because you were such a pro at scheduling and utilizing rehearsal time to wisely I was able to be a part of this unforgettable experience. I’d look forward to attending rehearsal each day because I know I was going to be surrounded by a director and a cast that supported me, no matter how difficult and taxing my workday was.

I never saw a director work so hard to make her vision happen, not only her artistic vision on stage but also her vision to give back to the female community. You succeeded in your vision and then some. You set a high bar and supported us in rising to the occasion. Thank you for helping me to grow as a performer and as a contributing member of the female community.

Working on this V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues has been a huge inspiration for me in several ways. I have been reminded of the power that women have, and that theatre has, to effect positive change in the lives of others, which is something that this production team and cast has re-inspired me to do. This has confirmed and re-invigorated my passion that I don’t just want to make and be involved in commercial theater, but I want to make and be involved the kind of theater that invokes positivity and social change into our everyday lives, that reaches out and touches the lives in someone in need of a good laugh, hug, or cry and provides it for them.

To that end, Andrea guided us to form a cast and crew that provided just that. And because we were able to build such an encouraging community (of all women!), we were able to extend the love of our community to our audiences. This process has taught me more about the power of community than I have known in a long time, and for that I am extremely grateful to Andrea and the rest of the cast and crew.