Catawba College's student-directed play "Fat Pig" explores the idea of beauty in an era when carbs are closely counted, extreme makeovers are commonplace, and Hollywood establishes the ideals of beauty.   Performances are at 7:30 p.m. February 22-25 in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus.

Blue Masque Student Director McKenna Dabbs, a junior from Nashville, Tenn., directs the play by Neil LaBute.   When the play opens, Tom, a run of the mill New Yorker, is having lunch at an ordinary diner.   He meets Helen, a woman who is the total package, except her package is 50-75 pounds overweight.   This begins Tom's journey of self-doubt and eventually self-discovery that challenges the stereotypes idealized in popular media.    

LaBute's play is inspired in part by his own experiment with the Atkins Diet in which he lost 60 pounds in a year, and then gained most of it back.   It both critiques our society's slavish adherence to Hollywood ideals and questions our ability to change what we dislike about ourselves.   LaBute says the play is "an examination of what it means to love."

Cast members include junior Justin Dionne of Salisbury as Tom; freshman Meghan McLaughlin of Owings Mills, Md. as Helen; junior Jordan Richards of Hendersonville as Carter; and sophomore Guerin Piercy of Swannanoa as Jeannie.   The production team includes senior Loren Armitage of Proctor, Vt., as lighting designer; sophomore Sara "Minnie" Scronce of Newton as stage manager; freshman Justin Duncan of Fayetteville as assistant stage manager; junior Johnathan Menius of Kannapolis as set designer; and sophomore Sam Brooks of Seaford, Va., as dresser and costume, hair, and make-up designer.

The play contains some sexual situations as well as some language that audience members may find offensive.   It is not recommended for younger audiences.

Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students.   For more information, call the Catawba College Box Office at 704-637-4481.   Group rates are available.

Catawba College's student-directed play "Fat Pig" explores the idea of beauty in an era when carbs are closely counted, extreme makeovers are commonplace, and Hollywood establishes the ideals of beauty.   Performances are at 7:30 p.m. February 22-25 in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus.

Blue Masque Student Director McKenna Dabbs, a junior from Nashville, Tenn., directs the play by Neil LaBute.   When the play opens, Tom, a run of the mill New Yorker, is having lunch at an ordinary diner.   He meets Helen, a woman who is the total package, except her package is 50-75 pounds overweight.   This begins Tom's journey of self-doubt and eventually self-discovery that challenges the stereotypes idealized in popular media.    

LaBute's play is inspired in part by his own experiment with the Atkins Diet in which he lost 60 pounds in a year, and then gained most of it back.   It both critiques our society's slavish adherence to Hollywood ideals and questions our ability to change what we dislike about ourselves.   LaBute says the play is "an examination of what it means to love."

Cast members include junior Justin Dionne of Salisbury as Tom; freshman Meghan McLaughlin of Owings Mills, Md. as Helen; junior Jordan Richards of Hendersonville as Carter; and sophomore Guerin Piercy of Swannanoa as Jeannie.   The production team includes senior Loren Armitage of Proctor, Vt., as lighting designer; sophomore Sara "Minnie" Scronce of Newton as stage manager; freshman Justin Duncan of Fayetteville as assistant stage manager; junior Johnathan Menius of Kannapolis as set designer; and sophomore Sam Brooks of Seaford, Va., as dresser and costume, hair, and make-up designer.

The play contains some sexual situations as well as some language that audience members may find offensive.   It is not recommended for younger audiences.

Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students.   For more information, call the Catawba College Box Office at 704-637-4481.   Group rates are available.