Apologies Jonathan Cake

Several hours after posting on Monday, I realized that there was shirtlessness on Sunday's season premier of DH. It was just that lines uttered while shirtless were so preposterous that it was immediately erased from my short term memory. Indeed, Jonathan Cake who has the thankless job of playing Bree's cop boyfriend on DH took off his shirt early in the episode. Sadly he was also forced to utter the line, "No offense, but you do that like a professional" after a vigorous session of lovemaking. Call me crazy, but being told I am like a prostitute after sex is not a turn on. If this is all that anyone can come up with for pillow talk, then there can be no surprise as to why this is the final season of DH. But my apologies to Mr. Cake - his good shirtlessness is duly noted.

This leads me to believe that there are some bad accessories to shirtlessness, honestly a topic I have never before considered. Indeed, if even the best of shirtlessness is accompanied by as horrible a line as quoted above, then the shirtlessness does lose all appeal. Truly, I never thought there could be such a circumstance before now! So my sage advice is that if you have nothing to accompany your good shirtlessness, please remain silent.

I'm pleased to report that most of the shows that I have attended in the past month have featured some good shirtlessness. I think that the work of IMS has infiltrated the Off-Broadway community because it's rare to go to a play without shirtlessness these days. I can't complain. It makes the bad plays a little more pleasant and the good ones really amazing! Carry on, brave IMS members; we must carry our message to Off-Broadway and beyond! Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Latin Shirtlessness

In honor of my trip to Mexico which kept me away from posting last week, I give you Enrique Iglesias who is not Mexican but started his career on a Mexican label. He also seems to like being shirtless, and I feel that a shirtless man who can sing is not a bad thing. I have professed my preference for dancers, being one myself, but I do enjoy a good song. This leads me to believe that there are many excellent accessories to good shirtlessness. Perhaps I need to explore more of them.

I went to Mexico City for work last week, and although I was at a lovely resort just south of the city, I did not really get any time to evaluate the shirtlessness in that country. Certainly, I would expect that many men meet at least the second point of the Two Point Standard - Seeing the sun - since it is quite sunny. I spent a meager 30 minutes by the pool hoping to soak up a little vitamin D before rehearsal, mostly because I had taken the trouble to wax my legs before flying and didn't want the pain to be in vain. But alas no one else was at the pool when I was. Sometimes the search for good shirtlessness is harder than one can imagine.

For instance, there was no good shirtlessness on DH last night. What kind of season opener is that? There also was no good writing. I guess this really is the last season. All I can say is that I hope it gets juicier before it ends. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

In the Beginning

Okay, so Mick Jagger does not quite fit the 2 Point Standard of our day since he has never seemed to be one for the sun; he did kind of start it all with his shirtless strutting. His antics made other rock stars say "Hey, I might want to take off my shirt in concert and should probably look good doing it." So thank you, Mick! You kicked off the era of Good Male Shirtlessness. We at IMS are grateful for it.

I missed posting on Friday because I was sucked into the coverage of 9/11. Some things (though not many) are more important than male shirtlessness. Remembering the lives lost that day as well as the lives lost since then in the wars that day precipitated is one of those things in my mind. I can't believe 10 years have passed. I wonder what we will think of it after another 10. I hope perhaps more people will be inspired to try to make the world a better place rather than tear it apart. Gentle IMS members, please try to remember that as you continue to make the world more beautiful by promoting good male shirtlessness. Be kind. Give to charity. Smile at someone. As you go forth with love and peace, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Shirtless Moves

I am officially in mourning for The Rocky Horror Show. Not having reliable good shirtlessness and a dance party every night has had an adverse effect on my mood. Who knew? This proves that good male shirtlessness is truly a natural mood elevator. In any case, this song was the penultimate song of our final dance party, and when I watched the video and realized that the lead singer of Maroon 5 was shirtless, I thought it was a fitting tribute to a fantastic summer. Mr. Levine has more tatoos than I tend to prefer with my shirtlessness, but I have no doubts that there are a few IMS members out there who can really appreciate his artwork.

This song also highlighted to me another excellent accessory to shirtlessness - moves. Having a dance party immediately after the show every night reminded me of how much I love to get on the dance floor and shake it. And our Rocky always hung around to dance with me in his shirtless state. I won't bore you all with my continued adoration of Mr. Madsen, but I will say a man who can pull off shirtlessness and moves on the dance floor is a keeper. One of my castmates recently told me that he was looking for someone to talk to at the end of the night which prompted me to consider what I was looking for in a partner. I really just want someone who can dance with me for a whole song. And I don't mean move around while looking at all the other people on the floor - I mean someone who can really dance with me. So tonight I'm hoping that there is a someone out there looking for a dance partner, a person who can talk late at night to my castmate, and good shirtlessness for all. Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

You Know You Want It

I've spent most of today trying to figure out what to post for my last posting from Ithaca, and then, like a dream (or an email) it came to me - a production shot of Rocky. This photo is a production still from the moment when Rocky's torso and most of the rest of him is revealed. The audience tends to start cheering loudly at this point in the show. Who wouldn't? Quite honestly, the entire ensemble starts panting at the back of the stage. Night after night, we know it's coming, and yet we almost can't believe it when it happens. I'm still a little bit sad that the director didn't let me rip his shirt off, but I guess artistic integrity and storytelling do have to take precedence over giving the president of IMS a perk in the theater.

In any case, the show closes tomorrow night, and I will definitely be sad to see it end. Besides the fact that I often wander backstage with shirtless men, I really love doing the show. The first half is a crazy aerobic workout for the ensemble, and there is something really fun about a show that charges through 90 minutes without a backward glance. I've never done a show that made so little sense, and I think it has helped me to enjoy the moment a little bit more. So I'm going to live it up for the next three shows, and I hope that all of you gentle readers will find something to relish too. In case you have trouble finding something, may I offer this article from the venerable Time Magazine about the greatest shirtless scenes in movie history. I'm glad to know that shirtlessness has made it to the subject matter of Time! Obviously our cause is going mainstream!

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS