The staging has the assistance of Dodger Productions, which guided Urinetown in its Off-Broadway run, at the same midtown space Bare plays — the American Theatre of Actors.
The musical by twentysomethings Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo was supposed to play 32 performances at an 87-seat house in L.A., but was extended to a four-month run. It 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.
Variety called the show "a magnificent, monumentally ambitious, totally original contemporary musical."
Given its link to the Dodgers and its Broadway-caliber design team, including David Gallo and David Woolard, the show would seem to be poised toward a more ambitious commercial run in Manhattan. A theatregoer might speculate the show could have a nice sitdown run at the new DodgerStages opening Off-Broadway this fall (five theatres, ranging 199-499 seats). No such future plan for Bare has been announced.
* "Knowing their stay in this insular world is drawing to a close, each of them question where they are in their lives and what the future holds in store," according to production notes. "Answers are sought in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave and a well-locked dorm room."
Kristin Hanggi directs the show, which has book by newcomers Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere and music by Intrabartolo. Musical staging is by Sergio Trujillo.
The cast includes Michael Arden, Jenna Leigh Green, Kearran Giovanni, John Hill, Natalie Joy Johnson, Aaron Lohr, Sasha Allen, Romelda Benjamin, Isaac Calpito, Mike Cannon, Adam Fleming, Kaitlin Hopkins, Jim Price, Lindsay Scott, Kay Trinidad and Scott Allgauer.
Designers are David Gallo (scenic), David Woolard (costumes), Mike Baldassari (lighting) and Domonic Sack (sound).
Performances play American Theatre of Actors, 314 West 54th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Opening is April 19.
Showtimes are Monday at 8 PM, Wednesday through Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 and 8 PM and Sunday at 2 and 7 PM.
Tickets are $40. Call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.
