Kennedy Theatre

Media Release

Department of Theatre and Dance
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
1770 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822

Contact: Jessica L. Jacob, Publicity Director
Phone: (808) 956-2598
Fax: (808) 956-4234
Box Office: (808) 956-7655 (v/t)
email: theatre-pr@hawaii.edu

December 8, 2003
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONFRONT THE FEMALE IMAGE IN "THE MOST MASSIVE WOMAN WINS"

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance presents "The Most Massive Woman Wins," by Madeleine George, as part of Late Night Theatre's 03-04 season. A bold look at the images of women's bodies in our society, "The Most Massive Woman Wins" makes its Hawai'i premiere under the direction of UHM graduate student Jennifer Bolieu. "The Most Massive Woman Wins" will be performed at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre on February 7, 13 and 14 at 11 p.m., and February 8 in a "matin-eve" performance at 8 p.m. A post-show discussion with the director and cast will follow the Friday, February 13 performance.

"The Most Massive Woman Wins" is set in the waiting room of a liposuction clinic, where four women are preparing to undergo surgery. As they wait, the women confide in each other the events of their past that led them to choose this procedure. In this humorous, witty and heart-felt script, they reveal and re-live their experiences as children, students, mothers, professionals -- and their struggles with eating disorders, self-mutilation and depression as they try to conform to society's "ideal" body image.

First performed in 1994 at the New York Young Playwright's Festival, "The Most Massive Woman Wins" is now recognized as a groundbreaking play on the subject of women's bodies in society. Director Bolieu was attracted to George's script for what she describes as its, "excruciatingly honest examination of the feelings of a population constantly being silenced and that is seldom taken seriously. It speaks to the core of our personal feelings of inadequacy and asks why we punish ourselves for our imperfections."

Bolieu has extensive directing credits at California Lutheran University (C.L.U.) and the American Musical Theatre Ensemble. In addition to directing, Bolieu is an experienced performer, writer, designer and stage manager. She has twice won the prestigious Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Award for hair and make-up designs for "The Skin of Our Teeth" (1998) and for stage management of "West Side Story" (2000). Bolieu received her B.A. in Drama and her B.S. in Psychology from C.L.U., and is currently working towards an M.F.A. in Directing from UHM’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Tickets for "The Most Massive Woman Wins" go on sale one hour before showtime each night of the production, at the door of the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Ticket prices are $8 general admission, $7 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, non-UHM students, and $3 UHM students with validated Spring 2004 student ID. Latecomers will not be admitted once the performance has begun. For more information, including disability access, call the Kennedy Theatre Box Office at 956-7655 (voice/text).

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"The Most Massive Woman Wins"

When: February 7, 13*, 14 at 11:00 pm *Post-Show Rap

Where: UHM's Earle Ernst Lab Theatre

$8 regular,