WRP Presents: FAT PIG
by Neil LaBute
Directed by Dayshawnda Ash
Sunday, January 8th at 2:00PM
Tickets $5 online or at the door
Brought to you by Akron Community Foundation as part of our Emerging BIPOC Directors Series
World premiere at Manhattan Class Company, New York
FAT PIG is produced by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC www.broadwayplaypub.com
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:
As a director and writer she works to tell stories through a different lens. Dayshawnda’s goal is to give BIPOC and LGBTQIA a chance to tell their stories through work that has been traditionally cast predominantly white. As an actor herself she has experienced the stereotypical boxes that BIPOC, and LGBTQIA artists are put in due to the criticism that may be received for not remaining in the comfortability of cookie cutter casting.
Why “Fat Pig”? Many times we often and only experience stories with happy endings. As artists our job is to tell everyone’s story rather the ending is happy or sad. Through life we go through trials and tribulations that change the way we interact with each other. “Fat Pig” is a view into reality and how we sometimes interact with each other for our own selfish needs.
During the pandemic Dayshawnda began the journey of painting parts of her body she didn’t like. Growing up being teased for her appearance people lacked the ability to see one’s heart and soul. Dayshawnda painted these pieces to learn to accept and love herself inside and out!
“These paintings represented what is often looked at as laziness, lack of confidence and greed. I purposely avoided painting faces to focus on the beauty of the body. Every curve, every hill, every mark stretched like the roots of a tree. Within the paintings of my body, I recreated the narrative of the words “SLOB”, ”COW”, and “FAT PIG!”