Shocking(?) photographs stir up controversy

Beth Whaanga Photographer: Nadia Masot

An IN MY BODY Facebook fan sent us this link to an article about a woman named Beth Whaanga who at 32 years of age, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The reason there is such an uproar about this woman is not that she was diagnosed with breast cancer at such a young age, but because she bravely posted photos of herself on Facebook after undergoing a double mastectomy, breast reconstruction surgery and a full hysterectomy.  The reason she and her photographer friend, Nadia Masot took these shots and posted them was not to be sexual but to show the world what cancer does to the body (from the outside scars.)  She wants to encourage other women no matter what their age to do self examinations so that cancer can be caught as early as possible.

This article resonated with me because of a piece of the history of In My Body.  For those of you who don't know how IN MY BODY the musical came to be, here you go... it was born out of a song, our namesake, our anthem, called In My Body, written by Dan Martin and Michael Biello nearly 20 years ago.  In 2009 our concoctor, writer and producer Lis Kalogris was inspired to combine her love for this song along with the powerful and beautiful encaustic photographs of Leah Macdonald.  Leah's photos were of women with bodies of all shapes, colors, sizes and SIGNS OF TRAUMA.  Lis and her daughter Kate (fellow writer of IMB) started the IMB Project (as part of their family's non-profit called the KatherineAlexandra Foundation,) which was a multi-arts exploration of body culture which consisted of a gallery exhibition, workshops, panel discussions and mini-musicals.   That's it in a nutshell but if you ever want more info, just let me know!

Although Leah and Nadia's photographic styles are very different in many ways, the subject matter tied the two together in my brain.  Hence, this posting.

Getting back to Beth Whaanga, by posting HER startling photographs, many people reported her postings as "inappropriate" and about 100 people "de-friended" her and wanted her photos banned.  Facebook disagrees with the criticism and is allowing the photos to remain!  What do you think of these photographs?  Would you deem them inappropriate and offensive even though she posted...
"WARNING: These images are confronting and contain topless material. They are not in anyway meant to be sexual. The aim of this project is to raise awareness for breast cancer. If you find these images offensive, please hide them from your feed."?

Jessica Photograper: Leah Macdonald

Side note: for those interested in seeing Leah Macdonalds work, it is currently being shown at Cabrini College in Radnor, PA with support from the KatherineAlexandra Foundation until March 31st.  http://www.cabrini.edu/News-and-Events/Events/Fine-Arts-Calendar

Literally, In My Body

When I think of the three words "in my body" many things come to mind.  I think of issues that many of us have, such as body image and hating or loving what we physically see in the mirror.  Lately though I have been thinking about issues that we can't see in our reflection.  Issues that are most definitely and literally IN THE BODY.  For some of us I am talking about a chemical imbalance that is taking place within the brain or a trauma that is affecting our thoughts, emotions and even physical actions and causes depression.  When a loved one suffers from depression, people often struggle with what words of comfort and wisdom we can say.  It is a difficult situation and sometimes we think we are saying the right thing but for someone with depression those words can often end up making things worse.  Here is an article I came upon stating six things you should never say to someone with depression...TAKE NOTE!

what NOT to say...

Day 7 Reading!

On Sunday January 19th we introduced IN MY BODY to our first ever audience at Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philly!  They cried, they laughed, they LOVED it!  The amount of positive feedback that we have been receiving has been overwhelming and we are so grateful.  We are quickly recovering from this fantastic experience and are trying to figure out what our "next step" is.  Thank you to all our musicians, actors, producers, writers, behind the scenes peeps, and of course our fantastic first audience, for making some quite spectacular magic that night!

moments before...

Rehearsal Day 5

Today we moved our operation from the "burbs" to our official reading space in Old City, Philadelphia.  We welcome the final member of our team, tech extraordinaire Alyssa Cole!  Found out that Alyssa is a proud WCU alum just like our writers, Kate and Melissa!

Load in day was filled with lots of action!  From piano moving and tuning, to setting up chairs, stands, risers, lights to last minute script changes...WE ARE WIPED!  However, the excitement grows as we approach Sunday!

Day 5 Photos

Robin's equipment

Dan Martin and Fred Lassen going over score

our "bright, bold, beautiful" singers/actors!

Bill Fennelly giving his expertise direction
 to Jeff Coon and Tamara Anderson. 

Rehearsal Day 4

Yesterday was our last day rehearsing in Malvern, pa at our producer's home.  Two people joined Fred Lassen (our MD and pianist) to make up the In My Body Band.  Very excited, we welcome Tony Pirollo on cello and Robin Burdulis on percussion.  Their rich sounds combined with our actors voices sound phenomenal already!

Day 4 Photos

(R to L) Writer, Composer- Dan Martin, Director- Bill Fennelly, Percussion-Robin Burdulis

(L to R) Writer, Lyricist-Michael Biello, Writer, Producer-Lis Kalogris

Percussion-Robin Burdulis

(R to L) Tamara Anderson, Jeff Coon, Jillian Louis, Javier Muñoz, Donnie Hammond

Stage Manager-Keighty McLallen

Jeff Coon

Jillian Louis

Rob Tucker

Rehearsal Day 3

Today the actors got deeper into learning the songs and spoken words!  Everything sounds a little crisper than it did yesterday and it just keeps sounding better!

Day 3 Photos

Jeff meeting with two of the writers (Lis and Kate) to discuss spoken word pieces

Javier rehearsing with musical director (Fred), and  lyricist and composer (Michael and Dan)

Jeff Coon getting into character 

Donnie Hammond taking a much needed break

Rob Tucker going over the schedule for the day

Javier Muñoz reviewing his roles

Hello......again!

It's so cliche to say this but "sorry for not posting in a while!" Alas, we have good reason to start blogging again this week as we are officially in rehearsal for an *AEA Staged Reading which is taking place in less than a week!  Almost 20 of us are spending the week rehearsing in one of our writer/producers phenomenal home in Chester County, PA.  We are here until Thursday night and then we move into our performance space in Philadelphia on Friday morn! 

Day 2 Photos

(L to R) Fred Lassen (Music Director) & Bill Fennelly (Director) 

Justyn Wade (one of our Stage Managers)

(L to R) Donnie Hammond, Javier Muñoz, Jillian Louis, Jeff Coon, Tamara Anderson

(foreground to background) April Woodall, Rob Tucker, Donnie Hammond, 

Javier Muñoz, Jillian Louis, Jeff Coon

*Actors' Equity Association