The New Mexico State University student group Aggies for Feminism will be presenting The Vagina Monologues this year in Las Cruces. The controversial play is performed annually in venues across the U.S. and globally as part of the V-Day campaign.

The three Las Cruces performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Court Youth Center, 402 W. Court Ave. in Las Cruces. The show is about 90 minutes in length.

Ninety percent of the proceeds from each performance worldwide are donated to local organizations that work to stop violence against women; the remaining 10 percent is given to V-Day's annual Spotlight Campaign.

The proceeds from this year's local performances will be donated to La Casa, a domestic violence shelter in Las Cruces, and to the 2013 V-Day Spotlight, the One Billion Rising Campaign.

The original version of The Vagina Monologues was written by Eve Ensler in 1998, based on her interviews with 200 women. It is structured as a series of monologues related to women's issues, including rape, sexual assault and the joy of sexual discovery.

Veteran audience members can expect to hear some of their favorite monologues, along with a brand-new Spotlight monologue. The play will also feature a short film related to the Spotlight monologue.

"I think The Vagina Monologues is a good outlet to get people aware of violence toward women in the world," said Haleigh Bassing, this year's director and an NMSU alumna who is involved with Aggies for Feminism.

The rest of the all-volunteer cast and crew are NMSU undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to ticket sales, they plan to generate funds through the sale of merchandise before each performance and on campus during Valentine's week. There will also be a silent auction prior to each performance.

"All proceeds go to a good cause," said show organizer Jessica Lopez. "It's going to benefit the community as well as the Spotlight Campaign."

An addition to this year's V-Day festivities, a concert to benefit La Casa and the V-Day Foundation, will be at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Green Room, 3000 N. Harrelson St., Suite 5IN. The concert will feature local bands for a cover charge of $2 or donation. Patrons who are 21 and over can bring their own alcoholic beverages. A merchandise table at the show will have novelty chocolates and other goodies for purchase.

Tickets for The Vagina Monologues are $10 and can be purchased at the NMSU College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office in Breland Hall and Make Believe Jewelry & Gifts at 1900 S. Espina St.

For more about the event, go to http://is.gd/vmnmsu