After the successful presentation of Bare: A Pop Opera by the Ateneo blueREPERTORY in 2009, they will restage the musical on February 29-March 10, 2012 at the Teatrino in The Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan. Bare is a rock musical with a book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere and music by Intrabartolo that debut on theater in 2000. The blueREP presentation was directed by Ana Abad Santos (also in 2009) and feature actors including Jaime Barcelon, Bibo Reyes, Maronne Cruz, Cassie Manalastas, Mark Bernardo, Jenny Jamora, Rem Zamora, Orange Sanchez and Franco Chan.
Set in St. Cecilia’s Boarding School, Bare centers on a group of high school seniors facing issues of sexuality and personal identity. Among them is Peter (Jaime Barcelon), an altar boy who grew relationship with the school’s golden boy named Jason (Bibo Reyes). Being in a Catholic school it is hard for the two teens to put their relationship on public easily, but for Peter being proud having someone he love so much like Jason it is worth it. Unfortunately, for Jason it is not easy to come out knowing that he has name in the campus to protect and also the fear to be unaccepted goes with it. On the other side, Nadia (Cassie Manalastas), Jason’s overweight, sardonic sister, and Matt (Orange Sanchez and Franco Chan alternating the role), Ivy’s (Maronne Cruz) ambitious suitor, joins the story to give faces to the challenges and problems that the teenagers are facing including their search for acceptance in the society and belongingness as they create their own identity.
I excited to see Bare and it will be my first time to see the musical. It is something that most theatergoers can relate with and see themselves in some of the characters. I’m looking forward on the way how the actors do their roles especially they’re on that stage as actual students creating their own identity in the society and of course the production designs and costumes which I saw some of the blueREP’s shows and I am amazed with their stage designs and props.
Joining the ensembles of Bare are Jussy Peña as Tanya, Lucas’s girlfriend; Mikah Franco as Kyra, the sexy student; Mica Fajardo as the naive Diane Lee; Raisa Tabusalla as the sarcastic Rory; Jian Kho as Zack, the jock-type student; Gabriel Perez as the nerdy Alan; Lara Antonio as Louise; Luigi Du as Jakob; CJ Francisco as Seth; Bernice Reyes as Mary Jane; and Dar Uy as Daniel.
Artistic and creative team includes Onyl Torres (Musical Director for Vocals), Abi Sulit (Assistant Musical Director for Vocals), Joseph Tolentino (Musical Director for Band), Carlon Matobato (Choreographer), Leeroy New (Set Designer), John Batalla (Lights Designer and Technical Director), Jethro Joaquin (Sound Designer), and Raven Ong (Costume Designer). While the production staff is composed of Tomik Tendero (Company Manager), Nina de Leon (Production Manager), Loraine Macatangay (Co-Head Stage Manager), Tricia Javier (Co-Head Stage Manager), Wrench Canicosa, Meg Yatco, Nick Fortuna, Claude Flores (Stage Managers), Rosa Leon Lumagbas (Costume Stylist), Jie Dela Paz (Assistant Technical Director), KL So Chan (Costumes Technical Director), Kina Casino (Lights and Sounds Technical Director), Claude Flores (Set and Props Technical Director), Asami Kobayashi (Logistics Head), Abbey Manliclic (Finance Head), Aina Pacificador (Documentations Head), and Chiz Jardin (Front-of-House Head). And the marketing, sales and publicity of “BARE: A POP OPERA ” is led by Toots Tolentino (PR & Publicity) with Gala Sanchez, Aldrich Alcantara and Luis Marcelo (Promotions and Marketing) and Jojit Lorenzo (Photography).
Catch Ateneo blueREPERTORY as they stage Bare: A Pop Opera at the Teatrino, Greenhills, San Juan on February 29, 8PM, March 1-3 and March 7-10 with gala shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and matinee shows on Saturdays at 3:00 PM. For tickets, inquiries and other information, please contact Chiz Jardin at 09165787618 or through email at [email protected]. For show buying, please contact Luis Marcelo at 09175025847.
