When you hear the name Carrie, what comes to mind? For many, it’s the New York Times bestseller written by Stephen King, “Carrie,” which did not make it to the bestseller list until 1976, despite being in stores since 1974. The popularity of the book stems from the release of its first film adaptation, “Carrie” (1976). The property would go on to spawn a lesser-known sequel, “The Rage: Carrie 2” (1999) and two remakes (2002 and 2013). But perhaps most notably, at least for fans of Broadway, is the musical adaptation it received in 1988. Despite being one of Broadway’s most expensive flops, “Carrie: The Musical” has gathered a huge cult following and serves as an iconic piece of history.
“I’m a huge fan of dark, campy musicals! The show’s reputation as the “biggest flop” in theater history definitely overshadows its incredible music, and I wanted to do justice to its fun yet surprisingly intricate score,” said Music Director Abigail Galleta Canafe.
For those of you who are not familiar with any of these pieces of media, “Carrie” follows Carrie White, an awkward and telekinetic teenage girl, as she attempts to navigate high school under the oppressive thumb of her religiously fanatic mother, Margaret. She is often the subject of cruel bullying, but when she is humiliated at prom by her classmates, she cannot take it any longer. Chaos ensues as Carrie seeks vengeance, and the true strength of her telekinetic power is revealed. The musical adaptation follows the same story but intertwines it with a pop-rock, contemporary Broadway soundtrack to help move the story forward. “Carrie: The Musical” offers a unique and exciting addition to an already beloved story. With the first day of fall now upon us, there is no better time to check out this technically infamous yet iconic show.
Luckily for you, Fordham University’s Mimes and Mummers is putting the final touches on its own production of “Carrie: The Musical.” The Mimes and Mummers is Rose Hill’s oldest club, with its origins going back to 1855. They put on four main stage productions each year: two musicals, one drama and one comedy. And as far as determining what musical or play to put on, “the shows are voted in democratically. We let anyone, even non-members, pitch a show,” Vice President of Mimes and Mummers Miranda Joyce said. “Then people who are full members of the club vote and pick the top three. We then apply for the rights, and whichever ones we get the rights to, we do.” Luckily, they got the rights to “Carrie: The Musical” just in time for the Halloween season.
“‘Carrie’ has always been a dream show,” said Assistant Director Emily Mitchell. “The biggest message I hope people get from this is that kindness is the number one thing you should be promoting. You never know what other people are going through or what’s going on behind closed doors.”
Although similar to that of its source material, Joyce, who also plays Chris and serves as costume designer for the production of “Carrie: The Musical,” points out that this adaptation does a better job of understanding the underlying elements of the story in regards to bullying, abuse and generational trauma. “At its core, it is a tragic story about how society fails people on the fringes and how our actions and our words can have consequences,” said Joyce. There is something in this show for everyone, but before attending, be prepared for graphic language, abuse, bullying and death.
That being said, the Mimes and Mummers club members do an excellent job of bringing this show to life and telling the story with care and consideration while also keeping it fun and entertaining. “The cast is so full of energy and full of people who are really going to put their all into it. I think that ‘Carrie’ as a show has so many different showcasing parts. So many people get to have their moment on stage and I think that’s going to be really fun for people to watch and just get a variety of different personalities and talents on stage,” said Joyce. And this is not something unique to the show. The majority of the cast and crew are returning members who enjoyed working on previous shows with the club. Katie Scott, who plays the iconic role of Carrie White, said, “I loved being a part of ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and had so much fun with everyone in the Mimes my past two years at school, so I knew I had to try out for this show too.”
If you see the show and have fun, Joyce wants you to be aware that it is even more fun being on or behind the stage. So if you have any interest, be sure to reach out to the club and join their next production. “I’m hoping one person in the audience sees it and says, ‘I wanna be a part of that,’ and joins up,” said Joyce.
So much time and effort has gone into bringing this show to life, so whether you love “Carrie” or just want to show your support to an amazing and talented group of Fordham students, be sure to check it out! The show is set to open in Collins Auditorium on Oct. 3, with a show every night at 8 p.m. until its final performance on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, but on Thursday night, all Fordham students get in for free. With opening night quickly approaching, keep an eye out for updates and behind-the-scenes material on their Instagram and TikTok page, @themimesandmummers.
