By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
For Lake Orion junior Owen Woityra, playing Peter, a lead role in’Bare: A Pop Opera,’is stepping into the shoes of his favorite character of all time.
Woityra, along with his fellow thespians senior Shantel Robinson and junior Kris Fitzgerald of Lake Orion, will be performing in the musical for Monsterbox Theatre of Waterford Township, the community theatre’s first full-staged musical ever.
While’Bare’is 95 percent song with minimal dialogue, Woityra confirms it is nothing like a traditional opera.
The story is set at Catholic boarding school St. Cecilia and centers on your typical high school students: the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess and the criminal.
Through student pregnancies, break ups, make-ups, and even a death, the show is nothing short of passion, highlighting themes high school students’and ordinary people? face every day: acceptance, making the right decisions, sexuality and personal identity. The show contains mature themes and strong language.
‘The musical deals with a lot of issues that hit close to home and that are real to a lot of people,? Woityra said. ‘Being in it, I see things I see every day in high school.?
A large part of the storyline is about a relationship between two male roommates at the boarding school.
‘One of them wants to tell people about it, and the other wants to keep it a secret,? Woityra said. ‘There’s a weird mix between religion and homosexuality for some people, but in this play it kind of gives a different spin on it. It’s very hopeful.?
The musical runs about 2.5 hours including songs such as Role of a Lifetime, Plane Jane Sad A**, and songs from Romeo and Juliet, which mirrors what is going on in the real life of the performance, Woityra said. ‘The music is all very contemporary and modern,? he added.
Lake Orion senior Shantel Robinson plays Sister Chantelle from the Catholic boarding school and junior Kris Fitzgerald plays Kyra.
Students from across metro-Detroit have all secured parts in’Bare, including Bradley Hamilton of Lathrup Village who plays another lead?’role, Jason, Taylor Stark of Waterford who plays the misunderstood Ivy and Angelique Walsh of Waterford who plays Jason’s cynical sister Nadia, among other supporting roles.
‘People should come see this production because it speaks to the human experience of being scared to be who they are,? Hamilton said. ‘In addition to that, in this time of change in Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LBGT) rights, it shows the importance of acceptance and love. There is something in this show that will speak to everyone.?
The first performance will take place at Lafayette Grande in Pontiac on Friday and Saturday, January 23 and 24. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. The show will also be performed at Monsterbox Theatre in Waterford Township on January 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Monsterbox Theatre at 248-787-5365.
Coming from Woitrya, who has been in about 15 to 20 shows since he started acting in the sixth grade, this show shouldn’t be missed.?
? ‘This musical is so real and true, I know it means a lot not only to me but everyone in it and who has performed it,? Woityra said, encouraging Lake Orion community members to make the drive.
He has also been in many of Lake Orion High School’s productions, including his lead role as Emmett in the spring 2014 musical’Legally Blonde, and just recently was in’Inherit the Wind, the LOHS 2014 winter production.
He plans to audition for the 2015 spring musical too,’Into the Woods,’which is currently playing in movie theatres. Woitrya is also on the Lake Orion Forensics team and performs in the Show Choir. He was named the 2014 state champion forensicator in poetry for his continued efforts of public performance.