Baring through the performance

Young Chang

The story of banding together for a common cause and doing

whatever it takes to help that cause triggers a good dose of warm

fuzzies.

It even bonds the actors portraying the banding characters in the

“go team!” story that is “The Full Monty.”

But so does being naked.

“It’s my first role where I have to be so naked on stage,” said

actor Michael J. Todaro, who plays Dave Bukatinsky for the Broadway

musical comedy version of the hit film. “Getting naked every night is

very liberating, but challenging nonetheless.”

For the six guys portraying the six steelworkers in the Terrence

McNally-adaptation of the film, being that bare in front of so many

people for so many performance nights is also an experience that

brings them closer than if they were fully clothed.

“Some theaters are colder than others, but in general the

temperature’s probably the last thing we’re worried about,” Todaro

said.

The musical will run at the Orange County Performing Arts Center

through Sept. 15.

“It’s something that [makes you] walk out of the theater feeling

pretty good about life in general after you see it,” Todaro said.

The Tony-Award winning McNally added a few characters and expanded

some of the women’s roles for the stage version. Pop composer David

Yazbek created the music and lyrics and Jerry Mitchell choreographs

the performance while Jack O’Brien directs.

About six out-of-work steelworkers, the plot centers around five

friends who help the character of Jerry Lukowski raise enough money

to keep up on his child support payments and keep seeing his kid.

Events have been transplanted to Buffalo, NY from Sheffield, England

-- a move by McNally to present a more familiar setting.

“So he comes to this crazy idea to get six guys together,

including himself, to put on a one-time strip show in town to make

some quick cash,” said Christian Anderson, who is acting the role of

Jerry. “It’s just a great story. It’s just got a huge heart.”

Todaro said he enjoys playing Dave Bukatinsky because the

character, who has body image issues and a weight problem, is easy to

relate to. Dave is also reluctant to strip and bare all.

“I think it’s a very well-written character that is real,” the

Minneapolis resident said.

Anderson added that the everyday language of the script lends an

honesty to the show.

“And I love the music,” said the Los Angeles resident. “The songs

are just great to sing, they’re great to listen to... and it really

captured a lot of what the movie did.”