By Marina Gomberg
When staging a Stephen-King-horror-turned-musical, the props team comes in knowing it has a mighty job in store. We’re talking blood (a lot of blood), pyrotechnics, and special effects. This is what it takes to bring to life the story of Carrie, an outcast who is cruelly bullied at school and hounded by her very religious mother at home, but who learns she has a special power to combat both. This high-energy, dance-heavy musical is one not to be missed.
You can see for yourself in the U’s state-of-the-art Meldrum Theatre located in the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse from Oct. 2-11 for the University of Utah Department of Theatre’s production of Carrie, with music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, book by Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel by Stephen King, directed by Erin Farrell Speer, with musical direction by Trevor Jex.
“The blood was what actually had me interested in doing this show in the first place,” said Performing Arts Design Program (PADP) student Kait Gollmer (@kaiteartwork), who works with Properties Master Arika Schockmel. “I know that sounds kind of gruesome but it's true.”
If you ask Gollmer about Schockmel’s Blood Day in her Prop Design and Construction class, Gollmer will tell you about a class that ends in plastic jumpsuits and a super-soaker blood fest on the lawn in front of the Price Theatre Arts Building — one of her best memories at the U so far, and what inspired her to request working with Schockmel on Carrie.
Like all parts of mounting a major production, the use of blood is an incredibly technical art that considers realistic viscosity and color, clean up, and relationship to the actors, costumes, and set.
“Carrie will use gallons of blood, so we have done a lot of wash tests to make sure the formula I made doesn't stain skin, hair, dresses or the floor. I also did some pour tests for consistency,” Schockmel explains. “Working with this much blood also means coordination with costumes, hair and makeup, and the sound and lights and scenic departments as well.”
Schockmel’s first big bloody production at the U was Julius Caesar in in 2018. She had just finished working on a horror movie called Hereditary and discovered products and techniques she still uses today. She has also contributed to the body of knowledge on the subject by teaching workshops and publishing writings about the use of stage blood.
Another element of the production’s supernatural magic is the simulation of Carrie’s realized telekinesis, which was made more challenging in a thrust theatre where the stage extends out into the audience seating, because it gives viewers an intimate perspective on the stage and not much to hide the mechanisms the production team reverse engineered to make it look like Carrie is moving objects with her mind.
“One of the exciting challenges of Carrie is bringing its blood, gore, pyrotechnics, and telekinesis to life,” said Director Speer. “We have an incredible team of faculty and student designers working on the production, combining digital and practical effects to create the world of the show and make its supernatural elements feel truly magical. One of the most rewarding parts of the process has been collaborating with Props Designer Arika Shockmel on the blood and telekinesis It’s been a wonderful opportunity for our students and faculty to explore the artistry and technical craftsmanship that go into making Carrie come to life.”
University of Utah Department of Theatre alumni are invited to attend the opening night performance on Oct. 2 for a pre-show reception called Curtain’s Up and can RSVP here to attend (alumni get up to 2 free tickets to the show).
Through the Arts Pass program, current fee-paying U of U students get free tickets to Carrie and all Department of Theatre productions.
Carrie
Music by Michael Gore
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Book by Lawrence D. Cohen
Based on the novel by Stephen King
Directed by Erin Farrell Speer
Music Direction by Trevor Jex
Choreography by Tally Ballas and Erin Speer with Elle Denlea
Associate Director Elle Denlea
Associate Choreographer Tally Ballas
Assistant Music Director Aurora Nelson
Dance Captain Carina Purdy
October 2 – October 11
Meldrum Theatre in the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse (accessibility info here)
Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it.
CARRIE THE MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
www.concordtheatricals.com