Philanthropists Rita Waldor and Judith Lieberman and Marsha Atkind, past national president of National Council of Jewish Women, will be among the actors performing the play in support of the V-Day 2007 Worldwide Campaign, a movement to end violence against women and girls.

The event, sponsored by the Essex County Section of the NCJW, is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 6 and 7, at 7 p.m. at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

The Obie Award-winning play, based on actual testimonials from women about sex and body image, is a centerpiece of playwright Ensler’s ongoing awareness campaign surrounding domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women. Ensler grants an organization the rights to perform the play if the organization fights domestic violence and teen violence; she requires that the play be presented during a five-week period around Valentine’s Day.

“How awesome is this?” said Essex County NCJW executive director Cathy Silverman, after NCJW member Beth Levithan suggested that the organization undertake the performance.

Myrna Wertheimer, cochair of the project with Levithan — and a cast member — agreed.

“We were determined to do it because we felt it would educate the community,” said Wertheimer. “I believe many people are totally unaware of the kind of violence happening toward women and the kind of abuse teens suffer, despite the amount of information available now.”

Wertheimer added that other issues are treated in The Vagina Monologues. “The play is also about the way women feel about their bodies and about self-esteem issues,” she said. “We believe there’s still an awful lot we can do. There’s still a fair amount for women and men to learn.”

The performances will benefit NCJW programs addressing issues of violence against women and girls. They include a Job Readiness Program, the Career Closet, Project GRO Peer Support Groups, Women’s Workshops, Legal Assistance for Women, Financial Assistance for Women, and the Teen Dating Abuse Project.

Wertheimer said that for many in the production, like herself, the performance is personal.

“I’ve been there from the beginning of NCJW’s fight against domestic violence,” she said.

In 1987, she said, NCJW Essex County staged Behind Closed Doors, a dramatized murder trial of an abused woman who killed her husband/abuser. The event drew an audience of 800 and led to the creation of the array of services NCJW now provides.

Auditions for The Vagina Monologues, open to all NCJW members, were held in the fall. Few in the cast have theater backgrounds.

“This is an opportunity for women to do something brave,” said Wertheimer. “It’s an unusual experience to get up on the stage and be a part of a production like this. But most of us have been touched by the material.”

Atkind, who is manager of philanthropic initiatives for the Jewish Community Foundation of MetroWest NJ, will perform the monologue known as “The Flood,” a graphic testimonial by an elderly woman.

“It’s very juicy,” said Atkind. “Some monologues are challenging vocabulary-wise. Some are challenging concept-wise. Mine is concept-wise. The vocabulary’s not too bad. It’s a great part.”

Cast members also include Jan Ball, Nancy Cohen, Helene Dreskin, Sharon Falkin, Sandy Goodman, Shari Harrison, Laurie Hauptman, Marsha Henry, Mimi Heyman, Debby Krasner, Michelle Krasner, Carol Marcus, Marion Medow, Mo Menzel, Susan Miller, Jill Neff, Jean Oursler, Natalie Peck, Leslie Dannin Rosenthal, Barbara Sarrett, Deborah Schatz, Linda Slucker, Stephanie Turner, and Marian Wolf.

The production is being directed by Leslie Potashner and produced by Debby Krasner.

Ticket prices range from $36 to $1,000. For more information or to purchase tickets, call NCJW at 973-740-0588.