Bradley University hosted a lecture by Catalina Florina Florescu regarding breast cancer and the importance of family and community togetherness. The lecture, titled “Whole Woman”, was held at 1:30 p.m. October 5, in Bradley’s Marti Theatre.
Catalina Florina Florescu is a published author and playwright who holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Purdue University with a double specialization in medical humanities and comparative theatre. After the death of her mother due to breast cancer, Catalina found comfort in theatre, music and philosophy. She currently teaches theatre and cinema courses at Pace University.
During her lecture, Catalina spoke extensively about breast cancer, it’s effect on the body and on family. She displayed a slideshow of breast cancer survivors following lumpectomy and mastectomy surgeries.
“It’s important for us to look at these images and understand the real effects of breast cancer” Catalina stated sternly to a silent and rather shocked audience. “These images are raw … these women are real people with sons and daughters … mothers and fathers,” Catalina spoke with emotion in her voice and fist skyward unclenching from a tight grip.
Catalina is also the New Play Development Curator at Jersey City Theatre Center. She is developing four plays, each dealing with subjects such as illness, racism, immigration and community togetherness. The subject of immigration is particularly important to Catalina because she is originally from Romania, having moved to the U.S. in the 1990s. Catalina spoke in-depth about her play “Mia” which centers around Mia, a woman fighting against and coming to terms with breast cancer. The play holds themes of body dysmorphia, loss and family.
Catalina said that most of her inspiration for writing “Mia” came from her own experiences of losing her mother to breast cancer in the early 1990s. In a statement Catalina gave following the lecture she said “Yes, my momma was and still is a huge inspiration in everything I do … “Mia” came right from the last years of her life,” A wavering smile crept onto her face as she continued to speak, “It’s (‘Mia’) not just about the hardships and pain the illness causes, but how it can bring a family closer than ever.”
The lecture concluded with Catalina asking for student volunteers to act out four different scenes from “Mia” including a monologue from the main character. Followed by a short video of an actor reenacting another monologue from the play.