Bare: A Pop Opera

[snl89]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 9:57pm

So I know there has been threads on the studio recording and everything, but I thought it was kind of necessary to have a general Bare love thread, no?

I just recently discovered it, but I can honestly say that this show is one of the more emotional, well written shows that I've heard of in a long time. The music is utterly gorgeous, the staging awesome, and the story is just... I think it's such an important story to be told. I would give anything for it to get another production so I can see it, instead of just obsessively listening to the recording.

My only worry would be that, what with Spring Awakening and even RENT to an extent, and Next To Normal possibly getting a Broadway transfer in the future, it might kind of get lost in the whole "yet another pop/rock opera" notion. Especially in comparison with Spring Awakening- I would just hope that people wouldn't see some of the similarities the two shows have and think that there's not a place for both. I personally DO think there's very much so a place for both, but I can just forsee that being an issue that would come up if it were to come back.


But anyway, yeah *spreads MAJOR Bare love* :)

Updated On: 1/28/08 at 09:57 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 9:58pm

I love this show

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 10:03pm

One of my all time favorites. I would literally do almost anything to see this show return to NYC even if its off broadway. The score is amazing there is almost nothing I dislike about this sow. Just my two cents.

[snl89]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 10:06pm

Can we discuss how amazing See Me is? Cause yeah, it really really is. And I'm not gay, so it's not even really like I can *relate* to it per say, but it's just so emotional! I especially love the off broadway version a la Michael Arden <3

also, Absolution. Or, well, rather the entire ending. But especially Absolution. Very few shows ACTUALLY make me cry. Not even Spring Awakening made me cry. But this one does. And I've never even seen it live. That's PURELY from the recording.

Updated On: 1/28/08 at 10:06 PM

[jake6970]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 10:31pm

Ugggh Bare I love it so much. so. so. much.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 10:52pm

So Interesting that this show still has such a following and was part of the careers of Damon, Michael, Jenna, John, Natalie, Aaron, Adam, Kearron, Mike, Scott, Jim and Katlin, and all others.
Glad I saw it in New York about 5 times.
It was SPRING AWAKENING only a little better.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 11:18pm

I love this show! Only too have I really discovered it through the studio recording. But there is a regional theatre downtown in chicago where I live who just did a run of the show and I made sure to get down there to see it! The music is so beautiful and really the ending is so powerful I cant see how you couldnt be moved by it. And as emotional as SEE ME is I think CROSS is even more intense! That song gets me every time and James Snyder does so well on the studio recording.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 11:18pm

I love this show! Only too have I really discovered it through the studio recording. But there is a regional theatre downtown in chicago where I live who just did a run of the show and I made sure to get down there to see it! The music is so beautiful and really the ending is so powerful I cant see how you couldnt be moved by it. And as emotional as SEE ME is I think CROSS is even more intense! That song gets me every time and James Snyder does so well on the studio recording.

[BroadwayBaby21]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:36am

I *love* this show.
I got into bare in 2004 through my love of Aaron Lohr. It was during that in-between period when it was going to transfer to the Dodgers theatre, so I had been planning to see it when it re-opened in the fall. But sadly, it never did.
I have gotten so many of my friends hooked on this show. And when I came to college, I found so many more bare fans, it was great.
We even drove 3 hours to see the NJ production of bare last fall (so worth it!). The five of us were sitting there, and by the end, we were all holding hands across the seats and crying our eyes out. SO good.
And the studio recording? LOVE it. Yes, I still don't like some of the lyric changes and whatnot, but who can complain about such a beautifully written score?

The best part is that my friend is planning on doing bare for his senior project next year, and I can not wait!

[snl89]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 3:56am

"Glad I saw it in New York about 5 times.
It was SPRING AWAKENING only a little better."

first off, klsdjfk *JEALOUS* :) Second, as much as I absolutely adore Spring Awakening, I can't say as I disagree. Although.. I don't know, I think Spring Awakening is as well DONE production wise, but the story and the writing of Bare is even better.



"And as emotional as SEE ME is I think CROSS is even more intense! That song gets me every time and James Snyder does so well on the studio recording."

Yesss. Cross is so incredible too. James is amazing :)




So I have a question (warning- SPOILERS):
In the libretto (and I assume the show), they have it that Bare comes after Queen Mab, which made total sense. But then why on the recording did it come beforehand? Because doesn't Peter know that Jason is dying at that point? So like... how does that work if they sing it BEFORE it becomes apparant that he's overdosed at all?

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:11am

To me, switching "Bare" to come in front of "Queen Mab" makes a lot of sense. "Bare" isn't about necessarily Jason dying. It's more of a song of reconciliation between Jason and Peter. Jason is finally admitting that he wants to be open about his relationship with Peter and Peter knows that he's always wanted to be with Jason. I love the NY version but I think it's better that they switched the two songs because before it looked like Jason was kind of admitting it because he was on drugs. And it looks bad on Peter's part because if he knew Jason was on drugs and was dying then he wouldn't have let him go back on stage and die there. Plus they changed the lyrics around to make more sense about the switch anyway so it's for the better.

