Florida City Council To Hear Complaints Re: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES and Burlesque Show

For centuries people have been using words and phrases of questionable taste to refer to a woman's private area. ("Private area" being one such example.) Eve Ensler helped put an end to much of that when she took over a small stage at New York's HERE Arts Center in 1996 for her first solo engagement of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.

Along with celebrating a word that had previously been regarded as clinical and unexciting, Ensler's revolutionary piece helped demystify women's sexuality and, in the process, make it seem all the more sexy.

In the nearly twenty years since, the focus of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES has shifted to call attention to violence against women and legal restrictions in regards to women's health and reproductive rights, as the piece is performed internationally countless times every year.

Among other achievements, it might be argued that THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES was an influence for today's neo-burlesque movement, which takes a performance form traditionally seen as a type of objectification and reclaims it as a source of fun and empowerment.

Both THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES and a burlesque performance will be topics for discussion in Ocala, Florida this coming Tuesday, as local businessman Brad Dinkins appears before the city council in regards to "The respective leases between the city (landlord) and The Reilly Arts Center and the Marion Theatre (tenants) ... and possible 'use' violations per the lease with the tenants." As stated in his request, "The issues at hand are in regards to questionable performances at each location, scheduled during March, 2016."

As reported by Howard Sherman, director of the Arts Integrity Initiative, the performances Dinkins cites are a one-night production of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES at the city-owned Reilly Arts Center, which is leased to and operated by the Ocala Symphony, and THE MARION AT MIDNIGHT, a burlesque performance at another city owned and subleased venue, The Marion Theatre.

Dinkins notes that he will be joined by Father Don Curran, Rector of Christ The King Church, Mike Sullivan, former PGA tournament golf champion, and attorney Dennis Camp.

He claims the complaint is justified by a provision in the city's lease stating, "Tenant shall not use the Building (by, without limitation, presenting performances or other entertainment), or permit others to use the Building, in a manner that City, in its reasonable discretion, deems inappropriate or objectionable."

Of course, the definitions of inappropriate and objectionable are debatable.

Supporters of the performances are preparing to have their own voices heard, including a peaceful protest organized by Mekaella Lord, also known as Lady Mekaella DeMure, the producer of THE MARION AT MIDNIGHT and other Ocala burlesque events.

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