- May 4, 2024
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Dressed in all black, 10 young actors take the stage chanting.
“Lust for the perfect body, crave control of our lives, condemn the anorexics, desire to be their size.”
The words are repeated several times, setting the mood for “The Skinny on the Skinny,” a workshop production presented by The City Repertory Theatre.
The show, which is an original production written, adapted and directed by John Sbordone and assisted by Diane Ellertsen and Lynne DiCianni, centers around concepts of body image and tackles the difficult issues of eating disorders, body types, relationships and the ways the media portrays weight loss.
“I was looking for something contemporary,” Sbordone said. “This is an important issue. As humans, we are always dealing with it. It’s a topic that (the students) would have to get emotionally involved with.”
The cast, which ranges in age from 15 to 23, are all recipients of $400 scholarships to participate in the workshop: Leana Gardella, John Birney, Caitlin Eriser, Hunter Sanders, Gabriella Jackman, Kya Stotler, Kiona Cabrera, Ryan Mateo, Marcus Louis-Jeune and Elaine Lyles.
Cabrera, 16, is a first-time actress with CRT and said that at first, she was afraid because she was the least experienced person there. Throughout the eight weeks of work on the production, Cabrera said, she has discovered a lot about herself as a person, as well as an actress.
One specific skill she has learned is to focus on the internal constant of a piece while also trying to project it out in a way that makes people want to look at you. This is evident during her monologue about being shy.
The workshop will open 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, and will continue through the weekend with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and Saturday, Aug. 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug, 5, at the Hollingsworth Gallery, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B207.
Tickets for the show are $10. Call 585-9415.
