Musical Theatre Southwest production delves into the struggles of sexuality, religion and high school
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鈥淓verything鈥檚 an act when you鈥檙e pleasing everyone.鈥�
So sings Peter in 鈥淏are,鈥� the story of two boys at a Catholic boarding school who are secretly in love with each other and going through the ups and downs of adolescent life.
鈥淭here are two gay boys who have fallen in love with each other within the struggles of the institution of religion, the institution of high school,鈥� Mark Pino, the director, said. 鈥淎nd then, of course, like society struggles (and) familial struggles.鈥�
鈥淏are鈥� will open at Musical Theatre Southwest, on Friday, Aug. 8, and run through Aug. 31. The show is in partnership with the New Mexico Gay Men鈥檚 Chorus.
Pino fell in love with the show when he saw it off-Broadway in the 2000s.
鈥淭here was so much that I was kind of triggered by, so much that I related to, so much that just stayed with me in all of these years,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淭he music, the story, the characters, also haunted me all this time.鈥�
Pino has wanted to direct the production since then, and said he has found an 鈥渁bsolutely phenomenal鈥� cast.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a dream come true,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 better than I would have anticipated, better than expected.鈥�
Pino said the show has a way of staying with people, even those who acted in the show during its original debut.
鈥淢y best friend reached out to a couple of them as a surprise (and) told them I was directing the show, told them how much it meant,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淭wo of the main actors that were the main characters in that play, sent me these beautiful videos for good luck and how beautiful it is we鈥檙e doing the show, and how much the show impacted them doing it.鈥�
Pino hopes its themes will resonate with the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very relevant, especially in a state like New Mexico, where there鈥檚 a high volume of Catholic people, also, people of Hispanic backgrounds,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淗istorically, religious and ethnic backgrounds have been less progressive towards LGBTQ+ issues. So I think that it still really will have a powerful impact, not just now, but here.鈥�
He said he wants the show to spark conversations between families and more.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that if Catholic parents of students who may or may not be struggling with their sexual identity come to see this show, hopefully, it opens some minds,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淗opefully it starts conversations where these families, these parents, these children, can talk about how the show impacts them. How it made them see something in a different light.鈥�
Pino drew on his Catholic upbringing to represent the religious community in the play.
鈥淎lso growing up Catholic, being an altar boy, really making sure that I still sort of honor the Catholic religion and people who are Catholic still and believe that,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 done anything in this show that sort of demonizes the Catholic religion. We let the story speak for itself.鈥�
The story goes beyond LGBTQ+ issues, Pino said, and includes topics such as bullying.
The show is not appropriate for young children, Pino said, and audiences should be prepared for a bit of heartbreak.
鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful, and it will, definitely, break audiences鈥� hearts open, because it is pretty sad,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to give away the ending too much, but definitely bring some tissues.鈥�
Musical Theatre Southwest production delves into the struggles of sexuality, religion and high school
