Countdown to Oscar

I know I have already posted Mr. Bale, but he truly is the only Oscar nominee that I would like to see without his shirt. From the above picture, can you blame me? I know Mr. Bale has a reputation for being a nut due to the footage of him screaming at the crew during a film shoot, but sometimes I wonder if all his Method-acting weight loss doesn't drive him to craziness. If he stayed the pleasant weight pictured above, perhaps he would be nicer. But then again, it is his manorexic portrait of an addict that will most likely give him an Oscar this Sunday. So who's to say? Natalie Portman appeared to have starved herself for her nominated performance in "The Black Swan" and by all reports did not yell at anyone. So I guess I should make it clear that if in pursuing good shirtlessness, one feels the need to be a horrible person, please stop searching for the shirtlessness. Kindness is a far more valuable commodity.

That said, I do enjoy a combination of the two.

We're knee deep in shows and rehearsals at the Shakespeare Festival and managing all to be kind to each other. Some of my cast mates have taken to playing tennis outside our apartments, and that seems like a promising source of shirtlessness as the weather continues to heat up. We've been cooking up a storm here, and so no one has any excuse not to be pleasant. I feel a combination of kindness and shirtlessness may be in my future. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Superman, Super Shirtless!

Oh happy day when the new Superman is announced! I know I'm behind the times here in the deep South, but news like this is definitely worth waiting for. You know that I have loved Henry Cavill since I first laid eyes on him in "The Tudors," and now the thought of seeing him on a giant screen wearing the suit of my favorite superhero is almost too much to bear. I am filled with joy.

I'm also happy because at last the weather has become delightful, and live shirtlessness seems possible again. I've taken to walking the long way to work in the hopes that I will run into a shirtless jogger, even though I know that shirtless jogging is forbidden in the park. This weather reminds me of the first days of spring in college when all the males spontaneously would take off their shirts just to feel the sun. It was generally a blinding proposition, but at least it started off the season with a bang. I'm happy for the sun in February and won't let anything bring me down. Henry Cavill and sunshine make me happy!

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm feeling romantic because it's Valentine's Day and because I have spent that past few nights watching "Downton Abbey" with some of my cast mates. This delightful individual is British actor, Theo James, who plays a Turkish diplomat in the Masterpiece Theater miniseries, and although he is not shirtless here, he does take off his shirt in the series. There are many things to recommend "Downton Abbey," imcluding lush settings, gorgeous costumes, and fantastically twisting storylines. Sadly the only shirtlessness in the series occurs under less than ideal circumstances, but I encourage all IMS members to take the time to watch it and to keep track of Mr. James. He has an unusually light presence on the internet for an actor, but with those lips and eyes, I doubt this will remain the case for long. I also suspect he has more shirtlessness in his future.

The weather is improving in Alabama, and I suddenly feel hope that shirtlessness may be just around the corner. I have been distressed to learn that shirtless running is not allowed in the park that surround our theater and wonder if this means shirtlessness is generally not encouraged here. That would be sad. One of the primary ways to enjoy the sun is to take off one's shirt and soak it in, I believe. I shall remain optimistic, however, and believe that with the warm spring sun will come some good male shirtlessness. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Fade to Grey

Every so often, I am reminded why I am so devoted to Grey's Anatomy. Last night's episode with Avery ever so slowly taking off his scrub shirt and ever so slowly putting on his regular shirt was just such a delicious reminder. My cast mate and I clapped and cheered after we picked our jaws up off the floor during this scene. Frankly, a man who will both take off his shirt and listen to your issues while feeding you chocolates gives one a lot to cheer for. Obviously, the fact that he was giving the chocolates and listening to Lexi in hopes of advancing his career lessened the impact of these actions, but the good shirtlessness at the end of the episode made it all okay. It's amazing how much shirtlessness can fix almost any situation.

The weather continues to disappoint me in Alabama. I was hoping for a winter of warm weather and good male shirtlessness , but alas, that seems not to be in the cards for me. I will settle for the many shapely calves revealed by all the Julius Caesar costumes and hope for spring to come soon. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Superbowl Shirtlessness

Before Superbowl Sunday, it seemed only right to post an athlete from one of the competing teams as suggested by one of the most recent members of IMS, and so I present Troy Polamalu, a Pittsburgh Steeler of Samoan descent who has insured his hair for a reported $3 million since he is also a spokesperson for Head and Shoulders Shampoo. He also seems to give pretty good shirtlessness. Since having my heart broken by the Buffalo Bills every year of college, I have made it a point not to follow football, but I was lucky enough to have some help from fellow IMS members to find Mr. Polamalu. I also like his last name; it rolls off the tongue.

In other news, the first show of the season opened here in Montgomery. Since we opened to a 10am matinee for high school students, there was relatively little fanfare, but locking a show in always gives one a sense of satisfaction. I'm glad to have one show under my belt and start the next tomorrow. Perhaps there will be new chances at good shirtlessness in "Much Ado..."

In the meantime, if you are looking for a quick fix for your shirtless needs, apparently Del Monte has created a ice cream pop version of Daniel Craig's torso. One of my cast mates alerted me to this important development in the frozen treat world. I don't know if I'm more sad that I don't have one of these frozen delights than that I didn't come up with this brilliant idea. While I doubt I will find one of these treats anytime soon given the freezing temperatures, I am really looking forward to trying one this summer. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS