Andrea Ciannavei will star in a 13-performance developmental production of her play Pretty Chin Up, presented by LAByrinth Theater Company. Directed by Michele Chivu, the play will run from May 15 to June 2 at the Public Theater. In addition to Ciannavei, the cast will include Bronwen Coleman, Cusi Cram, Salvatore Inzerillo, Trevor Long and Sidney Williams.
Pretty Chin Up asks the question: What's the difference between an overweight marketing executive who sells women's lingerie and diet pills and the starving spokesmodel who peddles the goods for the camera? About 100 pounds.
"I wanted to write a play where the lead is an overweight woman who isn't cute and sweet and sugary nice, someone who has real secrets and resentments and rage and a sense of humor, too, and who tries to love a guy who's far from dreamy," Ciannavei told Broadway.com. "On a personal level, I have struggled with obesity pretty much from the age of five and have an intense hate/love relationship with advertising, which, to me, propagates a culture of perfectionism in both women and men that can be lethal to those who lack self-possession."
Ciannavei, who serves as LAByrinth's Literary Manager, is the author of Art Outside, co-author of Gypsy: Wanted for UnAmerican Activities, and wrote the short plays Employees Must Wash Hands, The Squeeze, Twelve Never Changes, Murasaki and The Deep End.
