By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices



Sherri Shepherd and Star Jones-Reynolds are set to share the stage – all in the name of vagina.

The BV Newswire has learned that the former co-host of 'The View' and her replacement have both been announced as cast members of a black-centric version of 'The Vagina Monologues,' which is scheduled to hit three cities starting next month.

Los Angeles based production company YYP & Associates, LLC is presenting the production of Eve Ensler's award winning play, which garnered raves during its long-running Off Broadway turn.


The episodic play, featuring various women sharing their views about their vaginas with the audience, was written by Ensler and originated in downtown New York City in 1996.

Since ending its New York City theatrical run, the female liberating show has been staged internationally, attracting a bevy of celebrities and entertainers such as Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Idina Menzel, Lillias White, Glenn Close,Hazelle Goodman, Susan Sarandon, LisaGay Hamilton, Rosie Perez and Queen Latifah in various incarnations – some, in celebration of V-Day; an international mission to stop violence against females.

"I am excited to be joining Eve and V-Day, once again, on this global movement to end violence against women and girls,' says YYP Executive Producer and Director Yetta Young, who plans to assemble notables such as Vanessa Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Dawnn Lewis, Gloria Mayfield Banks, Ella Joyce, Taj Johnson-George, Karen Malina White and Coko for the tri-city V-Day 2008 tour, which kicks off in Washington, DC, on February 16. The show continues to Nashville on March 1, and will culminate in Detroit on March 8.

"In the six years that I've produced and or directed this piece I've never gotten bored," Young added. "We were blessed to be the first to produce 'The Vagina Monologues' with an all African-American celebrity cast in hopes of bringing out a more diverse audience, which I noticed was missing in our community."

"In 2002, we started out with Mo'Nique, Ella Joyce, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Wendy Raquel Robinson," she recollected, adding, "[this year] we have over 22 celebrities joining our tour, all in honor of celebrating and raising awareness for women. I'm ecstatic."

Jones-Reynolds was not available for comment about the production.

The media-friendly Shepherd, on the other hand, said she was "excited to be working with my sistas!"

Proceeds from this production of 'The Vagina Monologues' will benefit Butterflies Fly Free, Inc. For more information, log onto www.vdaytour.com.

There are over 2000 V-Day benefits planned in over 1120 communities and on college campuses in celebration of V-Day's 10th Anniversary during the month of February and March.