BARE cast- Page 91

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:16am

Isaac Calpito.....and now that u mention it, i think that's the male that was mentioned for not returning

[badkarma719]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:25am

Aplauds

what show r u rehersing for

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:26am

LOL....I wish it was a show!

I'm in an a capella singing group at school.

[badkarma719]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:44am

ah fun fun

I used to br in 1 of those

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:49am

Steve, thank you again for all of your wonderful and encouraging words tonight. They really were so beautiful. :)

WOW...rehearsal made me miss so much!

Awww fake boyfriend. We missed you tonight. :)

And I didn't know that Isaac joined Mamma Mia. I hated Mamma Mia with the fiery passion of a thousand suns but I'm sure he's great in it. :)

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 12:59am

ok thanx 2day4u9704301 and everyone for giving me the cast info:)

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:02am

Don't you guys feel like it was a little awkward for the BARE cast to perform "Here's Where I Stand" at their concerts? Considering it's from CAMP featuring Sasha Allen, who was allegedly not asked back to BARE? Almost slap-to-the-face-ish?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:19am

Awww, it's sad that Isaac Calpito isn't coming back. He's the guy with the big curly hair, right? I thought he was great in BARE.

steveshack, you sound like an amazing person. Thanks for posting in here - you give us a rare glimpse into the creation process of musical theatre. Best of luck with The Big Voice! (Going to school in Canada, I will unfortunately miss it - but I'll tell all my New York friends to catch it!)

By the way, those are fantastic pictures of Damon on your website. He looks really cute in them (better than that Advocate picture: Jon looks like a football player and Damon looks like a cat). By the way, also on the same page, "Nurse Peter" looks like Blake Harper. *sniff*

No one wants to participate in the "At Swim, Two Boys" thread.

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 01:19 AM

[starlyricist]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:43am

Wait, I'm ashamed to say I know this, but isn't Blake Harper a nurse in "real life"?

Could it be?

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 6:10am

My nurse, Peter, who bears a strong resemblance to a certain video star, has moved on to a different doctor's office, unfortunately. He was the single sweetest nurse I've ever had -- and believe me, I've had more than my share.

I'm glad I got the "real" Damon in photos. He's very shy about publicity and always ends up "posing" in some godawful "serious" look. Since he and I are friends, I was able to catch him being his real self, cute, sweet and hilarious. Updated On: 9/1/04 at 06:10 AM

[SCBWannabe]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 6:12am

Blue I just got the book in the mail today.....it is as big as War & Peace.....MOG you and I will be bitter old queens before we finish it!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 8:12am

WOW!! I missed another great night of posting. I really need to get an internet connection at home ASAP!!

Thank you Steve for visiting and sharing. I will definitely add The Big Voice to the list of shows I see at the NYMF. I'm from DC & will only be in town for the last weekend of the festival, but luckily The Big Voice is playing that weekend.

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 8:37am

Hi Faile. I know I was kind of "windy" last night but I'm new. I'll run out of stories soon. I promise.

It's just that Bare means a lot to me personally. Damon and I have been friends for a long time and I can tell you now that my proudest moment of my career so far was the day the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle allowed Jimmy and me to award Best Score.

When we announced it, I opened by saying something like, "THIS is the future of musical theatre." I felt like a proud papa. There's a picture from that night on my diary, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. I have a table of contents page but I can't remember the date they won the LADCC award.
Bonus Round Diary table of contents

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 8:51am

I'll run out of stories soon. I promise.

I hope not!! I love hearing stories, especially about BARE and how it came to be. It's hard to explain why this show touches me. I haven't even seen the show yet I am somehow obsessed. I was introduced to it by the rave reviews of MadeOfGold & Trisky. This story has a really broad appeal I think, but I can't put into words. I guess because it touches on religion and sexuality which is a hot topic right now, but its more than that. It's about acceptance and family and about how hard it it sometimes to be young and unsure of who you are. It's been awhile, but I remember what that is like.

It's just that Bare means a lot to me personally. Damon and I have been friends for a long time and I can tell you now that my proudest moment of my career so far was the day the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle allowed Jimmy and me to award Best Score.

When we announced it, I opened by saying something like, "THIS is the future of musical theatre." I felt like a proud papa.

