Bare, can u apparent experts fill a novice in?

[Broadwayballerina]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:05pm

Hi, I downloaded all the bare songs last week and I think they are absolutely fantastic! I have read the stuff on the site and some reviews from California...but I was wondering if someone could just give me a brief history of how it came about. Also, when it opens in Sept is it broadway or off-broadway? It isn't listed with upcoming shows on playbill.com...thanks!

Updated On: 8/6/04 at 07:05 PM

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:06pm

it opens september 22nd at the dodge stages on 51st street and it is off-broadway

[Broadwayballerina]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:08pm

Would you say it is similar to rent? Like, is most of the dialogue sung? The CD just reminds me A LOT of rent, but in a review the director was specific in saying Bare does not = rent

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:11pm

by no means does BARE=RENT but i do think it is similar. it tells of the life of 5 seniors at a coed catholic boarding school. it just deals with their problems, struggles with relationships, homosexuality, rave lifestyles, and what not. it is a deep and i think passionate show

Updated On: 8/6/04 at 07:11 PM

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:14pm

it's all about teenagers finding their place and being comfortable with who they are

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:18pm

Oh mywonderwa11, seems to me that you better hop on over to the BARE Cast thread...NEW ARDENITE/BARE-ITE!

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:21pm

Actually the only thing I would say is similar between Bare and Rent is that it's got a rockish sound. I can't stand Rent and I love bare so...right.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 7:24pm

Definitely bythesword, though I think BARE has better melodies to the narrative songs as well as the main ones compared to RENT. The stories are in fact completely different, and for me, BARE takes the cake as being the more touching/moving story.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:47pm

Some people (myself included) get a bit defensive when others compare RENT to BARE, but they really are musically similar. Both feature sung-through scores; although there are bits of spoken dialogue and spoken lines here and there, by-and-large both shows all sung.

Both shows also draw on a variety of contemporary music genres: rock, pop, dance, traditional Broadway, etc. (BARE even draws on lithurgic choir harmonies.) If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, BARE is the more poppy of the two, having more ballads, while RENT is slightly more rock. Both shows also deal with youth and being young in the contemporary world.

But the similarities end there. RENT has a larger scope: more characters, more intertwining plots, and it deals with larger issues like art in America, the new bohemia, counterculture and the need for expression, and life and death at the turn of the millennium. These themes are explicitly discussed and debated within the show.

BARE is a much more intimate show, and it firmly focuses only on the adolescent experience (and particularly Catholic adolescence, and how the Church doesn't speak to the concerns of today's generation). BARE is a less issues-driven show; although the show certainly deals with issues, unlike RENT they don't function as food for thought; rather, in BARE the characters live their issues. (If you want, I can post my excessively-long synopsis of the show.)

One thing I will say: a lot of people who have seen BARE have said that it was like watching the original cast of RENT for the first time: the same energy and freshness, raw talent and power.

If BARE becomes a success, I think that, like RENT, it will make stars of some of its original cast members - particularly Michael Arden, who delivers a truly remarkable performance, full of sensitivity and a wide-eyed suffering that will haunt you.

Updated On: 8/6/04 at 11:47 PM

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:49pm

Well said BlueWizard, you're definitely one of our resident BARE experts.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/6/04 at 11:54pm

Agreed....you make me want to see it more now, cause I sure know I wanna be haunted! In all seriousness, great post!

[More Cowbell]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 12:11am

Great post, BW - it really helps get the word out about this amazing show!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 12:13am

Thanks! But the true expert is broadwayguy2....how he gets his insider info, I'll never know.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 12:18am

I have never seen BARE, but by listening to the recording of BARE and RENT, I have to agree with BlueWizard on this. Although, RENT will always be better in my opinion, but that is because of the sentimental value it holds for me. But, I will more than likely love BARE as much as RENT when they release an Official Full Cast Recording and I have time to soak it all in.

[NLiotta]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:44am

i am going to argue that bare has better music then rent because Damon likes to hear that. lol
but seriously they are totaly difrent and i dont see how you people compare it. Thats like comparing rent to Rocky Horror, jsut because its Rock, or comparing rent to Once On This Island, just because its basicaly all singing.
They are totaly difrent, and shouldnt be compared.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:45am

agreed

[zepka102]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:49am

where do you find the songs from bare? i looked, but couldnt come up with anything... i'm too curious now cuz of this board :P

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:52am

you can download a sampler cd at their offical website
Bare A Pop Opera

Updated On: 8/7/04 at 01:52 AM

[zepka102]

Posted: 8/7/04 at 1:54am

hahaha... i shoulda looked at that... uhduuuuuuuuuuuuuh