Author: Carl Stillitano

Publisher: Transformative Plays

Published: 2024-04-09

Total Pages: 105

ISBN-13: 144610687X

The Transformative Play 'The Donut Shop' focuses on one of the most severe and often not discussed challenges of our time. Eating disorders affect individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders. A play about Eating, Not-Eating and Sex. The Donut Shop is a wellness tool that helps those suffering to realize they are not alone. The experience of reading the play by yourself or with friends creates the opportunity for both laughter and healing. It provides a forum for those suffering and their loved ones to explore a variety of healing solutions that create effective results. "The Donut Shop" is a poignant and comedic exploration of the struggles with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and self-esteem issues faced by women, portrayed through the lens of a light-hearted banter between a donut shop employee and customer. As the characters find themselves locked inside the shop due to a series of unfortunate events, they are forced to confront their own issues while navigating through each other's challenges. Through relatable characters and humorous situations, the play delves into the pressures of societal expectations, the disappointment of unattainable goals, and the lasting effects of negative self-talk. Ultimately, "The Donut Shop" offers both insight into the complexities of these issues and serves as a tool for fostering healthier relationships with food and body image. It’s just another “normal” day at the donut shop, home to the hog, zagat’s #1 tasting donut. Jenn, the quick-witted, over-achieving, employee of the month, serves Kate, the attractive and powerful radio show producer who skillfully barks orders on her cell as Jenn eavesdrops in awe. all the while, the overeater is content, munching on her hogs, reading tabloid trash and listening to her ipod. But wait! Who is that gorgeous guy in the corner? Mike, who Jenn and Kate gaga over, is a down-on-his-luck small business owner who’s been swallowed up by big business and is desperate for answers. As desperate times call for desperate measures, or divine intervention, the security gate comes crashing down trapping these four unlikely souls until sunrise. with tension high, indian tech-support awry, and nowhere left to hide, their innermost secrets, fears and addictions explode creating unexpected healings and revelations. The Donut Shop will Educate, Enlighten and Entertain. "I found myself relating to all the characters at some point throughout the play. I thought more about my younger self in relation to each one. Fortunately for the younger me, I couldn’t commit to any of the eating disorders. I hated the lack of control in vomiting, I didn’t have enough willpower not to eat, and I was too self aware to overeat consistently. I felt the pressure of society and magazine covers to be thin, compounded by the disappointment in myself for not achieving such unrealistic goals. Even today I find myself still dealing with these issues, but in a different capacity. Now I’m a mom. I would often think how blessed I was to have a boy. My thought was, at least he doesn’t have to deal with caddy girls, body shaming and self confidence issues. Not only is this not true, but I also have to be aware of how I talk about myself and my body in front of him. I always thought having a sarcastic and sometimes self deprecating sense of humor was an asset of mine. Although funny to me, I now see the effects that it has on my son. As a result he started calling me squishy, and other derogatory terms I would use to talk about myself. This really opened my eyes to the reality of perception. To perceive is to believe. My son was perceiving and believing that what I was saying, was my truth. Why wouldn’t he? Healthy relationships with food, and our bodies must be given as an example to our youth, rather than just outward appearance. Not only does The Donut Shop give insight into the world of eating disorders, it can also be used as a tool to help people dealing with those issues." - Rebecca Spina “My particular favorite is the Donut shop. This should be in every high school. In the playwright conferences they offer theater, but also in literature classes, because this addresses something that is not talked about a lot, that is ignored and often is not diagnosed eating disorders. And it's rather a humorous play that makes you more comfortable with these sensitive issues, whether it's anorexia, bulimia, or overeating. Eating disorders are something that some people battle with all their lives. This is a tool. Plays can be used as tools to start conversations. Read “The Donut Shop” by Carl Stillitano. Better yet, take it to your kids teacher and ask them to share it with their class in an interactive conversation as well as in play performances.” - Barbara Burke "If I had read 'The Donut Shop' when I was young, it would have been a godsend. I struggled with bulimia in high school and during my first two years of college. Having a resource that discussed eating disorders in an entertaining format such as this play brings issues to the forefront. It would have helped me to learn to love myself. The play is a creative way to address the awkward emotionality of those who suffer with eating disorders." - Blythe Metz-Mandmets "The Donut Shop spurs a thought-provoking and insightful exchange amongst its curiously connected characters. It sheds light on the threads that make up the fabric of what motivates our approach towards, and perceptions of, others. It ultimately causes us to examine the filters that we each see through and calls for us to acknowledge that perhaps we are all more alike than we think, in our attempt to fix the starving parts of ourselves in whatever way satiates us. There is a lot to chew on in The Donut Shop!" - Amy La Boube "At the most difficult time of my life, I kept The Donut Shop on my nightstand. It was an integral part of my healing. When I read it, I felt less alone. Reading and re-reading this play consistently helped me to feel more centered and make decisions from a more balanced place." - Dana Blackstone "The first time I read The Donut Shop I was instantly hooked. With humor and truth, The Donut Shop touches the reader in a way that's almost indescribable. The simplicity and yet depth of something so strikingly relatable, no matter the gender, race, religion, or weight, is a rare and magical entity. In a world of body image mayhem The Donut Shop is a unique, humorous, and innovative approach to the controversial topic of eating disorders." - Stacee Reich “The Donut Shops potential and its brilliance lies in its ability to inform and discuss eating disorders in all kinds of settings – in schools, private and public settings, on Broadway. The play discusses issues around eating habits in a safe setting. It does what a good play should do – it evokes different responses for different people, often as afterthoughts, after they reflect on the play and then, that promotes discussion. People seeing Carl’s play would be flabbergasted because it has a different theme than the traditional Broadway play – attendees would be immersed in the content and have meaningful conversations about eating disorders.” - Jane Rosen