Bare: A Pop Opera

Last updated

Bare
A Pop Opera
Bare a Pop Opera Off Broadway Poster.JPG
Off-Broadway promotional poster
Music Damon Intrabartolo
LyricsJon Hartmere
Book Jon Hartmere
Damon Intrabartolo
PremiereOctober 14, 2000 (2000-10-14): Hudson Theatre, Los Angeles
Productions2000 Los Angeles
2004 Off-Broadway
2008 Houston
2008 Seattle
2008 Indianapolis
2009 Denver
2009 Toronto
2010 Sydney
2011 Minneapolis
2011 St. Louis
2011 Albany
2012 Manila
2012 Liverpool
2012 Belgium
2013 Los Angeles revival
2013 Off-West End
2014 Tokyo
2014 Barcelona
2014 Youngstown
2014 San Diego
2015 Madison, Wisconsin
2015 Seoul
2015 Medicine Hat
2016 Buenos Aires
2016 Tokyo revival
2016 Seoul revival
2016 Chicago
2016 Sydney
2017 Seoul revival2
2017 Brighton
2018 Amsterdam
2018 Melbourne
2018 Brisbane
2018 Reno
2018 São Paulo
2019 London
2019 Wellington [1]
2019 New York
2019 Hawaii
2019 Michigan
2020 Tokyo revival2
2020 Seoul revival3
2022 Seoul revival4
2023 Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (world premiere of school edition)
2023 Culemborg
2024 London Staged Concert
2024 Seoul revival5
2024 Noordwijk
2025 Seoul revival6

Bare, also known as Bare: A Pop Opera, is a coming-of-age sung-through musical with music by Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Jon Hartmere, and a book by Hartmere and Intrabartolo. The story focuses on a group of high school students and their struggles at their private Catholic boarding school.

Contents

The musical was later revised as Bare: The Musical .

Productions

The musical debuted at the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles, running from October 14, 2000 to February 25, 2001. [2] The New York production of Bare at the American Theatre of Actors Off-Broadway, ran from April 19 to May 27, 2004. [2] The Los Angeles and New York productions were both directed by Kristin Hanggi.

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. [3]

On July 6, 2017, Bare made its premiere in Brighton, an established LGBTQ destination nicknamed the "unofficial gay capital of the UK". [4] Produced by Brief Hiatus, this production was directed by Conor Baum with choreography by Sarah-Leanne Humphreys, receiving critical acclaim. [5] [6]

In the fall of 2023, [7] the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown, MD workshopped and premiered the school edition of BARE-A Pop Opera. The production was well received by community members and included a cast of 14 students. Community organizations focusing on LGBTQ+ support and suicide prevention were in attendance each performance to provide statistics and education to the audience prior to each show. The production was under the direction of Lead Theatre Teacher David Ryan.

Synopsis

Act I

At St. Cecilia's Boarding School, Peter dozes off during Mass and has a nightmare in which he is outed as gay and condemned by everyone ("Epiphany"). After Mass, he sees Jason, his roommate and secret lover. Jason reassures Peter about their relationship and Peter suggests that they audition for the school play ("You & I"). Alone, Peter reflects on his anxieties about his relationship with Jason ("Role of a Lifetime"). Jason shows up to the auditions for Romeo and Juliet at the last minute and competes with another student, Matt, for the part of Romeo. Drama teacher Sister Chantelle casts Jason as Romeo and Ivy as Juliet ("Auditions"). Nadia, Jason's overweight twin sister, is upset that she was cast as the Nurse and commiserates with Jason over their overbearing parents ("Plain Jane Fat Ass").

Matt tries to plan a small surprise birthday party for Ivy, with whom he is in love. Lucas, the school's party boy, organizes a trip to a rave, bringing ecstasy and other drugs ("Wonderland"). Insecure about her appearance, Nadia decides to stay behind ("A Quiet Night at Home"). At the rave, Peter dances with Jason and Ivy with Matt ("Rolling"). Peter tries to kiss Jason, who leads him outside. Peter wants to make their relationship public but Jason is afraid ("Best Kept Secret"). They kiss, but unbeknownst to them, Matt sees them together. The next morning, at Confession, Matt and Peter ask for guidance about their respective secrets: Matt about seeing the kiss and Peter about being gay ("Confession").

After Nadia jokes about Ivy's promiscuity, Ivy reflects on the way her reputation defines and confines her ("Portrait of a Girl"). Nadia turns Ivy's birthday party into a crude and uproarious event ("Birthday, Bitch!"). Peter unknowingly eats pot brownies and flirts with Jason. A drunk Ivy does the same and Jason chooses her over Peter to save face. Ivy asks Jason to kiss her as a birthday gift and he reluctantly agrees ("One Kiss"). Matt and Peter bond over their frustrations and an inebriated Peter tells Matt the secret of his relationship with Jason ("Are You There?"). Peter later has a vision of the Virgin Mary, in the form of Sister Chantelle, telling him that he needs to come out to his mother ("911! Emergency!").

