Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues, starring Ensler herself, has returned to New York and will open a limited engagement at the Westside Theatre Oct. 3. Performances began Sept. 21 for the run, which has not announced a closing date.

Vagina reveals a series of different women's stories and experiences involving their genitalia. The piece was born when playwright Ensler realized that her work, mostly about women, was missing a physiological connection. Ensler told PBOL,"I couldn't be thinking about [liberating women] without thinking about vaginas. I wanted to know about what women were feeling about their vaginas. As I talked to women, I was so awed and amazed by what people were telling me that I began to think, 'there's a [theatre] piece here.'"

Joe Mantello, who staged Love! Valour! Compassion! on Broadway, serves as production supervisor on the solo.

The show has been floating around for several seasons, popping up here and there. The Vagina Monologues was originally produced in New York at downtown's HERE in 1996. In a benefit to fight domestic violence, Vagina was performed in New York Valentine's Day, 1998, as V Day 1998, starring Hollywood faves Winona Ryder, Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Calista Flockhart, Kathy Najimy, Rosie Perez, Susan Sarandon, Lois Smith, Phoebe Snow, Gloria Steinem, Marisa Tomei, and Lily Tomlin. It was subsequently performed in London.

For information on the Westside engagement, call (212) 239-6200. Celebrities expected for the opening night performance and party include Winona Ryder, Dylan McDermott, Glenn Close, Gloria Steinmen, Marisa Tomei, Fisher Stevens and Rosie Perez. -- By Robert Simonson