BARE the Musical Announces TalkOUT Series, Beginning 11/9

Speaking on behalf of the producers of the new musical BARE, Paul Boskind, who is organizing the series, is proud to announce that the show will host post-performance TalkOUTs throughout the run of the show. Beginning with the first preview, audiences at select performances will be invited to stay after the show to participate in a discussion with some of the foremost leaders in the fight for LGBT equality. These special guests will include Judy Shepard (Matthew Shepard Foundation), The Clementi Family (Tyler Clementi Foundation), Chuck Wolfe (The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund), Hudson Taylor (Athlete Ally), Mitchell Gold (Faith in America), Travis Wall (choreographer of BARE, "So You Think You Can Dance") and cast members of BARE.

Each TalkOUT will focus specifically on the organization represented that evening. Audiences will have the opportunity to learn more about the organizations and their roles in the ongoing fight for LGBT equality. TalkOUT attendees will also be invited to participate in the discussion and to ask questions.

The TalkOUT series will begin on BARE's first preview, Monday, November 19th and will feature Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who died after a vicious anti-LGBT hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Judy is the founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the driving force behind the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Purchasing a ticket to one of the selected performances below will entitle all audience members to participate in the TalkOUT for that performance:

Monday, November 19th Judy Shepard, The Matthew Shepard Foundation
Wednesday, November 21st Jane Clementi, The Tyler Clementi Foundation
Monday, November 26th Chuck Wolfe, The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Wednesday, November 28th Hudson Taylor, Athlete Ally
Thursday, November 29th James Clementi, The Tyler Clementi Foundation
Monday, December 3rd Paul Boskind, BARE producer, HRC Board Member
and other Human Rights Campaign Board Members
Wednesday, December 5th Mitchell Gold, Faith in America
Thursday, December 6th Travis Wall, Choreographer of BARE,
"So You Think You Can Dance"
Wednesday, December 12th The Clementi Family (Joseph, Jane and James),
The Tyler Clementi Foundation
Wednesday, December 19th Cast members of BARE

A calendar of TalkOUTs will continue to be updated and can be viewed by clicking HERE. Additional TalkOUT dates and guests will be announced in the future.

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.

Tickets to BARE may be purchased via www.Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200 or in person at the New World Stages box office (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue). Ticket prices range from $25 (front row, night of performance, with student ID) to $126.50 (premium). Regular price tickets are $89.75. All ticket prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Please visit Telecharge.com for a complete preview performance schedule as well as holiday performance schedules. The regular performance schedule will be Monday at 8pm, Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2:30pm, and Sunday at 3pm & 7:30pm.

The company will feature Taylor Trensch (Peter), Jason Hite (Jason) and Elizabeth Judd (Ivy), with Gerard Canonico (Matt), Jerold E. Solomon (Father Mike), Barrett Wilbert Weed (Nadia) and Missi Pyle (Sister Joan). They will be joined by Anthony Festa (Swing), Casey Garvin (Zack), Ariana Groover (Vanessa), Sara Kapner (Madison), Alice Lee (Diane), Megan Lewis (Swing), Justin Gregory Lopez (Beto), Michael Tacconi (Nick) and Alex Wyse (Alan).

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.

The BARE creative team will include Tony® Award-winner Donyale Werle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) as the scenic designer, costume design by Tristan Raines (Tribes, Murder in the First), lighting design by Tony® Award-winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys, Memphis), and sound design by Keith Caggiano (Soul of Shaolin).

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.