At rehearsal, Matt abandons the script and tackles Jason, calling him a homophobic slur ("Reputation Stain'd"). Peter asks Jason to come home with him for spring break and help him come out to his mother. Jason panics, afraid of his father finding out, and breaks up with Peter ("Ever After"). While Nadia sardonically sings about her dislike of spring, Peter leaves for break without speaking to Jason ("Spring"). Ivy apologizes to Jason for her actions at the party, but admits that she likes him and hopes for more. While Peter and Matt pine for their respective loves and Nadia wishes to be noticed, Jason sleeps with Ivy, hoping it is the right thing to do ("One").

Act II

The school chapel is decorated elaborately for Peter and Jason's wedding. The scene turns into Jason's wedding to Ivy and reveals itself to be Peter's nightmare ("Wedding Bells"). Later, class ranks are posted and Jason has achieved the valedictorian spot, once again besting Matt ("In the Hallway"). Ivy tells Jason that though she has been with other boys before, he is her first true love. After realizing that Ivy's feelings are the way he feels about Peter, he breaks up with her ("Touch My Soul"). Peter calls his mother Claire, intending to come out. She continually evades the subject, though he suspects she already knows the truth ("See Me"). Claire hangs up, shaken at the confirmation of her fears, but eventually recognizes that her love for him is stronger than her religious objections ("Warning").

When Ivy misses rehearsal, her understudy Diane steps in but forgets her lines. Peter temporarily takes over and dances with Jason ("Pilgrim's Hands"). Ivy appears at the end of the rehearsal and insists to Jason that they need to speak privately. Sister Chantelle tells Peter that she knows what has been bothering him—that he is gay—and assures him that he is just as God wanted him to be ("God Don't Make No Trash"). Ivy tells Nadia that she is pregnant with Jason's child ("All Grown Up"). She later finds Jason practicing his graduation speech and tells him that she is pregnant and still hopes he might learn to love her back. Matt, who has overheard them, reveals that Jason is in love with Peter. Peter arrives and he, Matt, and Jason exchange heated words as the other students look on ("Promise").

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"). With nowhere else to go, he asks the priest at Confession if God still loves him and can forgive him. The priest tells him that he must deny his feelings ("Cross"). Backstage before the play, Lucas passes out drug orders to students, including Jason. Jason asks Peter to run away with him but Peter refuses, not wanting to hide anymore ("Two Households"). Jason, thinking that he has lost Peter for good, takes a large dose of GHB.

As the play begins, he again pulls Peter aside and tells him that he has loved him since they first met. Peter tells him he loves him too and reassures him that their parting is not a permanent goodbye ("Bare"). As Peter delivers the Queen Mab speech, Jason becomes increasingly disoriented and begins to hallucinate ("Queen Mab"). During the masked ball scene, he collapses and dies in Peter's arms ("A Glooming Peace"). Peter confronts the priest about Jason's last visit, accusing him of failing to show compassion ("Absolution"). At graduation, Peter, Ivy, Matt, and Nadia wonder whether they could have prevented Jason's death and consider the role they played in it. They move forward into a world that will yield more questions than answers ("No Voice").

Characters and original casts

Character(s)Los Angeles (2000) [2] [8] [9] Off-Broadway (2004) [10] Studio Recording (2007) [11] [12] Los Angeles Revival (2013) [13] West End Staged Concert (2024) [14]
Peter Simonds John Torres Michael Arden Matt Doyle Payson Lewis Laurie Kynaston
Jason McConnellJohn Griffin John Hill James Snyder Jonah Platt Jordan Luke Gage
Ivy Robinson Jenna Leigh Green Lindsay Pearce Frances Mayli McCann
Nadia McConnellKeili Lefkovitz Natalie Joy Johnson Keili Lefkovitz Katie Stevens Katie Ramshaw
Matt LloydWallace Smith Aaron Lohr Christopher JohnsonNathan ParrettEd Larkin
Sister Chantelle/Virgin MaryStephanie AndersenRomelda T. BenjaminStephanie AndersenClaudia Kariuki
ClaireMaura M. Knowles Kaitlin Hopkins Alissa-Nicole Koblentz Cassidy Janson
PriestMark Edgar StephensJim PriceJohn GriffinAdrian Hansel
Lucas CarterPhilip Dean LightstoneAdam FlemingJason RyterbandCasey HaydenJason Battersby
Tanya Garrett/CherubCharity Hill Sasha Allen Judith Hill Caitlin AryAoife Kenny
Kyra/Cherub (named Brittany in 2000 Los Angeles production)Tassa Hampton Kearran Giovanni Carmel EcholsKatherine WashingtonChrissie Bhima
Diane Lee Jennie Kwan Kay Trinidad Kara MaguireReesa IshiyamaEmily Ooi
ZackReed PrescottMike CannonNils MontanChristopher HigginsJack Ofrecio
Rory—Lindsay ScottAnna RoseKelsey HainlenClodagh Greene
Alan—Isaac CalpitoJoel EcholsHarrison MeloenySamuel Joseph Howes

