Mary-Louise Parker to Introduce 'SLUT' at Gym at Judson, 5/9

After sold-out runs last fall, and a national tour with stops in Los Angeles and Fargo, SLUT returns to New York City for two performances at the Gym at Judson. Award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker will introduce the play to the May 9 audience.

On a cold night in New York City, Joey Del Marco puts on her favorite dress, her highest heels, and meets up with her oldest friends, George, Luke, and Tim, for a little pre-gaming. They play video games, dance, and down an entire bottle of Absolut. Everything is hazy fun, until they squeeze into the back of a cab... Inspired by experiences of the teen cast members, the critically acclaimed new play SLUT explores the sexual assault and shaming of a 16-year-old girl. Through Joey's story and those of girls in her community, witness the damaging effects of slut culture and the importance of being heard.

Praised as "hard-hitting" by the New York Post and "engrossing" by New York Magazine, the play enjoyed sold-out runs in New York City last fall. SLUT delves deep into teen sexual assault, one of the most frightening and highly discussed topics in the news today. Last fall, performances of SLUT culminated in "StopSlut: A Conference on Sexuality, Bullying, and Rape." Panelists and teens discussed the pervasiveness of sexual violence, slut shaming, and the challenge of healthfully owning one's sexuality. Girls' Coalitions were created in over 25 high schools, each tasked with creating their own unique approach to stop slut-shaming and sexual aggression. Examples of their work will be presented on May 10 before a performance of SLUT.

This year, "SLUT: A Play and Guidebook for Combating Sexism and Sexual Violence" will be published by the Feminist Press. The book will feature the script of the play, thought-provoking essays from renowned writers, and real stories from real teens. The release date will be announced later this spring.