[snl89]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:27am

ahh, okay. Yeah, I guess, thinking about it, because they also changed the lyrics quite a bit, it does work more or less. I guess it just is such a bittersweet song to me, and so many of the lyrics- even the changed ones- are so poignant that it feels like it should really be their "final goodbye" type deal. But it DOES also work as their song of reconciliation. I just... in my mind, it's so much more sad than that because I know what's coming, so I automatically start thinking of it on that sadder level haha.


oh, by the way, I love your sig NY_Broadway2 That whole song is the shiz, pretty much :) (and so TRUE). Sister Chantelle makes me really happy.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:30am

Saw it in New York and loved it.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:31am

I got a FREE demo CD and somehow I lost it..

I did not even have a chance to download it on my iTunes.

J*

[ulkis]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:20pm

Especially in comparison with Spring Awakening- I would just hope that people wouldn't see some of the similarities the two shows have and think that there's not a place for both. I personally DO think there's very much so a place for both, but I can just forsee that being an issue that would come up if it were to come back.

I think there's a place for both, although I think it's too late for Bare to make it to the kind of popularity that Spring Awakening has. That said, while I do think there's a place for that, whenever the creators of SA go on about how it's the first musical about teenage issues, sexuality, rock music (more like mid-90s alt mellow rock, but whatever), I kinda want to send them a copy of a Bare CD.

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:38pm

My love for this show cannot be described in words

[snl89]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:39pm

"I think there's a place for both, although I think it's too late for Bare to make it to the kind of popularity that Spring Awakening has. That said, while I do think there's a place for that, whenever the creators of SA go on about how it's the first musical about teenage issues, sexuality, rock music (more like mid-90s alt mellow rock, but whatever), I kinda want to send them a copy of a Bare CD. "


haha, definitely.

Like I said, I ADORE Spring Awakening, and I think that as far as the production, staging, and performances of it goes, it's probably just about equal to Bare. But I DO think that the script and story of Bare is even more powerful. As relatable as the characters in SA are, the characters in Bare are even more so. And the story is one that 1)a LOT of people can really, REALLY relate to on a very personal level, and 2)even for people who can't actually relate, it's just extremely powerful.

I DO kind of have issues with the SA producers saying it's the first show of its kind now that I know of Bare, because it's like.. if funding and money issues had been better, Bare could easily have BEEN Spring Awakening right now.



Speaking of relations between the two: if they ever did another production, would Lea Michelle not make a fantastic Ivy? Not that I don't really like Jenna, because I do- but her voice does get just a liiittle tiny bit annoying for me at times. She can DEF sing, it's just I'm not the hugest fan of her tone in certain songs- like "One" in particular.

I'm SO SO partial to Michael as Peter, but of course he might be considered "too old" to do it now, even though he's only 25 and totally still has a baby face haha. But Matt Doyle is pretty awesome too (seriously, his "Absolution" is just.. no words Matt and James Snyder LOOK really good together too. I bet they'd have fantastic chemistry either on stage or on screen.

Updated On: 1/29/08 at 12:39 PM

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:48pm

"My love for this show cannot be described in words"

Totally Agree...I would do anything to be a part of this show.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:48pm

"My love for this show cannot be described in words"

Totally Agree...I would do anything to be a part of this show.


Luckly I know people in high places...well I am short, so everyone is high to me.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:52pm

soooooo cute!

[snl89]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:55pm

^the kiss!! <33

I love the kiss after Best Kept Secret. It is seriously beautiful and amazing.


Seriously, Michael Arden, why are you adorable?? John Hill is pretty adorable too hehe. and Jenna's gorgeous

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 1:03pm

Michael Arden cant DO NO WRONG in my book. Such a nice guy!
Updated On: 1/29/08 at 01:03 PM

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 4:03pm

I'm glad you like it SNL89. That would be one of my favorites lines from the show because I find that it is so universal for everybody no matter who you are. We all struggle through hard times and we don't always want to be exposed for who we really are and I think there is so much truth to that song and those lines in particular.

[East Village]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 5:11pm

To say I'm obsessed with the Bare is such a big understatement. My roommate is totally moving out of the house if he hears me playing it one more time. But seriously, I think Bare is far from broadway ready...I'm not even sure it WAS off-broadway ready. I know someone's going to kill me for saying this but structurally its all over the place -- did it need two dream sequences:)?, and I just skip over all those Sister Chantelle numbers. That said, the music is beautiful. I'd love to see what Damon could do with it if he had the desire to take it out on the road for a year with a really great director.

[DaneSaw]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 6:03pm

Sister Chantelle and Peter's dreams frame the entire story! Damon has said himself that Sister Chantelle is sort of the driving force behind the show. She's really the only positive authority figure the kids (Peter, especailly) have.

Anyway, bare is completely amazing. No other show can make me bawl my eyes out at the drop of a hat. And that's not even at the sad songs...certain things in Act 1 that allude to what's going to happen are just heartbreaking once you know how the story ends.

I'd kill to be in a production of it. Anyone in Philly? C'mon...hah