RIALTO CHATTER: New CARRIE Reading Scheduled for February

CARRIE is back, according to an Equity casting notice that was just released a few moments ago.  A 29-Hour reading is scheduled for February.  Exact dates will be determined based on actor's schedules once cast.  The notice specifically calls for submission for the roles of Carrie and Sue Snell. Auditions will take place in mid-December.

The reading is being produced by MCC Theater (Artistic Directors: Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey; Associate Artistic), directed by William Cantler and Stafford Arima, and features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music direction by Mary Mitchell Campbell. 

CARRIE had a notoriously short 3 night, 5 performance run on Broadway in 1988. The last reading of this latest resurrection took place on November 20, 2009. 

The production is aiming for Off Broadway, produced by MCC and to play the Lucille Lortel Theater. Seller and McCollum are no longer involved with the production which has said to be further revamped, including the removal of the ACT II opener - Out for Blood.

The 2009 reading starred Marin Mazzie, Sutton Foster, Molly Ranson, Jennifer Damiano, Diana DeGarmo, Matt Doyle, John Arthur Greene, Philip Hoffman with Corey Boardman, Lilli Cooper, Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Benjamin Eakeley, Emily Ferranti, Kyle Harris,Kaitlin Kiyan, Max Kumangai, Mackenzie Mauzy, Preston Sadleir,Jonathan Schwartz, Bud Weber, and Sasha Weiss. To read the full scoop on the cast and creative team click here.

The confused and tragic original theatrical journey of CARRIE is well documented in Ken Mandelbaum's now classic book "Not Since 'Carrie': 40 Years of Musical Flops." It will be interesting to see how this new "chapter" plays out as the reading takes shape. McCollum did not return Riedel's call in relation to his Post article and details regarding the CARRIE reading are being kept a tightly held secret.

Stafford Arima will be directing the reading. Music Direction will be by Stephen Oremus.

With original music by Michael Gore (Fame) and Dean Pitchford (Footloose) and a script byLawrence D. Cohen (who wrote the 1976 film as well), CARRIE: THE MUSICAL is often considered the biggest Broadway flop of all time.

The show had its first four-week run beginning on February 13, 1988 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Directed by Terry Hands and choreographed by Debbie Allen, the cast included Broadway veteran and cabaret singer Barbara Cook, Charlotte d'Amboise, Gene Anthony Ray, Darlene Love, and Linzi Hateley, in her stage debut, as Carrie.

The show transferred to Broadway at an expense of $8 million and Hateley (who ultimately won aTheatre World Award) and other members of the UK cast remained with the show, but Cook was replaced by Betty Buckley (who had played the teacher Miss Collins in the 1976 film version). It opened on May 12 and closed a mere 3 nights later after only 5 performances.