University of Lethbridge promises bloody good time with Carrie: The Musical

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Who would have thought Stephen King’s coming of age horror novel Carrie about a bullied girl with telekinetic powers would make a good musical? The University of Lethbridge.
The 1988 musical, Carrie: The Musical was written by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford and book by Lawrence D  Cohen. A talented cast from the University of Lethbridge bring it to the University Theatre stage, Nov. 24-28.

Shelby Wilson (Sue) and Alexa Elser (Carrie) are part of Carrie the Musical, Nov. 24-28 at University Theatre. Photo by Richard Amery
“We have 30 very talented cast members, so it really is a spectacle,” said director Jay Whitehead. The cast will be backed by a seven piece pit band including keyboards, two guitar, drums and cello lead by Bente Hansen.


While Stephen King's book originally was released in 1974, the musical has been modernized to include modern technology and issues like bullying.


“I’m a huge Stephen King fan and of course a huge musical theatre fan, so when I heard it was a musical I became fascinated by it and I was really excited,” he continued.
“I wanted to do something people haven’t seen before,” he said, adding the 30 member cast is the largest he has ever worked with, including students plus community member and theatre veteran Kathy Zaborsky. Several cast members of the next New West Theatre production are also part of the show including Alexa Elser and Tom Delbello.


“I love it when I come into the room to 30 people who are really dedicated to the process. They have a great energy in the room,” he said.

“My favourite part of the show is working with 30 very talented actors working together to bring a goal to the stage,” he said.

 


Third year drama student Shelby Wilson is looking forward to playing Sue, the only survivor of the prom.
“She has known Carrie since elementary school. She’s telling the story through her memories. She’s very mature for her age. She’s the most popular girl in school and has been for a while,” she said, adding her character has a change of heart towards the harangued Carrie, and gets her boyfriend go to the prom with her and thus escapes the violence.
“She’s a lot like myself so that was nice. It made it easier for me to connect to the character,” she said.


 Wilson has enjoyed working with her cast mates.
“It’s really fun to work with 30 people are working together to make something amazing There’s wonderful people, she said.
Fourth-year drama student Alexa Elser plays the title cShelby Wilson ( Sue) is part of Carrie the Musical, Nov. 24-28 at University Theatre. Photo by Richard Ameryharacter Carrie.
“Carrie is a sweet, lovely young girl growing up under horrible circumstances,” Elser said.
“She has a weird relationship with her parents. She doesn't fit in,” she said, adding the fact her character has telekinetic powers is a fun extra dimension to the character.
“She has telekinesis, but it  is also her kryptonite,” she said. She noted if she had telekinetic powers, she’d use them to make her life easier.


“I’d use them to do things like make the bed and cook dinner,” she said.
Elser hopes people will enjoy the show.
“I’m looking forward to having the audience. Everything else has come together the audience is the missing ingredient,” she said.


The musical version has been modernized.
“The book was written in 1974, which is when I was born, but the musical has been updated a bit to include cell phones and the internet,” Whitehead said.
 Whitehead noted this production doesn’t hold back on effects and production values.
“It’s a 30 member cast and I get to do a mass death scene with them which is a lot of fun to do,” he said.


“It’s a very exciting spectacle,” he said.
“You can’t go wrong with Stephen King. The cast is extraordinary. It really will be a fun, bloody night at the theatre,” Whitehead said.
Carrie: The Musical runs daily starting Nov. 24 at 7:30 pm, with a matinee Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1 pm. For tickets call the Box Office, 403-329-2616 or visit ulethbridge.ca/tickets.

A version of this story appears in the November 25, 2015 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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