LOS ANGELES -- Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues returns to Los Angeles Oct. 13 with a production at the Canon Theatre featuring a trio of actresses that will change every three weeks, similar to the sold-out Off-Broadway engagement. The first cast, which includes Julie Kavner, Julianna Margulies and Rosie Perez, will perform the show until Oct. 29. Future casts will be announced later.

Based on interviews with a diverse group of women, the play explores the humor, power, pain, wisdom, outrage, mystery and excitement hidden in the human body. The show was originally mounted in an Obie Award winning production in 1996 by HOME for the Contemporary Theatre and Art at HERE in New York. Since that time, it has toured nationally and internationally, with performances in Jerusalem, Berlin, Athens, Zagreb, Paris and London.

The Vagina Monologues opened at the Westside Theatre in New York on Oct. 3, 1999, winning critical and public acclaim.

Los Angeles audiences were introduced to the play at a standing room-only fundraiser for V-Day Fund held last winter at the Wiltern Theatre.

The new L.A. production will donate a portion of every full-price ticket, plus a percentage of the show's profits, to the V-Day Fund, which supports groups working to end violence against women. Proceeds will be split between local, national and international organizations.Joe Mantello directs the Canon production. His many credits include the New York production of The Vagina Monologues.

Canon Theatre is located at 205 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. For tickets and information call (310) 859-2830 or Ticketmaster (213) 365-3500. On the web at www.amlosangles.com

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent