October 14th, 2009
So are you guys watching Glee? The awesome, Jane-Lynch-starring, musical-theater-celebrating, football-team-singing-Single-Ladies-scene-having, Glee? Which is on tonight? If so, then you have noticed Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes, and is a plus-sized chick. Check out this post about her from All My Jiggly Bits. Though in many ways the characters fall into the same old categories […]
Filed under: Celebrities, Glee, Music, Race & Ethnicity, Theater, TV, Video | 26 Comments »
September 8th, 2009
fat boxerOriginally uploaded by mo pie Show History has a fascinating compilation of names and pictures and brief biographies of fat people who worked as attractions in carnival sideshows. (They were also known as “freaks.”) A little background: Professional Fat Folk of an earlier age lived to astound a public for whom not having enough […]
Filed under: Celebrities, Cold Hard Cash, Fashion, Food, Old Timey, Theater, Video, WLS | 4 Comments »
April 2nd, 2009
The Zaftig Thespian, Jen Ponton, has a fabulous interview up at Plus Model Magazine, about being a fat actress. And not the self-loathing, Jenny Craig joining, Kirstie Alley kind, either. Jennifer Jonassen: Any dream roles? Jen Ponton: My dream role? I have the soul of a leading lady, not a sidekick–so a dream role ?(that […]
Filed under: Advocacy, Art, Celebrities, Fat Positive, Kirstie Alley, Magazines, Movies, Theater, Tidbit, TV | 5 Comments »
October 9th, 2008
We wrote about Neil LaBute’s play “Fat Pig” way back in 2006 (links to a cached version of the post since mopie.com is still intermittently down) so it’s been on the radar for quite some time. But Sheila sent along this article in the Guardian, in response to the new London production of “Fat Pig,” […]
Filed under: Advocacy, Art, BFD Classic, Celebrities, Fat Positive, Fatism, International, Marilyn's Law, Meta, Theater | 15 Comments »
June 12th, 2008
We wrote about Deborah Voight all the way back in 2006. You might remember her as the opera singer who was fired for being too fat, and who had gastric bypass surgery. She was recently rehired to sing the same role that she was fired for, back in the day. The New York Times has […]
Filed under: Art, Celebrities, International, Music, Theater, Video, WLS | 22 Comments »
March 7th, 2008
the big ballet Originally uploaded by mo pie In the comments, msruth mentioned Russia’s “Big Ballet” and on her advice, I went to go take a look and read all about them. The Big Ballet is a troupe of dancers from Russia who weigh a minimum of 220 pounds each. I highly recommend clicking on […]
Filed under: Advocacy, Art, BFD Classic, Exercise, Fat Positive, Feel Good Friday, International, Theater | 18 Comments »
March 4th, 2008
hyacinth hippo Originally uploaded by mo pie Those of you out there who have seen Fantasia and who fondly remember the hippo ballet sequence might appreciate this rare glimpse into the history of Disney animation: photos of actress Hattie Noel, who was the live action reference for Hyacinth Hippo in the film. I don’t know […]
Filed under: Art, Fat Positive, Fatism, Movies, Question, Race & Ethnicity, Theater, Video | 17 Comments »
February 8th, 2008
A gossip tidbit courtesy of La Wade that is very appropriate for Feel Good Friday: next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars will include Marissa Jaret Winokur, the original Broadway Tracy Turnblad! I don’t even watch the show, but I admit, now I’m tempted. Also Sean Hayes will be on, and I love me […]
Filed under: Celebrities, Feel Good Friday, Gossip, Hairspray, Magazines, Theater, Tidbit, TV | 3 Comments »
October 8th, 2007
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a weird fixation with the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. Maybe it’s because I secretly feel like a fish out of water or maybe it’s because Ariel’s songs are perfectly in my register or maybe it’s because I’m fascinated with Ursula the Sea Witch. You know, […]
Filed under: Fatism, Theater | 27 Comments »
August 31st, 2007
Reader Rei sends us this video of an awesome bellydance performance. It’s the dancer’s first performance, and really a treat to watch. There are also a lot of really positive and supportive comments on the YouTube page, which is refreshing. Rei says: Here is PROOF that you can be a big girl and have some […]
Filed under: Art, Exercise, Fat Positive, Feel Good Friday, Theater, Video | 35 Comments »
August 15th, 2007
Shawn sends along an article about the Cuban dance troupe Danza Voluminosa, a group of obese dancers who dance (in part) about obesity. Mr. Mas, a 300-pound choreographer and dancer who moves like a pampered cat, admits that he often uses the stereotypical humor of his dancers’ proportions to bring in audiences… But Mr. Mas […]
Filed under: Art, Fat Positive, International, Theater | 7 Comments »
May 22nd, 2007
A fascinating New York Times article exploring the idea of what it means to be a plus-sized dancer in the world of modern dance. “I was probably the first woman in a major company with a body that was not the expectation,” she added. The press coverage, overwhelmingly focused on her body, was devastating. “For […]
Filed under: Theater | 7 Comments »