Wednesday, November 04, 2015

ANOTHER Rave Review for CARRIE, The Musical by Los Angeles Magazine - TWO MORE WEEKS at the Historic 1931 Los Angeles Theatre in DTLA


Emily Lopez as Carrie White in Carrie: The Musical
Photograph by Jason Niedle

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre 

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf
Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre - See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf
CHRIS NICHOLS


Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the entire Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque fall opened baroque with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that Bob Gurr, the legendary Disney imagineer, saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the movie is dim, and this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.








Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre - See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpufCarrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all thatThe spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stageWhen I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf
Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre - See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf

Carrie: The Musical Transforms Downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre

Carrie: The Musical is playing for two more weeks at a gorgeous old theater on Broadway and you should go see it. Here’s hoping that the November dates will give the show a chance to be heard beyond all the Halloween hubbub. Yes, it’s based on a Stephen King novel and (spoiler alert) everyone dies at the end, but the play is much bigger than all that.
The spectacular staging literally transforms the Los Angeles Theatre, the finest of all the downtown movie palaces, by inserting a new theater inside the vintage auditorium. The action takes place inside a steel cube reached by ramps that cantilever out over the original 1931 seating. Peering over the edge down to the ancient loge section listening to the piped-in sounds of water dripping in the dramatic darkness I couldn’t help but think of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The baroque hall that opened with Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is just a hulking, dreamy background that engulfs the set, built to resemble a high school gym. The faces of cherubs look down on audience members seated on benches that cast members roll around the stage.
When I heard that legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr saw the show I asked him what he thought of the unusual seating. “What better, and original, way to not just witness a theater presentation, but move around the stage on a bleacher ride which changes scenes,” Gurr said. “Actually powered by the cast themselves as part of their acting. Now there's a fabulous way to be thoroughly immersed in the story.”
My memory of the Sissy Spacek movie is dim, and I never saw the 1988 musical, but this production seems to be less abusive religious fanaticism and more feel-good anti-bullying hero’s journey.  Carrie White's makeover montage is so cheerful it feels almost like parody. In a cast of strong powerful singers, Jon Robert Hall, Jenelle Lynn Randall, and Misty Cotton, as Carrie’s mother, were exceptional.
My guest had issues with things like story and character development, but I was simply dazzled by all the stagecraft. Jesus Christ literally flies off the cross and into the audience. Now, that's showbiz!
Carrie is a big impressive show stuffed with singing and dancing and telekinesis. It’s all covered with baubles and it's the perfect thing to lure folks away from their Netflix. I hope it works.
- See more at: http://www.lamag.com/askchris/carrie-the-musical-transforms-the-los-angeles-theatre/#sthash.9UvnKRIb.dpuf

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