Limitless Shirtlessness

One of my castmates and recent members of IMS reported some good shirtlessness over the weekend in the new movie "Limitless." Bradley Cooper has never been hard on the eyes, and the prospect of seeing him in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs could entice me to see this movie. However, I have to admit that since arriving in Alabama, I have seen exactly one movie, and my guess is that my next trip to the cinema will most likely be for Jane Eyre. What can I say? I am a sucker for period dramas! That is why "The Tudors" was such a joy - period costumes and shirtlessness! Needless to say, Mr. Cooper has made "Limitless" number 2 on my list.

As for said castmate who reported his recent shirtless fix, I'd like to give a shout out for developing some very good shirtlessness of his own. He has introduced me to the wonder of "The Perfect Push-Up," a set of portable devices that make push-ups even harder than they normally are by requiring you to twist your wrists while doing them. I don't understand the physics of them, but I will say that the results speak for themselves. He was the envy of every man and woman in the gym this morning where we took a Body Pump class together. This recent addition to the IMS membership told me that the blog inspired him to develop better shirtlessness himself. This is exactly how the blog should work!

The cause continues on in mysterious ways. All I can say is that I'm happy to inspire more good male shirtlessness all across the country. Until next week, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Shirtlessness, the Old Fashioned Way

I realize that I have been a terrible blogger by not keeping to my schedule. Alas, rehearsing a repertory season is a bit more taxing than I expected and the internet connection in our apartments is not quite as amenable as promised. So my apologies for slowing down on the shirtlessness front. It is a cause that I continue to support but perhaps not as vocally on the internet as previously. I assure you that my commitment remains unwavering in spite of the obstacles that time and the internet put before me.

Today I am posting Clark Gable in honor of the play that I am currently working on, which tells a fictionalized account of the creation of the script for "Gone with the Wind." My castmates and I watched the movie as research, and I found myself incredibly compelled by Mr. Gable. He had such an ease on screen. While I realize that his shirtlessness is not the best by today's overwrought standards, there is something quintessentially male about Clark Gable, and I thought it was worth celebrating.

In other news, I have discovered that although there is a rule in the park against running shirtless, there does not seem to be a rule against standing around shirtless. Now that the temperature has hit the 80s, the shirts are coming off. I'm not sad to say it. Things are definitely starting to look up on the shirtless front!

In the wake of my absence, I think I have to look at paring back my posting schedule to once a week on Mondays. I hope that my fellow IMS members will understand that sometimes learning and performing three plays at the same time can whittle away time once dedicated to blogging. I continue to encourage and promote good shirtlessness in my everyday life and hope that my Monday posts will carry the mantle for this short period away. I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

The Man Hug

I know that this is not a bona fide shirtless picture, but after seeing Anthony Mackie on the Today Show last week promoting his new movie, "The Adjustment Bureau" with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, I developed a little bit of a crush on him and think he should be shirtless soon. The arms in the above photo support my belief. He was simply so charming and humble and cute as he flirted with Ann Curry that I had to look him up and post him. So Mr. Mackie, please take your shirt off soon! He also said that he was a big supporter of hugging and then got into a hug-off with Al Roker. What is not to love about this guy?!

Apologies for the lack of posts last week. I found myself facing some rather difficult circumstances on a personal front and could not bring myself to concentrate on good male shirtlessness. I think you all can tell from that mere fact how heavy said circumstances were. Trouble seems to have cleared for now, but I am still wrestling with how to deal with people who act in an unjust way. I don't think I would have felt better if these people had demonstrated good shirtlessness while acting, but suffice it to say that they did not, which made the situation all the worse.

In any case the second show of the season will start previews tomorrow. No one takes their shirt off in this show either, but the quick changes suggest that there is a lot of shirtlessness happening backstage. I won't complain. Alabama is warming up, and I believe that some good male shirtlessness paired with my favorite accessories of kindness and compassion are in the air. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

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