“Fat Girls: The Musical” Returns to the South Bay

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORRANCE, CA, May 31, 2007 -- “FAT GIRLS: THE MUSICAL,” the hit Los Angeles show that ran in 2002-2003 to rave reviews, is back for a short run this summer. Written and directed by Carla Drew (NAACP Theater Award nominee for best actress for the title role in William Blinn’s “Hattie,”), this musical comedy is the story of four plus-size women with powerful singing talent who form a successful group despite industry rejection. The show opens Saturday, July 14, 2007 at the Nakano Theater in Torrance, CA and runs through Sunday, August 12, 2007.

“I wrote “Fat Girls” after so many years of being rejected for parts because of my size,” says playwright Carla Drew, who also wrote all of the show’s music. “Even after I dropped from a size 28 to a size 14, I was still hearing the same old thing about my size being an issue. I was frustrated with the inability of the industry to see beyond that, and to see the talent and passion I had to give. The show’s theme centers on the idea that all of us are valuable; not just those who are lucky enough to match society’s idea of physical perfection.”

The cast members were selected as much for their belief and commitment to the play’s central theme as for their talent and skill. The original “Fat Girls/Treasure” cast (Jacquelyn Levy as “Trish,” Amy Murray as “Daphne,” Elysa Gomez as “Layla” and Carla Drew as “Candace”) is back, with the addition of Tina Jackson as “Camille” and Anne Mayher as “Shelley.”

“In watching the rehearsals, I realized that the wardrobe itself was a critical part of demonstrating the metamorphosis these women go through, as they battle discrimination and their own self-worth issues, and then begin enjoying success and the confidence that brings,” says costume designer Jennifer Davis of Astarte/woman by design. “We decided to allow the actresses to wear their own street clothes from the start of the play up to their first performance as the group “Treasure.” At that point, I designed the wardrobe to be very powerful, colorful, and evocative of the emotions that each character was facing in the play. The transformation is truly startling in contrast.”

FAT GIRLS: THE MUSICAL runs from Saturday, July 14 through Sunday, August 12 at the Nakano Theater in Torrance. Performances are held Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available through the box office at (310) 781-7171. Discount tickets for opening night, Saturday, July 14 and the Sunday, July 29 matinee are available through Astarte/woman by design, 1462 E. 33rd St., Signal Hill, CA 90755, 562/492-9999, www.AstarteWoman.com.

###

Contact Information

Jennifer Davis

Designer

Astarte/woman by design

Contact via E-mail