MCC to produce Off-Broadway CARRIE revival in 2011-2012

Stafford Arima to direct. Book and score reworked.

Would be presented at the Lortel on Christopher Street if all comes to fruition.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/theater/06carrie.html?_r=1

Updated On: 10/5/10 at 06:31 PM

Yes, same guy. He and Bob LuPone formed MCC in the mid-80's before he became "Bernie Telsey."

I like the accompanying headline on the right - "Two Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Physics for Work on Ultra-Thin Material."

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This is great news, but..
Do fans really want a "new" Carrie? I think interest still exists for this material because of its past productions. And now with half of the score gone, and the plot completely reworked, will anyone care for a new dramatic take on Carrie?

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Updated On: 10/5/10 at 10:23 PM

Just to throw some fuel on the fire, look at the "outrage" over the cutting of "I'm Not Alone" from the last reading.

It's going to be an interesting production if it does indeed come to fruition. They are going to have to put some serious work into any special effects, since at the Lortel they won't have the advantage of distance hiding some of the tricks that they would have in a larger space.

I'd argue, with the right marketing (and if the material is truly better) there could be an audience for this that wouldn't know anything about the Flop legend.

brettystar, the last thing we need is another Xanadu show. And Carrie has already been spoofed to death. It's not a new idea (see the campy as tits Erik Jackson Theatre Couture production...).

All of that being said... I'M SO PSYCHED!!

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"The book for the new Carrie won't be rewritten, the book exists in King's format and that's what they will use..."

I'm sorry, what?

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I'll admit that Don't Waste The Moon was one of my favorite numbers

Me too!

I'm excited to see how this pans out, but my personal opinion - and this is just from hearing the reading that surfaced online - is that the show doesn't work when it's given the "kitchen sink reality" treatment. To me, the show IS Greek Tragedy and progresses in the way that tragedy does (the outcome is never in doubt, everything that happens HAS to happen because the end is inevitable, etc) and reeling it back into normal drama makes the proceedings even MORE laughable. But that's just me. Like I said, I am excited to see what happens.

Was "I'm Not Alone" cut in the reading? I don't remember. That's the one song in the score I truly loathe.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

WAIT! Off-Bway? Huh? They must have scaled back the cast size because there is no way it would make money in a 299 seat theater with a cast of 20+. Are they making it a chamber musical now? ugh!!!

There are also lines from the original pre-RSC script (maybe an early reading?) where Margaret explicitly states her mother (grandmother, maybe) had the same power as Carrie, which at least gives a little more frame of reference for her attack.

Frankly, I think the title song could use a major lyrical overhaul.

LCD effects? I really don't know, though. I would think there's got to me some innovative way to do it. To me, that's the least of this show's concerns.

famebroadway02, it is in the best interest it for all if it goes Off-Broadway first. Even a limited engagement, then extend possibly. That'll gain the momentum that it needs. If enough hype is brought up, then it'll go to Broadway. I really hope they get it to Broadway, but let's face it - Broadway's a tourist trap, and it has limited appeal for tourists.

"Don't Waste The Moon" is good, but it was a wise cut. They could have had "Don't Waste" a la the production at Emerson College, where they had the music underscore a scene. In addition, I really loved the new "Do Me A Favor", but it's still not spread out enough. There's not nearly enough transition for Chris to find out that Tommy is taking Carrie, and to ask Billy to do 'her a favor'.

I personally thinking cutting "I'm Not Alone" is the worst that they have made. It's become a trademark song, because of Ms. Weiss, (I've heard it several times for auditions now) and it makes Carrie's downfall so much more tragic. With "I'm Not Alone", Carrie feels that she has this delusional false fantasy romance that her and Tommy have this true blossoming romance of sorts - and sortof confirms the big "want" in the title song that she wants a husband. It makes her feel that things really aren't going to be bad from this point on, and that this prom is the best thing to ever happen to her. I'm not saying the lyrics don't need work, but "Why Not Me?" is so redundant. We already cover in the title song Carrie has just a right to going to the prom and fitting as everyone else does.

The weakest part is by far the book. See, I know for a fact, that the book can be translated onto stage with all the interviews and monologues given by supporting characters in a strictly dramatic non-musical version. In a musical it doesn't work. They need to have scenes that match the caliber of the music. Maybe you can still sneak in some of those monologues in there, but it has to be done so carefully and precise. Stephen King is very big on past tense writing. We had a few brief internal monologues from Sue in the new script, but there's room for more (see Carrie - the 2002 version for what I'm talking about).

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Updated On: 10/6/10 at 01:01 PM