BARE To Rock Kansas City July 9-18

BARE, the cult-hit coming-of-age musical that took Los Angeles and New York by storm, comes to Kansas City in a new, vibrant staging. The award-winning rock-pop musical plays at the Longview Community College Black Box Theatre July 9-18.

BARE is a searing and beautiful coming-of-age story told through a brilliant, pulsing pop-rock score played by a live band. This production features an immersive, environmental staging that is sure to be an exciting theatrical event!

A group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school faces issues of sexuality and personal identity. As they struggle to come to terms with who they are, and who the world thinks they should be, they seek answers in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave, a well-locked dorm room and ultimately, from within themselves. Its rich, vibrant score draws on many styles of contemporary music.

BARE is staged as part of an effort to produce contemporary or off-the-beaten-path works for Lee's Summit and the surrounding areas. The production is assisted through a new partnership with Longview Community College.

BARE features book and music by Damon Intrabartolo, and book and lyrics by Jon Hartmere, Jr. The award-winning musical premiered in Hollywood in October 2000. It was supposed to run for 32 performances at an 87-seat theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard. Four months later, it had become a multi award-winning sensation created by two 26-year-old writers and a 23-year-old director. The musical won the L.A. Weekly Award for Best Musical, the Ovation Award for Best Musical and the L.A. Drama Critics Award for Best Score. The show went on to a successful New York run, performing off-Broadway at the American Theatre of Actors.

Ten years after BARE's premiere, its themes of acceptance, tolerance and equality are increasingly relevant today.

BARE is directed by Charlie Piane, with musical staging by Rachel Mears. The production features music direction by Ryan Wilson Sullivan, band co-direction by Jon Tucker and accompaniment by Adam Hulstine. The show is produced by Charlie Piane & Ashley Gordon for Piane Productions.
 
The cast of BARE includes Andréa N. Agosto, Amira Aldewick, Bryson Bruce, Chris Cobbett, Ben Forrester, Ryan Gilyard, Hartzell Gray, Evan Michael Haas (EvanMichaelHaas.com), Tad Halstead, Erin Huffman, Erica Israel, Angela Schroder, Margaret Shelby, Kristen Janell Sullivan (KristenJanellSullivan.com), Christin Tolle, Nathan Ward and Derick White.
 
The show will play the following performance schedule: July 9th, 10th, 17th & 18th at 7:30pm, with matinee performances July 11th & 17th at 2:30pm.

All performances take place at the Black Box Theatre located in the Cultural Arts Center, Longview College Campus, 500 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, Missouri 64081-2105.

Regular tickets are $15. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at www.BareInKC.com. Group ticket rate available for parties of 10 or more people. For group sales, contact Ashley Gordon, ashley@BareInKC.com. Audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as this intimate production features a strictly limited number of seats for each performance.

BARE is rated PG-13. The show is not recommended for children under 12 years old.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.BareInKC.com.

About the Authors:
Damon Intrabartolo (Book and Music) received the 2001 Ovation Award, Backstage Garland Award, LA Drama Critics Circle Award & LA Weekly Award for BARE (Best Original Score & Best Musical). Other theater work includes Ann E. Wrecksick & the Odyssey of the Bulimic Orphans, Plop, and Red Rover: Harvey, Cleve and Other Games. Damon co-founded God Help! Productions to produce the aforementioned shows — and more! Film orchestration/conducting credits include DREAMGIRLS, X-MEN 2, SUPERMAN RETURNS, FANTASTIC FOUR 1 & 2, THE SAVAGES, IN GOOD COMPANY, GOTHIKA, HALLOWEEN H20, the Emmy-nominated FANTASY ISLAND (1998) and THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Damon is a proud alumnus of the USC Trojan Marching band where he played mellophone and presently resides in Los Angeles.
 
Jon Hartmere (Book and Lyrics) has written screenplays for Nickelodeon and Disney. A regular performer of improvised comedy, he was a field agent on Cycle 5 of MTV's PUNK'D. He recently adapted the young adult novel GEOGRAPHY CLUB for East of Doheny Productions and is currently writing the remake of FOOTLOOSE for Paramount Pictures.

Visit www.BareInKC.com for more information.

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