The popular musical is becoming a film. | Photo: YouTube/Kimberly Larkin
The popular gay musical Bare: A Pop Opera is heading to the big screen.
Original director, Tony nominee Kristin Hanggi, is coming back to direct the film. She also adapted the screenplay.
Tony-nominated producers Hillary Butorac Weaver and Janet Billig Rich are backing the project.
Bare tells the story of Peter and Jason, two students at St Cecilia’s Boarding School, a private Catholic institution. Jason is the school’s golden boy, and also Peter’s roommate and secret boyfriend.
As the musical progresses, various students’ struggles are dealt with, and Peter and Jason have to figure out how to progress their relationship.
Bare features a book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and the late Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere, and music by Intrabartolo. This music and story are the basis for the film.
A history of the show
Bare first premiered in 2000 at Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles. Four years later, it debuted off-Broadway at the American Theater of Actors.
The original cast consisted of the likes of Michael Arden, John Torres, John Hill, John Griffin, Jenna Leigh Green, Natalie Joy Johnson, and Keili Lefkovitz.
As culture and society changed, Hartmere and others revisited the show, making it more complex. The new version opened off-Broadway at New World Stages in 2012.
With themes of bullying, discrimination, religion, suicide, and more, Bare has become a major part of the history of gay theater.
As they work on the film, the team is asking for fans to help contribute.
They want fans to submit 1-minute videos explaining what Bare means to them.
