New Vision Players to Present BARE: A POP OPERA, 3/20-23

From the Community Theater Company that brought you hit musicals such as 'Into the Woods' and 'Legally Blonde, The Musical' comes 'BARE: A POP OPERA,' a powerful story of love, loss, and self-discovery amongst a group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school.

After their wild success last August with seven sold-out performances of the award-winning 'Les Miserables,' New Vision Players, Inc. has continued to pursue and push forth the ideals of which they were founded: 'To bring community theater work of a professional caliber while maintaining a fun and fulfilling rehearsal process.'

New Vision Players' 'BARE: A POP OPERA' will play at the Fair Lawn Community Center in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and will be running from March 20th to March 23rd with five performances.

Set in a Catholic boarding school, 'BARE: A POP OPERA' focuses on a circle of friends during their senior year. The musical mainly centers around a secret romance between two boys; Peter, the altar boy and his star-child roommate, Jason. Being closeted for some time now, Peter wants to proclaim his love and go public with their affair. Jason, however, isn't so keen on the idea. He feels that his entire world would crumble if word of the relationship got out.

Now that we have this modern-gay-Shakespearean motif set, things obviously have to get more complicated. Within the performance itself is another performance. The school is putting together Romeo and Juliet (the above description has just become interestingly ironic). Ivy, a social elitist and admirer of Jason, lands the role of Juliet with Jason as her Romeo. Tension and suspense escalate as Ivy's Romeo-rejected, spiteful suitor, Matt, witnesses Peter and Jason kissing. The drama builds and spirals out of control.

Throughout the play, these teenage characters of St. Cecelia's deal with the issues of sexual identity, diversity, inclusion, bullying, drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy, and suicide. Their story is powerful, inspirational, moving, and is sure to affect every single audience member who joins the journey.

'BARE: A POP OPERA' is a rock-pop musical adapted from the book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo. Lyrics written by Hartmere and music composed by Intrabartolo. It has been performed many times Off-Broadway.

New Vision's Co-Owner and Business Manager, Amanda Villafuerte, also serves as the musical's Production Manager. She explains, "Each character in this show has a story to tell; they have a background to who they are. Every single audience member will be able to relate to at least one character in the show." She continues, "They will remember a time when they, themselves, struggled with these same issues...or perhaps they are experiencing something similar now. 'Bare' brings everyone along on the journey. It's an event you do not want to miss."

'This show sends a very important message for those feeling like Jason, as well as those keeping the Jason's in the closet. [BARE] helps people understand that these issues are more threatening than they realize.' -Oliver Mayes, playing the role of Jason

Adrian Rifat as Peter
Oliver Mayes as Jason
Danielle Dorfman as Ivy
Lindsay Braverman as Nadia
Chris Traina as Matt
Julie Galorenzo as Claire
Kaci Jones as Sister Chantelle Fred Bernardi as The Priest
Drew Villafuerte as Lucas
Erin Michele Harris as Tanya
Nicole Boscarino as Kyra
Shane Long as Zack
Jared Clough as Alan
Ariana Trahanas as Rory
Julie Roccanova as Diane Lee

Tickets are $22 for general admission and $18 for seniors and groups; they are available now at http://www.newvisionplayers.com/tickets.html.

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