BMCC Student Produces Musical Review About Growing up Fat

June 13, 2002

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT PRODUCES MUSICAL REVIEW ABOUT GROWING UP FAT

June 13, 2002

Growing up fat proved a source of inspiration for Borough of Manhattan Community College student Fred Garza, who has written a musical revue about his experiences. “Dear Fat” will be produced June 28 and 29 at the Producer’s Cub on West 44th Street.

“I was a fat child,” Garza explained. “When I was really little, I was uncomfortable with myself, so I hated elementary school.” In high school, Garza says he became more comfortable with himself, so he began to like school more. Once he accepted himself more, he also learned more insights into life.

“Dear Fat is about learning how to accept yourself for who you are,” explained Garza. One of the scenes in the revue is based on Garza’s real-life experience trying out for a grade school play. Garza tried out for the role of a tree, but he did not get it. “Instead of getting the role of the tree, I got the whole forest,” he said. “There are advantages to whoever you are in the world,” he concludes.

“Dear Fat” includes five musical numbers from Carousel, Beauty and the Beast, You’re a Good Man, Charley Brown; and Ain’t Misbehavin’. “There’s lots of singing and lots of dialogue,” Garza says.

Garza, who grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, now lives in Brooklyn Heights. He moved to New York a year ago to be closer to the center of the theater world. He worked in theater for a year in Texas after graduating from high school. Garza chose to begin his college career at BMCC where he is a writing and literature major. He is currently working on several plays and a collection of essays about nature in Manhattan.

What’s in store for Garza after the production of “Dear Fat”? In July, He will leave New York for Calcutta, India, where he will spend the summer doing volunteer work with the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Theresa.

“Dear Fat” will be produced June 28 and 29 at the Producer’s Club on 44th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. For tickets and more information about “Dear Fat,” email Faazrag@aol.com.

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