The Theatre Arts Program (TAP) brings “Bare” to life from Oct. 23-Nov. 2, adding another production to this year’s lineup.
Known for its raw emotion and powerful storytelling, “Bare” features students exploring love, faith and identity in a Catholic school.
“The story is really special and it’s good at challenging the social norms,” said senior David Irizarry, leading cast member of “Bare.” “It questions the systems that help the students.”
The musical highlights the struggles of the students and the challenges of accepting who they are. Its bold theme makes it a standout production, one that isn’t seen on stage often.
“‘Bare’ is such an underground show in the grand scheme of musical theatre,” said junior Camryn Trant, leading cast member of “Bare.” “The fact that we are even performing this is truly a gift.”
Along with its emotional depth and theme, “Bare” was also very demanding for the cast to learn.
“The rehearsal process was pretty intense, but the cast was also committed,” said senior Tori Cutalo, leading cast member of “Bare”.
The intensity was partly due to the music heavy storyline, as the play is performed entirely through song.
“The show itself is over two hours of straight music, making it very demanding both vocally and emotionally,” said Cutalo.
The cast spent long hours rehearsing the challenging soundtrack, making vocals and stamina just as demanding as learning the music itself.
“I tried to limit how much I speak each day, drinking a lot of water and tea,” said Irizarry. “It’s very regimented in some ways with how much I have to give myself to sustain vocals.”
In addition to rehearsing vocals, the cast also faced the difficulty of preparing for the whole production with a short timeframe.
“It’s been very rigorous, but also fun,” said Trant. “We had a little under a month to put production together.”
Their dedication was evident in rehearsals, making sure to prioritize every detail of the production. The cast worked tirelessly to bring the storyline and its emotional themes to life.
“The story is very unique and it’s not afraid to be brash and harsh and make statements,” said Irizarry. “What makes it beautiful is that it’s so raw with deep feelings of emotion throughout the whole show.”
The musical doesn’t avoid exploring difficult emotions and complex relationships. The bold storytelling allows for the audience to connect deeply with the characters and their struggles
Its fearless approach to sensitive themes is what sets it apart from other productions.
“Most shows I’ve been a part of would never dare touch the topics ‘Bare’ does,” said Trant.
The show encourages its audience to think about the complex experiences and emotions of the characters. Its portrayal of identity and relationships inspires the audience to consider perspectives they may have never encountered before.
“I hope audiences leave thinking about how important it is to listen and love without judgement,” said Cutalo. “To see beyond the surface as you never know what battles someone may be fighting.”
The production highlight’s themes of love, identity and personal struggle. Its storytelling emphasizes the emotional journey that the characters experience throughout the show.
“It’s a really bold story about love and identity and how love can persist despite the challenges of life,” said Irizarry. “The reason it’s called ‘Bare’ is because of the feeling of baring your soul and being yourself.”
