Cortland to perform Stephen King horror classic ‘Carrie’

10/20/2026

"Carrie: The Musical" will bring the suspense of Stephen King's best-selling debut novel to the SUNY Cortland stage just in time for Halloween.

Featuring the talents of the university's Performing Arts Department, the show follows teen Carrie White trapped between cruel classmates and a controlling, fanatically religious mother. When Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers, a cruel prank at her senior prom pushes her past her breaking point.

Seven performances run from Friday, Oct. 30, to Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Dowd Fine Arts Center Lab Theatre.

• Saturday, Oct. 31: 7 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at SUNY Cortland's online Box Office. This production contains depictions of bullying, religious extremism, self-harm and graphic violence, including a climactic scene involving blood and the death. Audience discretion is advised.

Already remade into a classic 1976 movie, a theatrical version of "Carrie" opened on Broadway in 1988, before finding new life in a remade 2012 revival that proved popular with audiences. The story is accompanied by a rock score by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford.

Fans continue to find the horror tale relevant, with a miniseries based on the book premiering this month on Amazon Prime Video.

"Nearly everyone has a story where they felt like an outcast and to have a character represent that feeling onstage is so important," said senior Jenevieve Young, who plays abusive mother Margaret White.

"I also think 'Carrie' will teach audiences about the importance of kindness, and how we often forget what others might be going through, or how a simple act of kindness can change someone's life."

Cortland's production is directed by Deena Conley, associate professor of performing arts, with choreography by Maya Dwyer and music direction by Ben Kapilow, assistant professor of performing arts.

"Although the book was published in 1974, the topics of bullying, fanaticism and school violence are, unfortunately, still prevalent today," Conley said.

Cortland junior Madison Knoppel takes the role of the title character.

"Working on this show has been an amazing opportunity filled with so much joy and light, even though the show itself can be very dark," Knoppel said. "Playing Carrie has been a dream come true. I was nervous going into rehearsals, but everyone has been so supportive. From my fellow actors in the cast to our incredible production team, there has always been an energy in the rehearsal room that made this show feel like a home for me."

Also featured are Selma Fabregas as Chris Hargensen, John Malagrida as Billy Nolan, Ann Marie Thorell as Sue Snell and Everett Zellmer as Tommy Ross.

The remaining cast and crew include Dom Bierman, Taylor Brooks, Paul Daniszewski, Erin DeGraw, Molly Donovan, Jordan Oliver-Bueno, Lucia Rissi, Ezra Rudenko, Allison Wallinger and Rowen Willis.

"Audiences should come to see 'Carrie' because it mixes the movie's scare-factor with some small but important details from the book, while also creating a sweet and heartbreaking story of its own," Knoppel said.

"I know that I can speak for the entire cast when I say that we are so excited to share this story with everyone."