Co-written by Precious Lee Cundangan
Manila, Philippines, February 17, 2012 – Ateneo Blue Repertory of the Loyola Schools Performing Arts Cluster brings back one of its hit musicals from Off-Broadway, Bare: A Pop Opera, at Teatrino, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center on February 29 (opening night); March 1 to 3; and March 7 to 10. Once again, theater and film actress Ana Abad Santos (39 Steps, A Grand Night for Singing) directs the production, which stars Jaime Barcelon (Little Women, Disney’s The Little Mermaid) and Bibo Reyes (In the Heights, Hair).
Bare, which features the book, music, and lyrics of Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, revolves around a group of high school seniors studying in a Catholic boarding school. The play deals with sexual orientation and gender identity issues among teenagers. In the middle of it all is the secret romance between Peter (Reyes), an altar boy, and Jason (Barcelon), the school’s golden child. Peter believes that their romantic relationship should be made public; Jason thinks otherwise.
“The first time I did the production [in 2009], I just wanted to tell its story. For this restaging, however, I’d like to show some of the conflicts that teenagers face every day,” says Santos. “I want to stress the raw anxieties of life that this generation have been going through and the fact that these young adults aren’t usually heard.”
Besides Barcelon and Reyes, Maronne Cruz (Ivy), Cassie Manalastas (Nadia), Orange Sanchez and Franco Chan (Matt), Mark Bernardo (Lucas), Jenny Jamora (Peter’s mother, Claire) Rem Zamora (Sister Chantelle/Priest), Jussy Pena (Tanya), Mikah Franco (Kyra), Mica Fajardo (Dianne Lee), Raisa Tabusalla (Rory), Jian Kho (Zack), Gabriel Perez (Alan), Lara Antonio (Louise), Luigi Du (Jakob), CJ Francisco (Seth), Bernice Reyes (Mary Jane), and Dar Uy (Daniel) are also in the cast.
Onyl Torres (musical director for vocals), Abi Sulit (assistant musical director for vocals), Joseph Tolentino (musical director for the band), Carlon Matobato (choreographer), Leeroy New (set designer), John Batalla (lighting designer and technical director), Jethro Joaquin (sound designer), and Raven Ong (costume designer) complete the revival production’s creative and artistic team.
For tickets, call Chiz Jardin at (63)916-578-7618 or email nicojardin12@yahoo.com.
Bare: A Pop Opera is presented with special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100, New York. www.theatricalrights.com.
Photos by Jeffrey Aguiman, Jojit Lorenzo, and Blue Repertory
