Monday, November 28, 2011

Shirtlessness for Good and Not Evil

In my excitement to report that even my mother believes in male shirtlessness, I forgot to post about the shirtlessness that I cooked up over Thanksgiving. My writers' group, the Ma-Yi Writers' Lab, hosted a benefit last night to raise funds for a much needed new copier. As you can imagine, 17 playwrights sharing one printer/copier has not made for an effortless printing of pages every Thursday night, and we have officially killed the one we had. So in effort to buy a new one, we threw a little shindig on the stage of the Connelly Theater, current home of Ma-Yi's production of "The Sugar House at the Edge of the Wilderness." Each playwright was tasked with writing a 5 page play which contained a Labbie secret. I realized that this was my opportunity to use shirtlessness for good and not evil. We need a new printer; people will pay money to see hot guys with no shirts. So I wrote a play with roles for 5 shirtless men.

Let me say that our fine cast of actors did not disappoint. 5 men took off their shirts so that our lab could print out our pages at will. I am so proud of them for their brave work. One did a short but sensual strip tease. Another used his shirt like a stripper pole. A third, the above pictured Louis Ozawa Changchien, gave shirtlessness with a smile. A fourth read his lines shirtless while carrying another actor on his back playing a baby. And the fifth delivered the punchline of my play with simplicity and shirtlessness.

It really made my dreams come true. Gentlemen, may you all be so brave in your next theatrical outings because in my opinion, your stage shirtlessness is a thing of beauty. I will continue to write shirtless parts for all of you. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sexiest Shirtlessness Alive!

Hearty congratulations to Bradley Cooper for grabbing that coveted title, Sexiest Man Alive. Mr. Cooper is no stranger to this blog or to good male shirtlessness, and we at IMS are glad to see the Two Point Standard being upheld by this important figure. I'll say that I do not remember "Sexiest Man Alive" being announced on Thanksgiving before, but I really won't complain. It was certainly something that I felt thankful for!

So I did watch the two hour finale of Dancing With the Stars with my mother this week. She asked me why all the men had their shirts open. When pressed as to why their open shirts bothered her so much, she responded that she thought the shirts got in the way of their dancing. "So you would rather that they simply remove their shirts?" I asked her. "Sure," came her reply, "I think so." It was a revelatory moment for me. Even my mother supports good male shirtlessness! Perhaps this holiday season, IMS members can reach out to their family members for support in the cause. They may just surprise you! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 21, 2011

Dancing with Shirtlessness

I'm upstate with my family and just watched DWTS with my mom who is an amateur ballroom dancer. She loves Derek, and he seems to take his shirt off a lot on the show. So here he is on the blog! During tonight's episode, my mom kept asking me why Derek wasn't wearing a shirt, to which I replied, "Who cares?" So thank you Derek Hough for bringing some good shirtlessness to DWTS. I remember how much I loved it when Gilles ripped off his shirt in dance after dance in season 8. I don't have the same crush on Derek, but I have to support his good shirtlessness. I do have to give a shout out to Karina Smirnoff, though, for rocking her costumes without taking her shirt off. That lady better work it out! She looks great!

I will be taking Friday off for Thanksgiving and wish all of you a happy holiday with your loved ones and remind you all to give thanks for all the good male shirtlessness in the world! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 18, 2011

Shirtlessness Off Broadway

Before I explain the title of today's post, I will expound upon the shirtlessness of the above featured Dermot Mulroney. Lately, I've been developing a slight obsession with Maroon 5 ever since "Moves Like Jagger" wiggled its way into my brain, and in my quest for other videos in which Adam Levine might also be shirtless, I came across a video from "The Wedding Date" starring Mr. Mulroney and the lovely Debra Messing which featured Maroon 5's song "Secret." I was then reminded of how much I enjoyed the movie, a) because I am a sucker for romcoms, and b) the gigolo character played by Mr. Mulroney admits to having been a comparative literature major at Brown which made me laugh inappropriately in the theater. Also, let's face it, I've always wished that I could just order myself an Ivy League educated date who looks like Mr. Mulroney to accompany me to a family wedding. Wait a second, I did take the Vice President of IMS to my brother's wedding, but we did not wind up shirtless in a boat. In any case, I think the song and the scene are both very sexy, and my appreciation for Mr. Mulroney was renewed. Perhaps my favorite thing about this sex scene is that Ms. Messing falls down and starts laughing in it which makes it seem like fun sex instead of the usual silent stuff portrayed in film.

