RIALTO CHATTER: Riedel Confirms CARRIE Reading, Reveals Mazzie Attached

Michael Riedel in this morning's New York Post confirms the recent reports that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are indeed working to resurrect the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

The producers are putting together a 29-hour Equity reading next month of CARRIE, the musical that had a notoriously short 3 night, 5 performance run on Broadway in 1988.

Riedel reveals that three-time Tony nominee Marin Mazzie will be involved in the reading. He states that the actress will be playing the gym teacher, a role that was played by Betty Buckley in the film version. Other sources have reported that Mazzie is actually playing the much larger role of Carrie's mother Margaret White which was portrayed in the original Broadway mounting by Tony winner Buckley herself.

The role of Carrie has not be cast as of yet, but Rialto Chatter hears that a major audience favorite is circling the role. 

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. 

BroadwayWorld.com had learned last week that Stafford Arima will be directing the reading.

With original music by Michael Gore (Fame) and Dean Pitchford (Footloose) and a script by Lawrence 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 a Theatre 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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.