Finance sophomore Michal Kolaczkowski tries out for a part in “Bare: A Pop Opera” on Monday night in the basement of the Auditorium. The theatrical piece will debut in October.
—Student actors spent Wednesday afternoon attempting to conquer their fears by singing aloud before auditioning for roles in a performance, “Bare: A Pop Opera.”
The musical focuses on two main characters, Peter and Jason, who have to hide their relationship from others in their private Catholic school, said Dennis Corsi, a theatre and media arts and technology junior and director of the musical.
The performance is slated to debut in October.
“I think that right now is the perfect time to do (this show) because (of the) great strides that the LBGT community has come to at MSU,” he said. “I think it will be received well.”
Show directors hope to bring more than its creative musical score to campus, by igniting conversation about religion, LBGT — or lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender — struggles and personal identity, Corsi said.
“What’s really great about this show is although it questions Christianity and questions their views on homosexuality, it isn’t attacking Christianity,” he said. “The musical addresses a lot of pertinent issues that the LBGT community is going through right now, in surviving in the world.”
Although the show revolves around the relationship of a gay couple, it also is about struggling with one’s own personal identity, said Ariel Farinha, a psychology and theatre junior, who auditioned for the musical. Farinha auditioned for one of the two female roles, Nadia
“She kind of reminds me of myself in some ways,” she said. “In high school, I was very shy and quiet and I wasn’t always — I guess she’s a bigger girl in things and she wasn’t very comfortable with herself.”
Others, such as theatre freshman Cole Richardson, who auditioned for a part in the chorus, wanted to be in the show because it speaks to his own life, he said.
“I hope it says something, because there is a lot of controversial meaning in it, for even our age — the characters are our age,” he said. “We’re putting ourselves out there as what they are.”
Show directors plan to host events with student groups on campus surrounding the show’s overall meaning of acceptance and personal identity, Corsi said. Dates and locations have yet to be determined.
“There is an important distinction to make between being accepting of LBGT people and understanding the sorts of identity issues that they struggle with,” he said. “While MSU is definitely accepting and accommodating for all students, I think that there still needs to be great strides and efforts made in helping people understand the experiences that other people go through.”
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