Bare Delays Start at Off-B'way's Dodgers Stages

Bare: A Pop Opera, which was scheduled to begin performances at Dodger Stages on September 22, will be starting its run a little later than expected. The production will now begin on October 13 in order "to allow more time to prepare the new facility for the show," according to a production statement.

Bare explores the pains and pleasures of five high school seniors at a co-ed Catholic boarding school as they struggle to grow up. They question where they are in their lives. Answers are sought in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave and a well-locked dorm room.

The musical, directed by Kristin Hanggi, opened at the American Theatre of Actors on April 19 and ran there through May 27. In his Broadway.com Review of the tuner, William Stevenson wrote: "One might call it Jesus Christ Superstar meets Dawson's Creek, with bits of Romeo and Juliet and R&J thrown in. Highly emotional and earnest, it's not for cynics or anyone who hates rock operas like Rent. But it does feature a dynamic, melodic score by composer Damon Intrabartalo and energetic performances by a talented young ensemble."

At the American Theatre of Actors, the cast of Bare included Michael Arden, John Hill, Adam Fleming, Jenna Leigh Green, Kaitlin Hopkins, Natalie Joy Johnson, Aaron Lohr, Jim Price, Sasha Allen, Romelda Benjamin, Isaac Calpito, Mike Cannon, Kearran Giovanni, Lindsay Scott and Kay Trinidad. No official announcement has been made as to whether the entire cast will be continuing with the show.