The second in a three-part series about the production of 'Bare'It is a lazy Saturday afternoon when I walk into the empty Slosberg Recital Hall. The hall is dark except for the lightened patch of flat stage down below rows of seats. Melodic piano playing fills the empty space with a sense of harmony.

Kat Teeter '12 and Nicole Litvak '12, the stage manager and producer/assistant director respectively, of Brandeis University's upcoming pop opera, Bare, sit in the front row of the hall. They are intently watching a scene between Austin Auh '10 and Mark DiCampo, an off campus actor and new addition to the cast.

"Take a look into these big, brown eyes and you'll understand," sings Dicampo, who is the production's newly-installed Jason, the character who struggles with his homosexual feelings for his best friend, Peter (Auh). Dicampo exudes a sense of natural stage confidence, and it is clear that he and Auh have already formed an excellent dynamic both on and offstage. The two look at one another often, and their willingness to take onstage risks for various tender moments transcends their lines and lyrics.

Within the past two weeks, Bare's production team and cast members have undergone significant tests of endurance. Several weeks ago, for personal reasons, Robert St. Laurence '11, Jacob Lazar '10, Rachel Copel '11 and Hank Lin '10 who played the characters of Jason, Allen, Nadia and the Priest, respectively, decided to leave the show. On Monday, Janel Rabbani '11 and Julie Stein '11, who played the roles of Tanya and Rory, also decided to leave the show for personal reasons.

Auh, who in addition to playing the role of Peter, is co-director and putting on the show as part of his senior thesis, says that the actors who left the show several weeks ago expressed concerns over the direction and design of the production."[They left the show] not mostly because they disagreed [with its direction] but because it was not what they expected and more work than they thought it would be. After talking with them, four of them decided to leave for personal reasons," he says.

The six actors declined to comment on their decisions to leave the show.

So far, the show has replaced the roles of Jason, Nadia, the Priest and Allen, although the production staff is still looking to fill the roles of Tanya and Rory.

Almost immediately, they began to get in touch with individuals who they felt might easily fill certain roles. They also planned open auditions, with one in particular devoted to auditioning individuals for the role of Jason. They sought a very specific actor for this particular role and knew they needed someone who could hit a high G note.

When it came time to find an individual who could embody of all Jason's qualities, Bare's production staff received a suggestion from co-director Pamela Wolfe. One of her voice students, a non-Brandesian who loved the musical and theatrical realm, would fill the play's major void.

The team welcomed 27-year-old Mark DiCampo to their theatrical ensemble. However, because DiCampo is not a Brandeis student, it is questionable whether Bare will continue to be supported by the Brandeis Ensemble Theater. Still, Auh contends that Bare is prepared to continue whether or not Bare supports the show or not.

"We're not really worried [about BET]. It's more of, just to let you know that we don't want to leave [BET], but we understand [the] guidelines that you follow," says Auh.

Quickly, they began to fill the holes in their cast, choosing Jared Field '11 to play the Priest, Abigail Clarke '12 to play Nadia and David Ferralozzi '13, who was already involved in the show as a rehearsal pianist, to play Allen.

In regards to the production team's reaction to the loss of the original four actors, Teeter says, "It was rough and a big blow, but we all put our heads together and were like, 'How are we going to make this work?' and we did."

Auh explains that the show has already begun to move forward with its new cast additions.

"The [new cast members] we picked up are learning the music fairly quickly and we don't really have to reteach a lot of blocking, so we're kind of just moving on already," he says.

After the rehearsal, I sit in a small, somewhat dilapidated lounge tucked off to the side of the Slosberg Recital Hall. Litvak sits in the weathered chair to my right, Teeter sits to her right ,and to my left Auh and DiCampo share a couch.

DiCampo sits comfortably with his legs crossed, arms back above his head as he describes his history with music and theater. He went to school to study music and voice at the New England and Boston Conservatories and now teaches and performs music full time. When Wolfe came to him with the opportunity to play Jason, he immediately decided to look into it. Of playing Jason he says, "It will be fun to work with this group. This is a space and environment I haven't performed in before."

Among numerous moments of laughter, Auh nearly finishes DiCampo's sentences, clearly relieved and excited with the significant progress made after what potentially could have been his production's downfall.

Auh says that he is not the only cast member excited about the show. He says that there are no major divisions within the cast and that everyone has been very supportive.

Diana Flatto '12, assisant stage manager of Bare, says that the cast has remained close despite the loss of certain actors.

Flatto says that the cast "really [cares] about the show and Austin's vision."

The cast is currently preparing for its first group rehearsal with the new actors, which will take place Tuesday Nov. 10. The cast and crew also look forward to their coffeehouse next week.

At the coffeehouse, they plan to begin to raise money for the Waltham House, one of only two GLBTQ homes in the United States, or places which provide support and shelter for teens. The team will also raise money for the organization at performances; instead of charging admissions for their show, they plan to ask for donations. Currently, they are also looking into coordinating another fundraiser to fulfill some of the "Wish Lists" of teens in the home in time for the holiday season.

As of now, the production team is in high spirits and looks forward to the show's opening with great anticipation. Auh says, "So far the response we have been getting from people is very good. I think, I hope, there will be a positive response overall to it."



-Rebecca Klein contributed reporting.