Notes from the director:
A little over a year ago I sat down and listened to an album to a musical I had never heard before. By the time the third song ended, I knew that this was a show I had to do. It was a show about taking love for granted, the pressures of social authority, and the feeling of being seen but never truly heard. Considering Anchorage's history with LGBT rights over the past several years, this is a message that I feel the community needs to hear. The fear through which Peter and Jason move on their journey together is still a reality in today's youth, especially in Alaska. Themes of doubt, identity, and self-worth are made all the more powerful by the lens through which we see the story unfold. It is a story that universally resonates because you either were one of these kids or you knew one of them. Without a doubt, I see my own personal narrative in the music and bringing that to life on stage has been simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking.
Mounting this production has not been an easy task. From the very beginning I had my heart set on making this a collaboration between artists where they found freedom to take the material, dive into it, and make it their own. I wanted the story to speak for itself, to let the music breathe onstage without being bogged down by theatrical conventions like sets. I received push-back from the very start of this process and quickly found that my path contained more barriers than helping hands. Even still, "no" became a kind of anthem of inspiration for me and, just like Peter, I knew that I had to keep moving forward. As artists, we have a responsibility to create opportunities for ourselves and for each other instead of waiting for them to be handed to us. This is especially true in the educational environment, where we should find unwavering safety and support in exploring our artistry and pushing ourselves through these experiences.
Seeing Bare come to life has been a dream come true. I am so honored and humbled by the talent and dedication of my cast and crew who have gone above and beyond to make this vision a reality. I want to thank Josh Evans, President of Theatre on the Rocks, for his unwavering trust and support for my passion and dedication to this project. When others thought I was being overly ambitious or crazy for attempting this, he always believed in me. I want to thank Cedar Cussins, Building Manager for the Fine Arts Building, for believing in this project and giving us the space to create something beautiful. Thank you so much to Kirsten Swanson for donating her incredible time and talent to take publicity photos and designing the poster for this production. I also want to thank Alaska Theatre of Youth and the UAA Costume Shop for letting us borrow pieces that help bring Saint Cecilia's to life.
I hope you enjoy Bare: A Pop Opera. This is my swan song at the University and I cannot imagine making my exit from UAA with a more powerful and poignant piece.
-Micah Sauvageau
