An eating disorder is the topic of a new a musical written by a local eating disorder specialist.
"What's Eating Katie" is a musical about what happens when an eating disorder comes calling. Only this time it's a boy telling 13-year-old Katie she can have it all, if she can just lose weight.
Eating disorder therapist Dina Zeckhausen wrote "What's Eating Katie?" with musical director Brian Mercer.
The play has been performed at several schools. This weekend, the Alliance Theater's Teen Summer Camp will bring it to life on its biggest stage yet.
"A lot of people think, ‘well it's just skinny models.' But it's not just skinny models. Or it's peer pressure, but it's not just peer pressure. Or, it's dieting moms. It's not, it's all of those things combined," said Zeckhausen.
Zeckhausen says certain teens, like Katie -- played by Pope High School student Jo-Jo Steine -- are more susceptible to the idea they don't measure up.
"It's the kids who are the high achievers, who want to please everybody, who are the perfectionists and they're the ones who are most vulnerable to developing an eating disorder," said Zeckhausen.
"What's Eating Katie" is both serious, and funny, poking fun at fast food ads and fitness gadgets. It also spoofs the fashion industry.
"It's a really tough subject for a lot of people and the fact that we can bring some humor to it, and just express it in a way that is creative is really honoring," said Taryn Bledsoe.
"The hope is that it's not just to be another play everybody comes to. But it raises everybody's awareness, including the faculty members, and you bring the parents in, and it just starts a conversation that really needs to take place," said Zeckhausen.
The musical opens Friday night. Afterwards there will be a talk-back with the actors, and therapist Zeckhausen.
Emory student Kristen Haglund, the 2008 Miss America, will be there to talk about her battle with anorexia.
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"What's Eating Katie" is a musical about what happens when an eating disorder comes calling.
