Larger-than-life comic/actress Erica Watson (Precious, Top 5, Empire) makes her Philly debut with a weighty tale of life as a plus size.
Friday, February 26 at Franky Bradley's
Watch your skinny backs Kathy Griffith, Chelsea Handler and Sandra Bernhard -- ERICA WATSON (Precious, Top 5, Empire, Chiraq) is coming for you with the Philadelphia premiere of of FAT BITCH! After an acclaimed debut in New York in 2010 and subsequent perforamnces throughout the US, this solo show written and performed by Watson debts Friday, February 26 at 8:00 PM at Franky Bradley's (1320 Chancellor Street at South Juniper). Tickets are $20, available at 212-352-3101 or www.SpinCycleNYC.com.
FAT BITCH! is a funny, provocative glimpse at the American “fat and sassy” black woman stereotype. Plus-sized performer Erica Watson explores society’s obsession with weight, race and class and how black women’s bodies have always been subjected to both admiration and ridicule. Drawing upon iconic images including “Mammy” and “Hottentot Venus,” Watson illustrates how media images have impacted her self-esteem as she touches on PETA’s “Save the Whales” campaign aimed at overweight women, the “war on obesity,” and the controversy surrounding President Obama’s nomination of a plus-sized black woman for Surgeon General.
Born and raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, with a BA and MA from Columbia College Chicago, ERICA WATSON is an actor, stand-up comedian at clubs around the country, and film/television director. She appeared in the Oscar nominated film “Precious;” the feature films “Dirty Laundry”, "Top Five" directed by Chris Rock, and "Chiraq" directed by Spike Lee; and "Empire," the FOX drama directed by Lee Daniels. She has also been featured on TLC’s Big Sexy, The Dr. Phil Show, The Oxygen Network, The WE Channel, Black Entertainment (BET), MSG-TV, You & Me This Morning, The TV Guide Network and is a recurring correspondent for Windy City Live. Watson is also a blogger for the Huffington Post. Watson was featured in two Gracie Award-winning commercials that she wrote for the Oxygen Network called "Tresstify" and "Kiss & Tell;” as well as a guest star on TV One’s sitcom “Love That Girl” (September 2014). She has also been featured on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," and was the director for the reality competition show “My Model Looks Better Than Your Model” for BETJ. Watson starred in the Broadway in Chicago production of “Love, Loss and What I Wore” (2012) and went on to star in the final cast in New York Off-Broadway under the guidance of Nora & Delia Ephron as well as with The Delaware Theater Company (2013).