(Photo by Justin Patterson) The cast of the new Off-Broadway musical BARE went purple today to celebrate Spirit Day and they went a step further with a video talking about the importance of taking a stand against bullying, supporting LGBT youth and celebrating differences. Watch the video below.
Set in a co-ed Catholic boarding school, BARE explores the subject of teens exposed to the issues of identity, sexuality and religion. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling rock score, the musical demonstrates how today’s generation is forced to navigate, for the first time, the tightrope between adolescence and adulthood and how far they will go to keep their world intact. Featuring music by Damon Intrabartolo and book & lyrics by Jon Hartmere, BARE will be directed by Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz) and choreographed by Emmy Award nominee Travis Wall (So You Think You Can Dance). Additional music is by Hartmere and Lynne Shankel (Altar Boyz, Cry-Baby, Company). Music supervision and arrangements are also by Lynne Shankel.
BARE begins previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 19, 2012. Opening Night is set for Sunday, December 9, 2012. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.baremusicalnyc.com. Follow BARE on social media through their Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram @baremusicalnyc.
Other stars of the stage going purple on #SpiritDay include Spirit Day ambassador George Takei (Allegiance), Ian McKellen (Amadeus, Wild Honey, Richard III), Bernadette Peters (Song and Dance, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, Xanadu), Reba McEntire (South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun), Rita Moreno (The Ritz), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities, Lombardi), Marissa Winokur (Hairspray), Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy: A Musical Fable, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and the cast of STOMP. Broadway Impact, a community of actors, directors, producers, crew and fans united by the belief that everyone should have the freedom to marry, will participate through social media as an organizational partner. LA'S famed Music Center will also be hosting a Spirit Day performance of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by the National Ballet of Canada. Sophie B. Hawkins will don her purple attire for a sold-out performance of her musical play Room 105: The Highs and Lows of Janis Joplin tonight at the Macha Theatre in West Hollywood.
And check out the other celebrities who are participating including Glee's Dianna Agron, Joel McHale, Wendy Williams and Shaquille O'Neal! They will all be in purple along with landmarks including Times Square and the New York Stock Exchange!
Take a stand against bullying and support LGBT youth by participating in Spirit Day on Friday, October 19. To get involved, simply go purple on October 19 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are accepted for who they are. You can download GLAAD’s Spirit Day resource kit which contains tools to get your local community involved. Spirit Day participants can also spread the word and tell their friends they’re standing up against bullying, download the Spirit Day app for iPhone and Android, and text PURPLE to 80888 to donate $5 to support the important work GLAAD, GLSEN and The Trevor Project do every day to end bullying and support LGBT youth. Another way to celebrate Spirit Day is to encourage the presidential candidates to come out against bullying by signing a new petition asking them to wear purple on October 19 and visit the American Apparel #SpiritDay store to get your own purple gear with a 10% discount and 10% of proceeds going to GLAAD.
