There was never a musical like her: The Playbill cover of the 1988 production of "Carrie."
You may not know it, but Stephen King's "Carrie," that classic horror tale of teen angst was actually the basis of a Broadway musical. Not just any musical, mind you. Under the auspices of the Royal Shakespeare Company, "Carrie" was to be cutting edge entertainment to usher in the MTV era on the stage. With a score by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford of "Fame" and a book written by Lawrence D. Cohen, who also wrote the screenplay for Brian De Palma's Oscar-nominated film version, how could an audience lose?
They did.
"Carrie" became one of the most notorious flops in Broadway history.
Despite bravura performances from Tony-winning legend Betty Buckley and then-newcomer Linzi Hateley (both pictured left), "Carrie" played 16 previews before closing three nights after its official opening. It was a testament to artistic chaos, but it was destined to become an enterprise that would spawn a huge cult following of fans seeking its return. Well, their prayers may be closer to finally being answered.
"Carrie the Musical" may be getting comeback.
Broadway.com is reporting that the show’s original creative team, composer Gore, lyricist Pitchford and librettist Cohen, have been reconstructing the musical for an invitation-only reading. Taking over the lead roles are two-time Tony nominee Marin Mazzie ("Kiss Me, Kate," "Ragtime") as Margaret White and Molly Ranson ("August: Osage County") as Carrie. Also participating in the reading are such Broadway heavyweights as Tony winner Sutton Foster ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Shrek the Musical") as gym teacher Miss Gardner), "Hairspray" vet Jennifer Damiano as Sue and "American Idol" runner-up turned Broadway star Diana DeGarmo ("Hairspay," "The Toxic Avenger"). Directed by Stafford Arima, the revised "Carrie" will be presented to an invited audience on November 20th in New York.
Proving you can't keep a misunderstood telekinetic girl down, the prospect of "Carrie's" return has been full of stops and starts for years. Critics of the show in 1988 faulted the production for having ludicrous staging that went against the show's emotional storyline. So resounding was its failure that it even became the source of a book, "Not Since Carrie...," noted theater writer Ken Mandelbaum's entertaining chronicle of the most famous flops in Broadway history.
Still, "Carrie" fans cherish their collection of bootleg audio and visual recordings that preserved what was best about the show. For them, a revived "Carrie" is on par with finding the Holy Grail, so understand why this announcement is actually quite significant. "Carrie" fans are as rabid as "Rent"-ers and the show, under a different creative direction, may have been a Broadway phenomenon in that fashion.
With New York theater actually thriving of late, "Carrie" may benefit from the film-to-stage transfer represented by "Hairspray" and "Billy Elliot." Should the reading succeed, Broadway, like "Carrie," may finally get the killer prom its been dying to see.
To hear and watch clips from the original production of "Carrie," go to the musical's official fan website www.carriethemusical.com.
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Comments
Diana DeGarmo isn't just an "American Idol runner up,' she is a Broadway vet herself. She was in Hairspray as Penny Pingleton, and is currently in The Toxic Avenger as Sarah. She was also scheduled to be in the revival of Godspell that was cancelled in 2008.
You are absolutely right, NSW. I did not mean to diminish Ms. DeGarmo's post-Idol career. She's done some great work on Broadway and I think this bodes well for more. Thanks for reading! I amended the article accordingly. Best, Jorge
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