Musical Aims For Belly Laughs

Lets face it: Losing weight is no picnic. Dropping the fat and keeping it off takes sweat, tears and a lot of support from friends, family and, yes, strangers.

So when Judy Lisi decided to knock off a few pounds, she sought help at a Weight Watchers center. She didn't count on walking out with an idea for a musical. "Waistwatchers: The Calorie-Free Musical" is Lisi's response to the battle of the bulge, and the show will premiere tonight at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

"Everybody has that moment of truth, when we say: 'I've got to do something about this,'" said Lisi, the performing arts center's president and CEO. "I went to Weight Watchers to see what it was all about. They talked about triggers, and I said, 'Who are these people?' We're at this meeting and strangers come together for something that is a personal, private thing. This is what prompted me to think that this could be a show."

With an original score by Stan Collins, Alison Burns' lyrics and additional material by Karla Hartley, "Waistwatchers" is about the struggles of a failed weight-loss group. Two leaders have already quit and the new leader has her work cut out for her to turn things around. Each character has an issue to deal with or a challenge to overcome.

One woman says the only men in her life are Ben and Jerry. Another laments that she had three kids in three years and now her husband watches sports instead of her. The lone man in the group confesses his wife left him and his keg for a trainer with a six-pack.

The show features songs with titles such as "Measure for Measure," "Refrigerator Tango" and "Scales of Injustice." Using humor to deliver her message, Lisi hopes audience members will "understand that we're not alone and we can succeed. The whole concept is based on the constant barrage of body images we have everywhere we look - on television, magazine covers. Weight is a huge issue that we can't escape."

We might as well get a good laugh out of it.

ON STAGE

Waistwatchers: The Calorie-Free Musical

WHEN: Tonight through May 10; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Jaeb Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa

HOW MUCH: $31.50; (813) 222-1001, www.tbpac.com