Bare: A Pop Opera Film Adaptation in the Works

The show’s original director, Tony nominee Kristin Hanggi, aims to helm the show for the screen.

A film adaptation of bare: A Pop Opera is currently in the works, with backing from Tony-nominated producers Hillary Butorac Weaver (Rock of Ages) and Janet Billig Rich (Rock of Ages).

The show's original director, Tony nominee Kristin Hanggi (another Rock of Ages alum), is tapped to direct the project and has adapted the script for the screen.

The film will be adapted from the musical, which features a book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and the late Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere, and music by Intrabartolo. The coming-of-age story is about two gay high school students and their struggles at a private, Catholic boarding school.

Bare had its world premiere in 2000 at the Hudson Theater in Los Angeles, California. Following a successful L.A. run, the show debuted in New York City at the American Theatre of Actors (Chernuchin Theatre) in March 2004, playing through the end of May.

Bare has since had more than 100 productions worldwide, including an updated version that debuted Off-Broadway in 2012. The musical featured a revised libretto and additional material by Lynne Shankel.

The original cast featured John Griffin, John Hill, John Torres, Michael Arden, Jenna Leigh Green, Natalie Joy Johnson, Keili Lefkovitz, Aaron Lohr, Wallace Smith, Adam Fleming, Philip Dean Lightstone, Romelda Benjamin, Stephanie Andersen, Jim Price, Mark Edgar Stevens, Sasha Allen, Charity Hill, Kay Trinidad, Jennie Kwan, and Kaitlin Hopkins.

Producers of the bare movie are currently asking fans of the musical to self-record one-minute video testimonials of their personal experience with the show, its score, and its story. The recordings will be used for promotional materials. Find out more information here.