Actors Training Center Repertory Company Opens CARRIE THE MUSICAL Tonight

Actors Training Center (ATC) Repertory Company brings the electrifying pop-rock production of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL based on Stephen King's best-selling novel about a young girl outcast with special powers to the Wilmette Theatre stage. CARRIE, which will open tonight, October 25th with 5 additional performances, kicks off ATC's Rep Company's 2014-2015 season. Tickets are on sale now. For tickets or more information, visit: www.wilmettetheatre.com or call: at (847) 251-7424.

"Beyond the compelling psychological and supernatural elements, at its core, ATC's version explores the devastating effects of aggressive, unrelenting bullying in today's world," said Carole Dibo, ATC Artistic Director. "This production is disturbingly fresh and relevant for a film almost 40 years old. With bullying as rampant today as ever and teenage suicide on the rise, this musical will shed light on the dark dangers and debilitating effects of bullying and share with audiences a message of hope, inspiring one another to grow in kindness."

CARRIE The Musical tells the tale of Carrie White, an outcast at school bullied by the popular crowd and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving, but cruelly overprotective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she has a special power and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it.

"Our version of the musical will explore the intense isolation that a bullied victim might feel. As we will see with Carrie, those who are victimized silently experience feelings of humiliation, fear and betrayal," said Janet Louer, Musical Theatre Director, ATC. "The implications of bullying can range from damaged self-esteem to suicide. It is our intention to encourage our audience to find commonalities with each other and to be a compassionate person asking ourselves, as Sue so pointedly asks, 'What does it cost to be kind?'"

To really get in the right mindset for CARRIE, Lawrence Carter from the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, hosted a bullying workshop with the cast. Students had the opportunity to reflect upon their own experiences with bullying through group discussion and activities and were given the tools and language to recognize, stop, and prevent bullying in their own schools.

The show first opened on Broadway in 1988 and its original authors have joined director Stafford Arima and Manhattan Class Company to produce this fully reimagined gripping version of the book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic 1976 film). With music by Academy Award winner Michael Gore (Fame, Terms of Endearment) and lyrics by Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose), Time Magazine says "this score does what a musical score should do: it moves the show along, illuminates the characters and deepens the emotions."

Claire Bigley is musical director and Jeff Award winner Janet Louer, Musical Theatre director of ATC's Repertory Company, directs the production.

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