The Washburn Theatre is set to unveil its much-anticipated production of “Carrie: The Musical” on Oct. 31 in the Neese-Gray Theatre in the Garvey Fine Arts Center.
This adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel has captivated audiences since its inception, and the Washburn Theatre’s rendition promises to bring a fresh perspective to this classic tale of teenage angst and supernatural revenge. Julie Noonan, the director of the show and theatre department, has a wealth of experience in theatre and is eager to showcase the talents of her cast. Noonan expressed her excitement about the project.
“We really work to be collaborative… this team is making something really exciting for the audience so that’s been really fun. They’ve been working their tail off with a lot of choreography, and the music is hard but exciting to listen to. And, that’s just the magic that we got to create with a thriller,” Noonan said.
“Carrie: The Musical” dives into themes of bullying and bystander behavior, reflecting real-world issues faced by many adolescents. The story centers around Carrie White, a high school girl who is relentlessly bullied by her peers, leading to tragic consequences. This narrative resonates with the experiences of countless individuals who have faced similar situations in their own lives.
Braun Teter, freshman vocal performance major playing the role of Mr. Stevens and the understudy for the role of Billy Nolan, reflected on the blind following of his characters.
“While each of them plays an integral role in Carrie’s life, they’re very much doing it out of blind following. They just go with what they were taught to do, what they know to do, being a bystander. And so looking at that from an outside point of view, I think it’ll really tell people, ‘Hey, maybe you should think about the people around you and think about what you’re doing to affect others,’” Teter said.
The anticipation surrounding this performance is tangible, as it not only marks the Halloween season but also serves as a platform for emerging talent in the theatre community.
However, Lauren Szala, senior theatre major playing the role of Carrie White, emphasized her hope that audiences dig deeper into the character despite her reputation as a horror icon.
“Carrie is such a horror icon when I think there’s so much more to her than people see. For example, the blood is poured on her [and] she goes crazy, but it was always building up to this. She finally had hope that she could leave her mother one day, and this is her first chance at prom, and it’s gonna be great, and then it gets ruined again, just like it had always been. Carrie is much…deeper of a character than your Pennywise or your Freddy Krueger,” Szala said.
The development of characters in “Carrie: The Musical” is a focal point of the production, with each actor bringing their unique interpretation to the roles.
Lilia Potter, freshman vocal performance major playing the role of Chris Hargenson, shared her perspective on her character.
“So in the story…we would call the big bad villain her mother, who is very controlling and scarily religious and abuses Carrie physically and emotionally. And I would say that my character is like the big bad adjacent,” Potter said. “Carrie deals with all of the stuff at home, and then she comes to school, and Chris is kind of the leader of [the bullying]. She has a very large hatred for Carrie, and it is her entire being in the school to make fun of and ridicule her. There is not a scene where she does not bring up how much she despises Carrie. It’s pretty pathetic.”
The musical is set to open Halloween night for its 30th anniversary performance and audience members are encouraged to dress up in their costumes or prom attire when they come to the show. The show will also be performed Nov. 1, 2, 8, and 9.
Edited by Morgan Albrecht and Stuti Khadka
