CONTACT Rape Crisis Center and the Marshall University women’s studies program are working to create a performance piece, “Valentines to my Hometown.”

The piece is compiled of works written by men and women of Marshall and the Huntington community.

Workshops will occur 6-8 p.m. Thursday at CONTACT’s offices at 520 11th Street in Huntington.

Pieces written will focus on sexuality, race, gender and other issues. All writers are invited to attend workshops regardless of gender or sexual identification.

Auditions are 6:30-8 p.m. Monday at CONTACTS offices and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the John Spotts room in the Memorial Student Center.

The directors’ goals are to reach past women’s sexuality and involve men and women of all ages.

Liz Deal, CONTACT advocate, said volunteers wanted to expand the event this year.

“This year we wanted to expand even more in the community and make it less inclusively women, less ‘vagocentric.” Deal said.

Women’s studies have put together similar events in the past like the Vagina Monologues and the Vagappalachialogues.

Women’s studies is working to expand its audience and reach past Marshall’s campus.

Kristin Lillvis, director of graduate programs, said she hopes the audience will understand their views.

“It’s really exciting opening it up to more participants,” Lillvis said. “We are really hoping the audience will get a wide sense of our community and what we think about these issues with sexuality, gender and identity.”

Chosen pieces will be performed at the B’Nai Sholom Congregation in Huntington Feb. 19 and Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.

Donations will go to CONTACT Rape Crisis Center.

Hannah Harman can be contacted at [email protected].