Super Shirtlessness!

Summer has officially begun, and the blockbusters are kicking off some good shirtlessness!  I am particularly excited about "Man of Steel" since it stars the delightful Henry Cavill as my favorite superhero, Superman.  Mr. Cavill has graced this blog before when he played the loyal yet tortured Charles Brandon on "The Tudors" and spent most of the first season of that show shirtless.  As the above trailer shows, Mr. Cavill will continue to further the cause by appearing shirtless in this film in addition to wearing a suit that is essentially a unitard.  I love him.  If I were not doing a show in Philadelphia, I would organize at IMS outing to see this movie immediately.  Not only am I excited to see his take on Clark Kent, but I am also thrilled to see him paired with an actress who is older than him.  It's rare to find a Hollywood blockbuster in which the female love interest is older than the lead, and as someone who is also older than Mr. Cavill, I applaud the choice.  Who knows, maybe next will be a superhero movie with a mixed race couple?  Will miracles never cease to exist?

And speaking of miracles, this year's Tony Awards featured top awards to African-American actors and female directors.  There was a lot of hoopla about the diversity of this year's show which I must applaud.  I can't help but be a little bit surprised though that it took this long to have a show that was not just a parade of white men.  I hope that next year's show will build on it and include some other minorities too, like Latin people and Asians.  In such a diverse city, I wish that our theater would reflect its make-up more accurately.  Here's to hoping!  Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Shirtlessness on Broadway

Apparently our work has had enough of an effect on Broadway to warrant an essay by the venerable Ben Brantley in the New York Times this week.  Two IMS members sent me this link the day it came out.  Mr. Brantley seems less beholden to the shirtlessness than we are, but I'm glad he is commenting on it in the Times.  I'll agree that sometimes, shirtlessness can seem like more of a costume than a shirt when everyone's torso has been worked out to the exact same shape of perfection.  And I don't think that anyone needs to take off his shirt to give a great performance.  But I'm not going to lie - I enjoy some eye candy.  In an industry where the text of what anyone is saying is not always the most interesting thing, I'll take some shirtlessness.  Sebastian Stan, pictured above, garnered quite a bit of notice for his shirtlessness in "Picnic" this winter.  I like his torso and can see why someone might consider running away with it, I mean, him.  In any case, I think it is important to consider what we are promoting here at IMS.  In no way is IMS advocating for cookie cutter torsos across the boards, but rather for men to take care of and feel good enough about their torsos to show them off now and again.  Thanks to Mr. Brantley and Broadway for making me refocus on the cause.  I'll probably never thank those two entities on this blog ever again, so let's all take note.  Also, let's hope that this weekend's Tony Awards take similar note - perhaps a shirtless number or two?

Until Tuesday when I get back from my day off shenanigans, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Back in the Saddle

Although my show is not quite open yet, I am finally through the vast majority of rehearsals as well as my traipsing back and forth to New York for extra work on my days off.  So it seems that I can get back to my duties as IMS President and resume my normal posting schedule of Mondays and Fridays.  Today I went shopping with one of my fellow cast members, and while she was trying on some dresses, I happened to catch a glimpse of the Ellen DeGeneres Show which just happened to have Joe Mangiello on as a guest today.  Many IMS members have written to me with enthusiasm about Mr. Mangiello, and I can't say I blame them.  As you see in the above picture, the man has muscles that I didn't know existed.  He certainly lives up to all the nicknames that I have heard him called.  If you don't know what they are, I suggest you say his name three times fast, and you'll get at least one.  Most of them refer to a type of dessert.  In any case, it seems that Mr. Mangiello is a classically trained actor which obviously prepared him for his work on "True Blood" and "Magic Mike."  I like a man who can recite Shakespeare shirtless.

Until this Friday, gentle readers, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Emergency Post!

Gentle IMS members, apologies for being MIA for the past three weeks.  I am currently rehearsing for a show in Philadelphia which has kept me from my posting duties.  Good news for me, but not so great for the blog.  Once my show opens next Wednesday, I look forward to resuming my bi-weekly posting schedule.

