A musical play on homosexuality staged within the Jesuit grounds of Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from portraying the celebrated role of Candida in Portrait of an Artist as Filipino, Ana Abad Santos, actress and director of the Best Play nominee, Hamlet, enters the realm of directing again with Bare, a rock musical about two gay teenagers struggling to find their place in the world as they’re about to graduate from a Catholic high school.

Jason (Amos Francia) is the senior class A-boy — with athletics, school awards, and access to a lot of ass. But behind his straight face, he hides a secret that would destroy his reputation: his romance with his shy roommate, Peter, the token gay boy. Unable to continue bottling his emotions, Peter (Bibo Reyes) wishes they could drop the façade. Meanwhile, things get more complicated when popular girl Ivy (Delphine Buencamino alternating with Oli del Rosario) pursues Jason. Tensions rise, and as the students struggle with what they feel is right, they find that in the strict confines of their world, they face more questions than answers.        

With spice along the lines of Rent and Spring Awakening, Bare is a musical centered upon the tensions teenagers face when trying to reconcile with their own identity. Written by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, it received the 2001 Los Angeles Ovation Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score.

With Ana Abad Santos is Felix Rivera (musical director, BluRep’s High School Musical; performer, Avenue Q) as musical director and Reuben Uy (performer, Altar Boys, Mulan) as choreographer.

Bare opens on Tuesday, Feb. 17 and runs until March 7 at the Fine Arts Exhibit Hall, 3/F Gonzaga Hall, Ateneo De Manila University.      

Tickets are priced at P200 each, and those interested may call Alexa Yupangco at 09177220805. For more details, visit BareManila.multiply.com.