I am so excited about the reopening. I hope to drag as many friends as possible from DC to NYC to see it. I do want to share the BARE love. I hope it is hugely successful so I can go see it several times. It is obvious that Damon and the other crew, as well as the cast love the show and working together. I am so jealous of people who enjoy what they do. I have to go to training now, which I won't enjoy, but thank you again for sharing and I am really looking forward to seeing The Big Voice at the NYMF.

[13]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 9:23am

Wow, I'm so far behind on this thread.

I finally finished "At Swim, Two Boys" last night. I made the mistake of picking it up after rehearsal, when I was already mentally and emotionally wrung-out, and by the time I got to the last page, I was bawling like a baby. And that's just something I don't usually do.

Steve, I've been hearing about The Big Voice for awhile now from some friends who have seen it, and they just adore the show. I really wish I could see it. It sounds great. And I love your diary. Fascinating reading.

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for people to become so enamored of Bare. I've introduced the show to quite a few of my friends now, and almost all of them absolutely love it. Even a couple who are not fans of musical theatre in general, and one who despises the current pop trend in musicals. Just doing my bit to share the Bare love!

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 9:40am

Steve, I've been hearing about The Big Voice for awhile now from some friends who have seen it, and they just adore the show. I really wish I could see it. It sounds great. And I love your diary. Fascinating reading.

The first big fan of The Big Voice was Damon back in Los Angeles two years ago as we were developing it. First Damon invited me to be a part of a big event he and Kristin were producing. Damon then sent out an email blast to all the "Barees" -- altho they didn't call them that back then -- announcing our show. (Remember upthread I mentioned how that production was done without a budget or promotion).

He already knew I was fan of Bare. It's delicious that we're arriving in New York at almost the same time.

[Trisky]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 9:41am

BlueWizard there's a thread about At Swim, Two Boys?? How did I miss that? I'll have to seek it out! (Newcomer promise me you'll press on through the first 50 or so pages, because it gets so much better after that, I know the first pages are tough to get through.)

BTW, mornin' everyone. It's a beautiful, sunny day in NYC, not too hot and not too cool. Perfect weather. Why can't it be like this year round?

Oh and Steve, never apologize for being "windy", not when you've got such valued, intelligent insight into something we can all relate to.

I don't know what it is about Bare that really speaks to me, a straight woman, it's hard for me to put my finger on it. I think it's the universality of feeling unheard, misunderstood, passed by. And who can't relate to some form of heartbreak?

It also sheds light for me, on a classmate of mine from high school who threw himself in front of a train the summer between our junior and senior years based mostly on the internal precipice he kept falling over as he struggled to fit in. Even the 11 year difference in people's tolerance between now and then is huge. I know my very Catholic high school had an anonymous after school program for gay youth, but it was just mocked and derided at every turn with other kids trying to figure out where/when they met just to harass them. It just wasn't an environment that screamed acceptance.

A decade later and I can see the ways in which it feels different and more free, but still not quite there. I think it's shows lik Bare (and Rent before it) that with their very presence will hopefully help pave the way for it to be even more commonplace another decade from now.

ETA: 13, welcome to the Bawl Like Babies club. We'll be holding our support meetings every other Friday. I pretty much bawled the last 15-20 pages of that book. Much like I bawl the last 15-20 minutes of Bare!

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 09:41 AM

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:04am

Oh and Steve, never apologize for being "windy", not when you've got such valued, intelligent insight into something we can all relate to.

I don't know how "valuable" my insight is. I just know that some shows come along that speak to the Human Spirit. Bare is one of them. It wasn't to "make a buck." Believe me, there was a VERY large entity that offered Damon a great deal of money to turn Bare into a heterosexual musical. Damon, to my knowledge, has not made a big deal out of this. He simply said No, thanks. He had his team. And Bare is what it is.

I don't know what it is about Bare that really speaks to me, a straight woman, it's hard for me to put my finger on it. I think it's the universality of feeling unheard, misunderstood, passed by. And who can't relate to some form of heartbreak?

It also sheds light for me, on a classmate of mine from high school who threw himself in front of a train the summer between our junior and senior years based mostly on the internal precipice he kept falling over as he struggled to fit in.

Whatever he was dealing with, The Closet (see post above) is a big issue with me and it's a central fixture in Bare. The Closet leads to death more often than people think. And it's not just a gay thing, either. There are lots of things people can feel the need to hide.

Even the 11 year difference in people's tolerance between now and then is huge. I know my very Catholic high school had an anonymous after school program for gay youth, but it was just mocked and derided at every turn with other kids trying to figure out where/when they met just to harass them. It just wasn't an environment that screamed acceptance.

In Big Voice Jimmy tells the story of his growing up in a Catholic military school. "I was getting beaten up in the day by the very guys I was doing it with at night."

Bare doesn't pull its punches. And yeah, some critics have found it an easy target because it wears its heart on its sleeve. It's melodramatic. Bla. Bla. Bla. But you know, say what you will, Bare was written out of passion, a personal passion to make a statement. Jon and Damon wrote exactly what they meant to write. And the show going up next month is exactly the show they meant to create.

Damon is one of my heroes. What can I say?


NYMF presents The Big Voice: God or Merman?

[BT]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:08am

Steve,
I have to agree that the closet is a dark place - the worst part of it is that it deprives the closeted person of the light of the world - and it deprives the world of the true essence of the closeted person. Just imagine if Damon had listened to the priest he talked to in school and decided not to come out. We would have no Bare, would we?

[Trisky]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:33am

Bare doesn't pull its punches. And yeah, some critics have found it an easy target because it wears its heart on its sleeve. It's melodramatic. Bla. Bla. Bla. But you know, say what you will, Bare was written out of passion, a personal passion to make a statement.

That's exactly my reaction. I don't think Damon and Jon should ever apologize for being overwrought or melodramatic. If this was not their truth and what they honestly felt, then I could see where it seem trite. But if people who are watching can't see how much love, sweat and tears have gone into this project, even if it's not on a Pulitzer level, technically speaking, then there's nothing they can tweak to make it seem so. You either accept Bare as is, a sometimes flawed, but well meaning, instinctually emotional piece or you expect it to be something it's not and never will be.

I have to agree that the closet is a dark place - the worst part of it is that it deprives the closeted person of the light of the world - and it deprives the world of the true essence of the closeted person.

I'll tell you, a recent experience here at work just embodied the truth of this quote. My boss is a young gay man, working in a very corporate environment. We don't discuss his sexuality, he doesn't discuss it with anyone within the work environment, but he knows that I know (and must know that pretty much everyone else around him can guess). We argue (with affection) constantly, but particularly when he's stressed out and stressing me out. I wanted to strangle him one recent, very stressful afternoon, but within the space of 30 seconds I wanted to hug him. Another co-worker, made a very pointed, homophobic remark to him and I just watched him blink a couple of times, put his game face back on and walk away silently. And one thing he's not, is quiet.

It was like the lights just dimmed all around him and I thought to myself that I can't imagine how he plays this game day in and day out, unable to fully be himself and let everyone else see that. But that's the universal truth, putting on the masks and pretending to be that which we're not just to get by.

[KarenNYC]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:06am

Well, well, well! Look who hijacked the thread but steveshack! How the hell are you?

It's actually healthy to have something like this as a hobby. We were a much smaller show (The Last Session), but the fans and well-wishers and industry people who became obsessed with TLS -- we created a family and a community that continues to this day.

He's right you know. We even bicker like family. But I won't go there because this thread is all sweet and full of friendship and stuff.

I was never obsessed with TLS. Nor were any of my friends. Nope.

Back to topic. Um. I have a question. Is it bare or Bare? I thought it was all lowercase back in L.A. and I'm finding it being done both ways now. Is there now or was there ever a significance?

~Karen

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:08am

Damn I missed a lot last night!


welcome to the group Steve and thanks for your wonderful posts!

[Trisky]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:25am

Karen, I'd love an answer to your question! For some reason the occasionally (flawed, very, very, flawed) grammar fanatic in me won't let me type a lowercase "b", even though I'm pretty sure that's the correct way.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:26am

Awww fake boyfriend. We missed you tonight. :)

It's so nice to know I'm loved around here....*tear*

I'll just mention how Bare hits home for me and affects me greatly. As well as being a gay male, I consider myself an active Christian. I can greatly relate to what is going on in the show, and it is the first show that does this for me. I haven't even seen it yet, and I know that it will be my favorite for a LONG time....unless there's a Bare II. LOL

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:27am

the show can have a VERY deep impact when you see it.... I identified SOOOO deeply.