In the meantime, I did receive a frantic call last night from the Vice President of IMS regarding the season opener of "The Bachelorette" in which one contestant, the above pictured Zak Waddell, emerged from the limousine shirtless.  Having pooh-poohed the show since the first Bachelor decided to choose the girl with the biggest breasts, I have never followed any developments on this show except for what the VP tells me, i.e. which Bachelorettes are true believers in the cause.  DeAnna Pappas got strong props from the VP for being a true promoter of good male shirtlessness.  It looks like this season, whether Bachelorette Desiree Hartstock believes in the cause or not will make little difference in the shirtless quotient of the show since apparently, Mr. Waddell refuses to wear a shirt.  He has certainly made a strong impression on the VP.  Let's see if he can last until the final rose ceremony!  Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Real Shirtlessness

Gentle IMS members, new inspiration has been found after discovering that our work together is having tangible effects in the real world.  It is one thing to clamor for more shirtlessness in Hollywood where people have nothing but hours and dollars to devote to fitness and seeing the sun.  It is quite another to realize that people who work very hard every day in the real world can also dedicate themselves also to having good shirtlessness.  This week I am featuring my friend, Michael Goddard, who in addition to being an amazing theatrical agent has also made a commitment to good shirtlessness.  In the past six weeks with the help of the staff of Mark Fisher Fitness, he has worked hard to shed the hibernation weight of this miserable New York winter to look fierce for spring, which lucky for all us finally decided to grace us this month.  I am so proud of Michael and his amazing transformation.  This former Broadway dancer was never anything to sneeze at, but his recent regimen has allowed him to be an IMS Poster Boy.

Brava, Michael!

I look forward to more stories of real good shirtlessness as we all emerge from the winter like butterflies from a chrysalis.  In fact, I'm hoping the change of seasons will bring me some stories of my own!  Until then, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

A Cutie

Ever since Anthony Mackie did a segment on the Today Show with Al Roker about Bromances and Man Hugs, I have had a little crush on him.  He has a cute face and seems not to take himself too seriously, both of which are great accessories to shirtlessness.  However, until now, he never seemed to take his shirt off on film, but in his latest movie, "Pain & Gain," he appears to wear tank tops exclusively.  I applaud his movement toward shirtlessness.  He's playing a body-builder who turns to a life of crime, and so baring his torso makes perfect sense.  I'd venture to say that shirtlessness almost always makes sense, but I realize that I am biased.

In continuing my advocacy for good male shirtlessness, I'm happy to report that my latest play ends with the line "Take your shirt off!"  It's getting a reading this Monday at Ma-Yi Theatre, and while I can't insist that anyone take off his shirt for a reading, I am imagining full shirtlessness for the full production.  I'm so pleased that my advocacy has really taken hold in my writers' group.  Several of the plays being read for our LabFest this spring include shirtlessness.  I only wish my advocacy for women and people of color could also take off so spectacularly, but I guess, all in good time.  Until then, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

More Commercial Shirtlessness

Our work has not been for naught, dear IMS members.  It seems that corporate America has finally caught on to the idea that they should make ads geared towards women who do the majority of household purchasing instead of hocking stuff with bikini-clad models.  No doubt, bikini-clad models sell a lot of stuff, but the introduction of the Old Spice Guy campaign apparently doubled sales of Old Spice.  I'm just sayin... So to encourage the trend of excellent shirtlessness in advertising, I give you the latest Diet Coke add which frankly smacks of "Call Me Maybe" in my opinion.  I'm impressed that the subtle message embedded in this ad is not only that Diet Coke will inspire men to take their shirts off but also that Diet Coke if spilled all over an individual will make him appear to be sweating rather than sticky.  Neat trick Diet Coke.  I remember the Cindy Crawford Pepsi commercial from back in the day and am grateful that 20 years later someone thought to make a soft drink commercial to please me.  I wonder if we'll have to wait another 20 years for there to be more than one token non-white person in the commercial or for the object of desire to be of an ethnicity other than Caucasian.  Baby steps, I know.  At least there will be more shirtlessness to comfort me while I wait.

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS