Bare: A Pop Opera

Bare, also known as Bare: A Pop Opera and thereafter bare the musical, is a rock musical with a book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere and music by Intrabartolo. The story focuses on two gay high school students and their struggles at their private, Catholic boarding school.

Productions

The musical debuted at the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, running from October 2000 to 25 February 2001. The New York production of Bare at the American Theatre of Actors off-Broadway, ran from 19 April to 27 May 2004. The Los Angeles and New York productions were both directed by Kristin Hanggi. bare made its Houston debut at The Country Playhouse Black Box Productions June 6–21, 2008. bare had its Southwest Regional Premiere at Uptown Players in Dallas, Texas, in 2008, directed Cheryl Denson. bare had its Canadian premiere in the summer of 2009 at the Hart House Theatre, Toronto, produced by WatersEdge Productions Inc. bare had its Sydney premiere in September 2010 at the New Theatre, as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. Bare played at the Black Box Theater (also known as The Complex Performing Arts Center) in Putnam, Connecticut, from July 8–16, 2011.

Bare had also been produced in the Philippines by the Ateneo de Manila University in 2009, with the initial run hosted by the undergraduate musical theatre organisation Blue Repertory. The same group also hosted a revival run from 29 February to 10 March 2012 at Teatrino, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, Metro Manila. NUEMusic Theatre in York, UK staged the musical from 1 March to 3 March 2012 inside a converted south hall chapel in York St John University. Bare had its Winnipeg premiere at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival in July 2012 staged by The Musical Theatre Company. In September 2012, "Bare" had its Belgian premiere in CC Scharpoord in Knokke. The amateur musical group 'Milo Productions' played Bare for a short time and sold out 8 performances. It featured a Belgian cast of amateur musical actors.

The 2012 Off-Broadway production of bare previewed from November 19 through December 8 and opened on December 9, 2012 at New World Stages. The musical was directed by Stafford Arima.^[1][2] "bare" returned to Off-Broadway for a limited run in June 2013 at The York Theatre Company. This production is produced by Sponge Theatricals and Midtown Arts Common as a benefit for the LGBTQ youth homeless shelter, Trinity Place Shelter. This was the first production of the show in New York City since Bare: the musical played at New World Stages in 2012.^[3]

bare: a pop opera had its regional premiere on July 26, 2013, in White Plains, New York, at the White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC).^[4] It featured a cast of Westchester and NYC actors, directed by Jeremy Quinn, with musical direction by Stephen Ferri. WPPAC co-produced the show with Harrison Summer Theater, a group founded by Ferri.

A new production of the original version has been produced again in Los Angeles, this time at the Hayworth Theatre. It opened on September 6, 2013, produced by Topher Rhys and Jamie Lee Barnard for glory|struck Productions, directed by Calvin Remsberg, choreographed by Jen Oundjian with musical direction by Elmo Zapp.^[5]

The San Diego premiere of bare: A Pop Opera ran from July 12 to August 3, 2014, at Diversionary Theatre, directed by Noah Longton, choreography by Michael Mizerany, and music direction by Tony Houck. Starring Dylan Mulvaney as Peter, Charlie Gange as Jason, Katie Sapper as Ivy, Samantha Vesco as Nadia, Mitchell Connelly as Matt, Martin Ortiz as Lucas, Nadia Guevara as Tanya, Chris Bona as Zach, Alexandra Slade as Kyra, Gabi Leibowitz as Diane, Samantha Wynn Greenstone I as Rory, Christopher Ruetten as Alan, Kiani Nelson as Sister Chantelle, Rae Henderson as Claire, and Charles W. Patmon Jr. as the Priest.

On 20 June 2015, bare: A Pop Opera had its Welsh premiere in Cardiff, Wales, at the YMCA Cardiff Theatre by Penny Productions, directed by Jay Coleman with musical direction by Connor Fogel. This amateur production starred Glen Jordan as Peter, Scott Jenkins as Jason, Emily John as Ivy, Alice Urrutia as Nadia, Alex Reynolds as Sister Chantelle and Phil Paisey as the Priest.^[6]

On the 18th of February 2016, "bare: A Pop Opera" made its Irish debut in County Cork, Ireland at the C.I.T Cork School of Music via "Cit Musical Society". Directed by John O'Brien and with Musical Direction by Michael Young, the show starred Michael Greene as "Jason", Conor O' Boyle as "Peter", Muirgen O' Mahony as "Ivy", Tara Downes as "Nadia" and Luke Farrell as "Matt". The show went on to receive five A.I.M.S nominations, the country's highest Musical Theatre accolade, including "Best Overall Show", "Best Musical Director" for Michael Young, "Best Chorus", "The Spirit of AIMS" award for the utilization of certain cast members also being members of the band and "Best Male Singer" for Michael Greene's portrayal of "Jason". The production went on to win the awards for "Best Chorus" and "Best Musical Director" for Michael Young. The production also came second place in the "Best Overall Show" category.

Synopsis

Act I

Bare opens at a Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany in St Cecilia's Boarding School. Peter, an altar boy, is dozing off and having a nightmare in which he is outed and condemned by everyone ("Epiphany"). After Mass, Peter encounters Jason, St Cecilia's resident golden boy who is also his roommate and secret lover; Jason tries to assure Peter about their secret relationship ("You & I"). Peter asks Jason to audition for Romeo and Juliet, but Jason initially refuses. Alone, Peter reflects on his angst about his relationship with Jason ("Role of a Lifetime").

At "Auditions," drama teacher Sister Chantelle is dismayed by the lack of adept actors until Jason shows up, to everyone's shock. He and Matt, another altar boy, battle for the part of Romeo. In the end, Jason is cast as Romeo, Ivy (Peter and Jason's friend, whom Matt is in love with) as Juliet, Peter as Mercutio, Matt as Tybalt, and Nadia (Jason's overweight, sharp-tongued twin sister) as the Nurse. Jason attempts to console his sister, who wanted to play Juliet ("Plain Jane Fat Ass"). Opening a belated birthday gift, the siblings discover that Jason has been accepted into Notre Dame. The song was replaced with "Love, Dad" in the 2004 Off-Broadway production.

Later, Matt attempts to plan a small surprise birthday for Ivy. Lucas, the school's party boy, plans a trip to a rave, bringing along ecstasy and two other drugs (K and GHB) ("Wonderland"). Seeing a scantily-clad Ivy and its effect on Matt, Nadia decides to spend "A Quiet Night at Home" and play her cello instead.

At the rave, Peter dances with Jason and Ivy with Matt ("Rolling"). Peter tries to kiss Jason, who leads him outside. They argue over their secret relationship: Peter wants them to come out and make their relationship known but Jason refuses because he's afraid to be condemned and lose everything he has. Eventually, Peter and Jason kiss ("Best Kept Secret"); however, Matt has seen everything.

The next morning, the students gather for "Confession." Matt and Peter nearly spill their respective secrets to the priest, Matt about seeing the kiss and Peter about being gay. At rehearsals, Sister Chantelle realises she has her work cut out for her. Nadia jokes about Ivy's promiscuity, making the latter to consider the impression she has on the other students ("Portrait of a Girl").

Matt's little get-together becomes a huge party, thanks to Nadia's hand in the planning ("Birthday, Bitch!"). Peter accidentally eats pot brownies and begins flirting with Jason. A drunk Ivy does the same and Jason chooses her over Peter to save face, making Peter storm off. Matt also leaves when Ivy ignores his advances. Ivy asks Jason to kiss her as a birthday gift, and he reluctantly agrees ("One Kiss").

Matt leaves the party to sit alone with a bottle of wine, expressing his frustration while Peter is nearby doing the same. They then drink together and comfort each other ("Are You There?"). A drunk and high Peter then whispers to Matt the true nature of his relationship with Jason. Matt heads to bed and Peter has a vision of a Sister Chantelle-like Virgin Mary with angels, the Virgin telling him that he needs to come out to his mother ("911! Emergency!").

At rehearsals, Romeo and Tybalt's fight scene becomes real as Matt abandons the script and tackles Jason, calling him a faggot. They are separated by an angry Sister Chantelle ("Reputation Stain'd"). Peter tells Jason about his vision and asks him to come home with him for Spring Break so he can come out. Jason panics, afraid of what his father might do if he ever found out, and breaks up with Peter ("Ever After").

Later, Nadia sings a sardonic song she wrote about "Spring." Peter leaves for Spring Break without a word to Jason, and Ivy shows up at Jason's dormitory room to apologise for her actions on her birthday. Jason tells her it was cute, so Ivy goes in for more. Peter and Matt pine for each of their loves, Nadia wishes to be noticed, while Jason sleeps with Ivy, hoping it is the right thing to do ("One").

Act II

The second act opens in the school chapel which is decorated elaborately for Peter and Jason's wedding ("Wedding Bells"). The ceremony turns instead into Jason and Ivy's wedding, as this is really Peter's nightmare. Later, class ranks are posted, and Jason has achieved the valedictorian spot, once again besting Matt ("In the Hallway").

Ivy tells Jason that he is her first true love even though she has been with other boys before ("Touch My Soul"). Jason, realising that what Ivy is talking about is the way he feels about Peter, breaks up with her, leaving Ivy devastated.

Peter calls his mother Claire, to come out but she evades the point ("See Me"). Claire hangs up, shaken and knowing what Peter wanted to say. Eventually her love for him is stronger than her religion and she introspectively accepts him ("Warning").

Two weeks before the show, Ivy misses rehearsals again, claiming to be sick. Sister Chantelle asks Ivy's inept understudy Diane to play Juliet. As Diane stumbles and forgets her lines, Peter takes over, and for a moment, all is well as Peter dances with Jason ("Pilgrim's Hands") until Ivy appears at the last minute. Sister Chantelle cancels rehearsals and Peter leaves. Ivy pulls Jason aside and tells him that she has something she needs to tell him and he agrees to talk before the student-led rehearsals. After the other students leave, Peter returns to pick up his things and Sister Chantelle tells Peter that she knows what is bothering him and that he is just as God wants him to be ("God Don't Make No Trash").

Nadia returns to her dormitory and argues with Ivy about missing rehearsals. She assumes it was because Jason broke up with her, but Ivy reveals that she is carrying his child ("All Grown Up"). Ivy finds Jason practising his valedictory address in the auditorium, and says that she is pregnant and she still loves him. Matt comes in and reveals to Ivy that the reason why Jason cannot love her is because he is still in love with Peter. At that point, Peter and Nadia arrive, and Peter, Jason and Matt exchange heated words. Peter admits he told Matt, and is not sorry for it. The rest of the cast, who were waiting for rehearsals to begin, heard everything as they were waiting in the auditorium ("Promise"). Everyone leaves, leaving Peter and Jason alone. Jason begs Peter for help; Peter says he tried and also leaves. Distraught, Jason reflects on his relationship with Peter, and how even through his fear he knows that it is the only thing that will comfort him ("Once Upon a Time"). Jason, having nowhere else to go, goes to the priest to ask if God still loves him and can forgive him. The priest ultimately says that Jason will only be fine if he denies his natural feelings ("Cross").

During rehearsal, Lucas passes out the drug orders and tells Jason that they're still cool. Jason tells Peter that he talked to the priest about their relationship to show Peter that he still cared ("Two Households"). Jason asks Peter to run away with him, but Peter refuses to run and thus tells him it's over, as he's had his fill of hiding and running away. Jason, thinking that means he's lost Peter for good, takes a lethal dose of GHB. As the school play begins, Jason again pulls Peter aside telling him that he has always loved him since they first met; Peter tells him he loves him too and if they part it's not goodbye. The lovers kiss ("Bare").

During the show, Jason becomes increasingly disoriented, and while Peter is delivering the "Queen Mab" speech, he loses his place and begins to hallucinate. During the masked ball scene, he collapses and reaches for Peter, who holds him as he dies ("A Glooming Peace"). Peter goes to Confession, intending to confront the priest about Jason's last visit. Peter accuses the priest of failing to show Jason empathy, and when the priest merely apologises for Peter's loss, Peter ironically forgives the priest ("Absolution").

At graduation, Peter, Matt, Ivy, and Nadia wonder whether or not they could have prevented Jason's death and consider the role they played in it. The graduates all move forward into a world that will yield more questions than answers ("No Voice").

Bare: A Pop Opera

Musical Numbers

† Replaced with "Love, Dad" in the 2004 Off-Broadway production.

Casts

The following cast lists represent the original Los Angeles cast (2000), the original NYC cast (2004), the 2007 recording, the revival Los Angeles cast (2013), the London cast (2013), the San Diego Premier (2014), the Medicine Hat, AB cast, the original South Korean cast, the Welsh Premiere cast (2015) and the Sydney cast (2016), Chicago Revival (2016)

Album

An 11-song CD sampler featuring the 2004 New York cast was offered to every ticket buyer during the final performances of the off-Broadway run. The full studio album from Bare, produced by Deborah Lurie and Casey Stone, was released on October 30, 2007, as a three-disc CD + DVD set. The album can be purchased on Amazon.com. The 2012–2013 revival will be releasing a cast album.^[9]

bare the musical

bare the musical, a new version of bare: A Pop Opera, began previews Off-Broadway on November 19, 2012, and opened on December 9, 2012, at New World Stages. The revised musical was produced by Paul Boskind, Randy Taradash, Gregory Rae, Carl D. White, Carollo & Palumbo LLC, and Martian Entertainment. Musical supervision and additional songs in this production were by Lynne Shankel and Jon Hartmere. The creative team included director Stafford Arima, Emmy-nominated choreographer Travis Wall, Tony award-winning set designer Donyale Werle, Tony award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, costume designer Tristan Raines, sound designer Keith Caggiano, projection designer William Cusick, and hair and make up designer Leah J. Loukas.^[10][11][12] The musical closed on February 3, 2013.^[13]

Changes from the pop opera to the musical

Reasons to stage a new production of ‘’bare’’ included a greater awareness of bullying, the movement to legalize gay marriage, and an occurrence of LGBT suicides in the years following the 2004 production. In a Playbill article, Stafford Arima, the director of the current production, expressed his reasons, "Because of the timeliness of what's happening out there in the world, and because we have an author who is alive and living and present in this world, it only made sense to continue to evolve the piece so that it maintained its heart and its soul and its…guts,”.^[14]

Although the basic plot and message have remained constant, one of the major changes has been altering the format from that of a pop opera to a book musical. Jon Hartmere, who wrote the book and lyrics commented about that revision, "The biggest change [is] having more space to explore the characters," … "To know these characters a little bit better… you just need more room — you need more room for book scenes, and I personally just wanted to get under the hood and investigate a little bit further." ^[15]

Hartmere, Arima, Lynne Shankel (music supervision), and Travis Wall (choreography), analyzed the show with resulting changes that included making the St. Cecilia’s students’ relationships more complex, changing and removing characters, adding and removing songs, and incorporating current technology and social media. Although Damon Intrabartolo did not play an active role in the current production, Shankel consulted with him concerning the revisions in order to follow through with his primary intent.^[16]

The team also added the start of Peter and Jason’s relationship, took away the roommate aspect of their situation, and transferred the song “Role of a Lifetime” from Peter to Jason. No longer overweight, Nadia has been made the school drug dealer, and angry outcast. Ivy has been made a transfer student and is now dating Matt, reasons that provide a stronger basis for Nadia’s anger. The students throw a birthday party for Jason instead of Ivy. The character of Peter’s mother was eliminated, with aspects being incorporated into the progressive nun Sister Joan. Also added is the character of Father Mike. Both replace similar characters from the original production.^[16][17] The show's timeline is also very different. Jason does not break up with Ivy right away after break and 'Kiss Your Broken Heart'. Instead, they platonically date for a while. He breaks up with her right before 'Pilgrim's Hands' and reconciles with Peter after 'You're Not Alone'.

Musical numbers

The below list is sourced from Playbill.^[18]

† Music by Lynne Shankel; lyrics by Jon Hartmere

†† Removed from song list prior to December 9 opening

Cast

The below list is sourced from Playbill.^[19]

Stagecraft

The inspiration for the set designed by Donyale Werle “came from looking at the way teenagers decorate and express themselves." ^[20] Applied to the surfaces of the set were 15,006 4 inch square photos that were provided through Instagram by fans, friends, and other sources. Additional inspiration was derived from stained glass windows in houses of worship, and Damien Hirst’s "Doorways to the Kingdom of Heaven " and "Lullaby, the Seasons ". The imagery of squares repeated in the Instagram photos as well as in major elements of the set was representative of the boxes that people put both themselves and others in, how people identify themselves and others.^[21]

The costume design by Tristan Raines came at the musical from a different standpoint than what has normally been seen. Although there were still elements of a"uniform" or "dress code", Raines' explored how when given a template, how does one chooses to express themselves and break out of that said template. This caused the show to break down the visual barrier set out by a uniform and allowed the audience to see who the character really was. This aided in the goal of creating more character development within the story and allowed audiences to connect with the characters. The show boasted close to 150 different looks ranging from the fashionable, the "emo puppy dog", Pop diva inspired Virgin Mary, to thrifted steampunk Romeo and Juliet costumes.

The projection design by William Cusick included pre-taped projections as well as the use of live feeds from on-stage cell phones. The audience viewed the live feeds. Cusick commented about the use of the images, "We speak and read in images now in a way that, fifty years ago, wasn't necessary for theater. For a show like this, about images of self and identity, it is absolutely necessary." ^[22]

Advocacy

In addition to the exploration of issues surrounding teen exposure to sexuality, identity, and religion through the musical, the producers partnered with organizations that support LGBT equality including The Tyler Clementi Foundation, Athlete Ally, Human Rights Campaign, and Faith in America.^[23][24]

They organized a series of talkOUTs, discussion sessions after performances, which were presented by representatives from the above foundations. The talkOUTs also included representatives from the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), Empire State Pride Agenda, the Point Foundation, and Rabbi Michael Mellen, a former director of NFTY, along with the producers, creative team, and cast.^[25][26] The producers, creative team, and cast also showed support for the NOH8 Campaign.^[27][28]

References

1. ↑ bare lortel.org, accessed February 3, 2016
2. ↑ Blank, Matthew “PHOTO CALL: Bare Revival Opens Off-Broadway; Red Carpet Arrivals, Curtain Call and Cast Party” Archived January 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. playbill.com December 10, 2012
3. ↑ bare theatermania.com, accessed February 3, 2016
4. ↑ "BARE: a pop opera (WESTCHESTER PREMIERE) - Facebook". facebook.com. 
5. ↑ "Damon Intrabartolo-Jon Hartmere Pop Opera Bare Will Return to Los Angeles". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. 
6. ↑ http://www.penny-productions.co.uk[]
7. ↑ "bare: The Album". barethealbum.com. 
8. ↑ ""Glee" Actress Lindsay Pearce, Payson Lewis and Jonah Platt Will Lead L.A. Return of Pop Opera Bare". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. 
9. ↑ "bare: The Album". barethealbum.com. 
10. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (19 Jun 2012). "Rock Musical Bare Will Open Off-Broadway in Late Fall; Tony-Winning Designer Joins Team". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2012. 
11. ↑ Rooney, David (11 December 2012). "Ill-Fated Gay Love and Hormonal Tempests on a School Stage". The New York Times. p. C2. 
12. ↑ "bare". Playbill. New World Stages. 5 January 2013. p. 17. 
13. ↑ Gioia, Michael (23 Jan 2013). "Off-Broadway's Bare Sets Closing Date; Cast Recording and International Productions Planned". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013. 
14. ↑ Michael Gioia “Rock Musical Bare Strips Down and Explores New Turf in Off-Broadway "Revisal" Archived February 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill November 22, 2012 p 1 para 4&5 retrieved January 20, 2013
15. ↑ Matthew Blank “PHOTO CALL: Bare Revival Opens Off-Broadway; Red Carpet Arrivals, Curtain Call and Cast Party” Archived January 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill December 10, 2012 para 3 retrieved January 20, 2013
16. 1 2 Michael Gioia “Rock Musical Bare Strips Down and Explores New Turf in Off-Broadway "Revisal" Archived February 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill November 22, 2012 pp 2&3 retrieved January 20, 2013
17. ↑ Matthew Blank “PHOTO CALL: Bare Revival Opens Off-Broadway; Red Carpet Arrivals, Curtain Call and Cast Party” Archived January 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill December 10, 2012 para 4&5 retrieved January 20, 2013
18. ↑ "bare". bare the musical. New World Stages. 19 November 2012. p. insert. 
19. ↑ "bare "Cast"". Playbill. New World Stages. 5 January 2013. p. 18. 
20. ↑ David Gordon “Instagram Laid ‘’Bare’’ Off-Broadway” "TheaterMania" December 7, 2012 para 4 retrieved February 1, 2013
21. ↑ David Gordon “Instagram Laid ‘’Bare’’ Off-Broadway” ‘’TheaterMania’’ December 7, 2012 retrieved February 1, 2013
22. ↑ David Gordon “Instagram Laid ‘’Bare’’ Off-Broadway” ‘’TheaterMania’’ December 7, 2012 para 7 retrieved February 1, 2013
23. ↑ “Bare Joins Sean Avery and Tyler Clementi Foundation to Combat Bullying” Archived January 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill retrieved January 20, 2013
24. ↑ David Badash “NoH8: ‘Bare The Musical’ With Travis Wall Stands Up To Bullying (Video)” The New Civil Rights Movement, October 20, 2012 video at 1:43 Paul Boskind retrieved January 20, 2013
25. ↑ Michael Gioia “Travis Wall, Judy Shepard, the Clementi Family and More Will Take Part in Post-Show TalkOUTs at Off-Broadway's Bare” Archived January 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. ‘’Playbill’’ November 1, 2012 retrieved January 20, 2013
26. ↑ Michael Gioia “Missi Pyle, Taylor Trensch, Stafford Arima and More Set for Post-Show TalkOUTs at Off-Broadway's Bare” Archived January 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. ‘’Playbill’’ January 8, 2013 retrieved January 23, 2013
27. ↑ "Jodie Langel, Chris McCabe, Jacob Aaron Cullum Among Cast of Broward's Bare, Damon Intrabartolo-Jon Hartmere Pop Opera". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. 
28. ↑ David Badash “NoH8: ‘Bare The Musical’ With Travis Wall Stands Up To Bullying (Video)” The New Civil Rights Movement, October 20, 2012 retrieved January 20, 2013

sydeny review 2010 http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/bare

External links

• Bare the Album (Bare: A Pop Opera)
• Bare: A Pop Opera at the Internet off-Broadway Database