Musical numbers

† Cut from the 2004 Off-Broadway production and replaced with "Love, Dad"

‡ Replaced "Mother Love" from the 2000 Los Angeles production [15] [8]

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 2012–2013 production was announced to be releasing a cast album. [16] This, however, did not occur due to the quick closing of the revival amid poor reviews and public response.

Planned film adaptation

On January 2, 2018, it was announced that Bare would be made into a motion picture, directed by Kristin Hanggi and produced by Hillary Butorac Weaver and Janet Billig Rich. Hanggi will adapt the screenplay for the film. No release date has been set. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>Kiss Me, Kate</i> Musical by Cole Porter and Bella and Samuel Spewack

Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off-stage between Fred Graham, the show's director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance concerns Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, who runs afoul of some gangsters. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.

<i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i> (musical) 1961 musical by Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows, Jack Harlow, and Willie Gilbert

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1961 musical by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name. The story concerns young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.

<i>On the Town</i> (musical) 1945 musical by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green

On the Town is a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on Jerome Robbins' idea for his 1944 ballet Fancy Free, which he had set to Bernstein's music. The musical introduced several popular and classic songs, among them "New York, New York", "Lonely Town", "I Can Cook, Too", and "Some Other Time". The story concerns three American sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City in 1944, during World War II. Each of the three sailors meets and quickly connects with a woman.

<i>The Fantasticks</i> Musical by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones

The Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the 1894 play The Romancers by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud.

<i>She Loves Me</i> Musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock

She Loves Me is a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.

<i>The Secret Garden</i> (musical) 1991 Broadway musical

The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's script and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1991 and ran for 709 performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenna Leigh Green</span> American actress and singer (born 1974)

Jenna Leigh Green is an American actress and singer best known for her performances as Libby Chessler on the television show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, as well as for roles on tour in the musical Wicked and later in the Broadway production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Arden</span> American actor

Michael Jerrod Moore, known professionally as Michael Arden, is an American actor, singer, musician, and theatre director. Arden won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2023 for the revival of the musical Parade.

Damon Intrabartolo was an American composer, orchestrator and conductor. He attended the University of Southern California and departed before graduation to work as an assistant to John Ottman on The Usual Suspects. His most famous work is the musical Bare.

<i>Falsettos</i> 1992 musical by William Finn and James Lapine

Falsettos is a sung-through musical with a book by William Finn and James Lapine, and music and lyrics by Finn. The musical consists of March of the Falsettos (1981) and Falsettoland (1990), the last two installments in a trio of one-act musicals that premiered off-Broadway. The story centers on Marvin, who has left his wife to be with a male lover, Whizzer, and struggles to keep his family together. Much of the first act explores the impact his relationship with Whizzer has had on his family. The second act explores family dynamics that evolve as he and his ex-wife plan his son's bar mitzvah, which is complicated as Whizzer comes down with an early case of AIDS. Central to the musical are the themes of Jewish identity, gender roles, and gay life in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

<i>Kiss of the Spider Woman</i> (musical) 1992 musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Terrence McNally. It is based on Manuel Puig's novel of the same name. Directed by Harold Prince, the musical had runs in Toronto (1992), the West End (1992-93) and Broadway (1993) and won the 1993 Tony Award for Best Musical, as well as acting awards for all three principals in the cast.

John Arthur Hill is an American musical theater actor and television producer who is most well known for his role of Jason McConnell in the Off-Broadway run of Bare: A Pop Opera and as a producer of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. He also developed a following on his former website "John Hill Online" with his videos entitled "Johnny and Kooks", comedic videos he made with his friend Katharine Leonard. The pair released a single on iTunes entitled "About You". He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and currently resides in Los Angeles, California where he is producing television programs.