As for the title of this post, I was so delighted to attend a performance of Carla Ching's "Sugar House at the Edge of the Wilderness" last night and discover that Ms. Ching has added some shirtlessness to the play that was not in earlier versions. I managed not to start clapping inappropriately but warmly congratulated the actor after the show who admitted to me that he was nervous to have the President of IMS in the house. I'm just so pleased that plays being developed in my writers' lab are increasingly featuring shirtlessness. And I am so happy to see the work of my fellow Asian American writers receiving such beautiful productions. New York IMS members, go see Sugar House, not only for the shirtlessness but for a wonderful play!

Our lab is presenting an evening of short plays next week to raise money for a new copier, and all I can say is that mine will most definitely feature male shirtlessness, lots of it. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 14, 2011

Shirts off on Broadway?

After seeing a show this weekend, some lady friends and I went out and discussed the theater at large as well as shows that we would like to see. One friend mentioned that she had tickets to see "Stick Fly" on Broadway, to which I responded that I hoped Mekhi Pfifer who is in the cast would take off his shirt. Now that movie and television stars come so regularly to Broadway, I feel that it is only logical that there will be more shirtlessness on the Great White Way. One can hope. One can also hope that one day the Great White Way will be a commentary on the bright lights of Broadway rather than the race of most of the actors. But thank you "Stick Fly" and a few other shows like "Chinglish" and "Porgy & Bess" that are working on changing the stats of racial diversity in the commercial theater. It has always seemed odd to me that theater in a wildly diverse city like New York can remain so homogenous.

In other news, I did not see "The Immortals" this weekend. I'm saving it for Thanksgiving week when I am sure that my family will cause me to need two hours of good shirtlessness at some point. Instead, the Vice President of IMS and I spent an evening at Ann Taylor Loft picking out outfits for the holiday season. The irony of the President and Vice President of IMS shopping for women's blouses is not lost on me, but alas, sometimes one really does need a shirt. Lest we forget, IMS is an advocacy group formed in response to years of female shirtlessness seen in movies as well as in response to a certain episode of DH, back when that show was good. Good male shirtlessness does bring balance back to the entertainment industry and spread happiness to many. Keep doing your good work, gentle members. I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Friday, November 11, 2011

Urgent Shirtlessness

I received a voicemail from the Vice President of IMS last night with an urgent message - go see "The Immortals!" I'm not a big fan of violent movies, but the VP knows that I am a big fan of Henry Cavill, pictured above, who apparently spends of a lot of time in the film without a shirt. With all those muscles on his stomach, I'd say that was a very good choice. Mr. Cavill had me at "Good day" in the Tudors, and I thought I was going to have to wait for Superman to see him again. Oh happy day to know that not only is he coming to a theater near me this weekend, but also coming to it in 3D! I don't even like 3D movies, but this one could change my mind. And the VP who went to a sneak peek screening last night, offered to go with me again!

Also, it appears that Mr. Cavill's love interest is Freida Pinto which adds an added layer of intrigue to the film. I'm always happy when movies based on mythology make the bold choice of opening the casting to all races. I have never understood why movies set in made-up places tend to be so homogeneous in their racial make-up. Lord of the Rings, anyone? In any case, this film appears to have a multicultural cast with many men who seem primed for shirtlessness. I have a sense that when my family is driving me crazy over Thanksgiving, this may be the movie to make everything better.

In any case, knowing that good shirtlessness is out there makes the world a better place. I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Threat of Shirtlessness


Disclaimer: There is no actual shirtlessness in the above video clip, but the mere hint of shirtlessness to come delighted me. Honestly, I'm not really that hard to please. I laughed out loud when I saw this commercial and thought that I had to post it. Shirtlessness can be used for humor too!

Unfortunately, I missed SNL this weekend in spite of this cute promo because I was seeing some in person shirtlessness at the theater on Saturday night. I went to see Leviathan Lab's inaugural production of "Twelfth Night" at the Arclight Theater on West 71st Street, and I am happy to report that there was an unexpected but very enjoyable bit of shirtlessness in the show. I always think that shirtlessness compliments the Bard, and 12N really proved this point. Another point that the production proved was that using an entirely Asian cast of actors does not alter the delight of the play. Having had many conversations recently with my fellow Asian actors about how often casting us in non-specific roles is viewed in the industry as "political," I was particularly curious to see how this production's casting would affect the meaning of the play, if it would politicize it. While Shakespeare is often set in different times and places in many productions, this production inspired by 1960s Hong Kong told the timeless stories of lovers and families split apart and brought back together in an accessible and comprehensive way. I had a great time at the show, not in the least because of some good male shirtlessness on display in Act II. I hope some of you IMS members will get out there to support it.

The theater increasingly has become a place for new male shirtlessness. I wonder what this coming week will hold. I am in anxious anticipation! Until next time, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS