Tommy Rockers was, not so long ago, a gentleman's club, a place where paying customers congregated for booze and boobs. While the tops since have been refastened and the only breasts on display these days come from chicken, the topic of tonight's barroom discussions still surround parts of the female anatomy.

Not just any appendage, either. Tonight is all about vaginas, though people are free to call it a coochiesnorcher, muffin or vah-jay-jay instead. They can even call it a cunt, if they choose. Here, people are choosing to reclaim that pejorative term.

This is practice for the upcoming community production of The Vagina Monologues, the anti-violence, feminist play written by Eve Ensler, and its sister production, A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer, which includes monologues written by men.

"Where else can you say 'vagina' a bunch of times?" jokes Andrea Sundberg, before more solemnly adding, "Other than when you work in my field."

Sundberg is the executive director of the Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence, the sole beneficiary of the proceeds made by both volunteer-run productions. Her job is to talk about vaginas. She talks about getting abused ones, especially ones located in the oft-forgotten rural areas, access to proper — and private — health care. Her non-profit focuses on policy development and, with the money raised, it can directly lobby to create more rape crises centers and hire nurses trained to help victims.

"A lot of impact can be made," Sundberg stresses.

There's more to this than a few hundred bucks raised for charity. That is the small picture, really. The big picture is clear: an end to violence, against women and men.

That has always been the backbone of the Monologues and the V-Day movement built around it. That has been evident since local activists brought the show to the Valley years ago; however, this year the activist community is more active (no pun intended) and coordinated than ever before.

"Last year the two productions didn't work together," explains organizer Jennifer Boring, "Now, we are working together. It is a force, and we will have more impact."

The organizers of Monologues and MMRP have the same beneficiary and focus – empowering the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their casts are working together to run and promote both shows.

Then, there is V-Men, a workshop being held April 25 at Tommy Rocker's designed to get a bunch of men together, without women around, to talk about their thoughts on violence.

"It is going to be a male-safe space," explains organizer Karoline Khomis. "It will focus on violence. How has violence played out in their life? What do people believe about violence? Can it change? Is it necessary? Are we afraid?"

The conversations will be recorded and sent to Ensler, who plans to compile the thoughts and opinions of males from various V-Men workshops around the country into another monologue. Organizers agree it is the obvious next step for a movement sometimes criticized for not including male perspectives.

"You cannot have a dialogue about women without men," says Judi Brown, the director of MMRP, whose cast of 15 includes four men.

Adds Boring, "Men will have a better time reaching out to men."