Washington Post - Not Recommended
"...In contrast to the masterly creepiness of Brian De Palma’s 1976 movie, the stage version — with music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford and book by Lawrence D. Cohen — comes across as a desultory teenage revenge story with a few bits of supernatural shtick tossed in. Lacking chills and resisting camp, “Carrie” quickly runs out of steam. It’s an insipid march to that grisly prom."
Washington City Paper - Somewhat Recommended
"...Keith Alan Baker and Jacob Janssen steer the proceedings competently but without much verve, and Darius Smith’s teeny-tiny band does its best not to sound as thin as it is. Only Michael J. Bobbitt’s choreography brings any real energy to the mix, and the cast seems to enjoy its sass and inventiveness. When they’re bouncing through his combinations, this otherwise moribund Carrie actually threatens to come to life."
Washington Life - Somewhat Recommended
"...Thankfully, the young cast has remarkably good voices, hinting at what they could do with better material. They will likely be successful in more well-conceived productions. Luciana Stecconi’s minimalist set in the intimate 2ndStage works beautifully with only a suggestion of a high school gym with a well-worn floor and a basketball hoop at one end. Little is needed but a couple of chairs to represent Carrie’s home when she appears with her mother, Margaret White, in a painfully effective performance by Barbara Walsh."
DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended
"...Studio Theatre's riveting production of Carrie: The Musical will transport you to another world!"
The Georgetowner - Recommended
"...It is the staging as much as anything that pulls you in here. It’s the intimate setting of the smallish fourth floor theater at the Studio, with the results that you’re always fairly close to the actions and the actors, who emote, dance group and re-group, and sing their hearts out within sometimes inches, and feet of the audience. And the directors and designer make do mostly with imagination—this is not a million-dollar set, but a door opening here, closing there, lights shifting the scenes and acting as a kind of malleable, moving set. There’s nothing fancy here, except the choreography of shifting the groups around the stage, until all of them become familiar. What’s special isn’t the blood and guts but the young characters on stage."
MD Theatre Guide - Recommended
"...Overall, Carrie: The Musical is entertaining, and it does have a relevant message about the dangers of bullying in high school. This cast and production crew is more than capable, but I’m still not sure why there needs to be a musical about this tortured soul."
DCTheatreScene - Recommended
There’ve been a lot of attempts at revival and retooling with the script over the years and as Studio Theatre proves with their latest production on its 2nd Stage, Carrie has the stuff to survive.
