‘Carrie: The Musical’ takes bloody revenge on University of Scranton Players Feb. 28-March 8
From a press release:
The University of Scranton Players will present the gripping and tragic tale of “Carrie: The Musical,” based on the horror novel by bestselling author Stephen King and updated for the 21st century, on Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 8.
Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she’s an outcast bullied by the popular crowd and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s at the mercy of her loving but cruelly overprotective mother. But Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power and, if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it.
Based on King’s 1974 novel “Carrie” that spawned the hit film starring Sissy Spacek, the musical of “Carrie” hasn’t been seen since its legendary 1988 Broadway production. Now, the show’s original authors have created a newly reworked and fully reimagined vision of this gripping tale. Set today in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine, “Carrie” features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic 1976 film), music by Academy Award-winner Michael Gore (“Fame,” “Terms of Endearment”), and lyrics by Academy Award-winner Dean Pitchford (“Fame,” “Footloose”).
To promote the show, the University Players crafted a clever social media campaign, posting pictures of Carrie wearing her iconic bloody prom dress as she visits various Scranton landmarks all month long on Facebook and Instagram.
Directed by Bob E. Gasper, the Scranton production features Keenan Beveridge of Warminster, Amy Black (Hop Bottom), Emily DeMouth (Hillsborough, New Jersey), Holly Ference (Jenkins Township), Bridget Fry (Hightstown, New Jersey), Samantha Gurn (Brackney), Adam Hill (Middletown, New Jersey), Erin Horan (Massapequa, New York), Rachel Lopez (Bethel, Connecticut), Hannah Mackes (Tafton), Ben McFadden (Mount Carmel), Katherine Pepe (West Pittston), Alex Pérez (Puerto Rico), Matt Valunas (Dunmore), Andrew Vizzard (Havertown), and Cameron Wesley (Wilkes-Barre).
“Carrie: The Musical” runs for two weekends, Feb. 28-March 1 and March 6-8, in the Royal Theatre in the Joseph M. McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts on the university’s campus (800 Linden St., Scranton). Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., while Sunday shows are held at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 for senior citizens, students, and University of Scranton faculty and staff.
For more information, contact the University Players box office at 570-941-4318 or visit thescrantonplayers.com.
The University of Scranton Players are the co-curricular theatre group at the University of Scranton, igniting passion for the theatre and providing professional training to students from all across the university through student-run activities and throughout the theatre season in the McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts. Since its inception, the group has made a lasting contribution to the cultural landscape of the campus and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In collaboration with the University of Scranton Theatre Program, the Players draw from a wide range of personnel to produce their annual production season. All university students are welcome to participate; theatre majors and minors as well as students from a variety of disciplines regularly staff the productions both on and off stage. Additionally, theatre professionals are regularly infused into the mix as guest artists, serving as directors, designers, and performers to enhance the educational opportunities within the program.