Kristin Hanggi is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter; and theater director best known for the 2009 Broadway musical Rock of Ages. The jukebox musical received five Tony Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. She has also directed two national tours, and West End, Australia, Toronto, and Las Vegas productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Doyle (actor)</span> American actor and singer (born 1987)

Matthew Finnen Doyle is an American actor and singer known for his work in musical theatre. He made his Broadway debut in 2007 in Spring Awakening as a replacement for the roles of Hanschen and Melchior. He later had supporting roles in the Broadway productions of Bye Bye Birdie in 2009 and War Horse in 2011. He joined Broadway's The Book of Mormon in 2012, replacing Nic Rouleau as the starring role of Elder Price. Following a period of performing Off-Broadway and regionally, which included starring as Anthony Hope in the 2017 Off-Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He joined the Broadway transfer of the gender-swapped production of Company in 2021 playing the role of Jamie originated by Jonathan Bailey in the West End. For his performance, he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2022, he returned to the Off-Broadway stage as Seymour Krelborn in the revival of Little Shop of Horrors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Pearce</span> American actress and singer (born 1991)

Lindsay Heather Pearce is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theatre. She made her Broadway debut as Elphaba in Wicked in February 2020 and later made her national tour debut as Janis Sarkisian in Mean Girls in May 2022. Other regional theatre credits include Wendla in Spring Awakening, Ivy in Bare: A Pop Opera, and Whatsername in American Idiot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrett Wilbert Weed</span> American actress (born 1988)

Barrett Wilbert Weed is an American actress and singer. She is best known for originating the roles of Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway production of Heathers: The Musical and Janis Sarkisian in the Broadway production of Mean Girls. She also voices Octavia "Via" Goetia in Helluva Boss.

<i>Waitress</i> (musical) 2016 musical by Sara Bareilles

Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. It is based on the 2007 film, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant with Earl, she begins an affair with her obstetrician, Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out of her troubles, and at the urging of her friends, she enters a pie baking contest, seeing its grand prize as her chance.

<i>Moulin Rouge!</i> (musical) 2018 musical based on the 2001 film

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a jukebox musical with a book by John Logan. The musical is based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann and written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.

<i>Bare: The Musical</i> 2012 coming-of-age rock musical

Bare, also known as Bare: The Musical, is a coming-of-age rock musical with music by Damon Intrabartolo, and lyrics and a book by Jon Hartmere. It is a new version of Bare: A Pop Opera.

References

  1. ↑ "Past Productions". Stagecraft Theatre | Wellington, NZ.
  2. 1 2 3 Gioia, Michael (October 12, 2015). "bare Casts Remember the Pop Opera That Rocked L.A. and NYC With Memories and Never-Before-Seen Pics!". Playbill . Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  3. ↑ Gioia, Michael (May 7, 2013). "Damon Intrabartolo-Jon Hartmere Pop Opera Bare Will Return to Los Angeles". Playbill. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ Wright, Alice (March 25, 2014). "Sorry Bristol, Brighton is probably the best city in the UK". Metro. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kay, Andrew (July 7, 2017). "Latest reviews Bare at One Church Brighton". The Latest. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Sussex Playwrights reviews Bare at One Church Brighton". Sussex Playwrights. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ "What's NXT: All the music, art, theater and outdoor fun you could wish for — and PUPPIES!". Herald-Mail Media. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Martinez, Julio (October 25, 2000). "Bare". Variety.
  9. ↑ "Bare: A Pop Opera at Hudson Mainstage Theatre 2000-2001". abouttheartists.com.
  10. ↑ "Playbill + Bare a Pop Opera + Michael Arden , John Hill + Demo CD with 11 songs | #440638762".
  11. ↑ "bare: The Album - Performers". barethealbum.com.
  12. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (October 16, 2007). "Studio Cast Album of bare on Sale Oct. 30". Playbill.
  13. ↑ Blank, Matthew (July 22, 2013). "PHOTO CALL: Meet the Cast of the L.A. Return of Pop Opera Bare, Starring Lindsay Pearce, Payson Lewis and Jonah Platt". Playbill.
  14. ↑ Wood, Alex (February 19, 2024). "Full cast announced for Bare musical at The London Palladium". WhatsOnStage.
  15. ↑ Portantiere, Michael (April 8, 2004). "Bare Facts". TheaterMania.
  16. ↑ "bare: The Album - Creative". barethealbum.com.
  17. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (January 2, 2018). "bare Will Navigate to the Big Screen; Kristin Hanggi Set to Direct Film". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  18. ↑ Clement, Olivia (January 2, 2018). "Bare: A Pop Opera Film Adaptation in the Works". Playbill. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ Voss, Brandon (January 6, 2018). "Film Adaptation Of Cult Gay Musical 'Bare' In The Works". newnownext.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Bare". barethemovie.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.