MTD kicks off 2013-14 season with "CARRIE the musical"

This October, Oakland University's Music Theatre and Dance students will set the stage for a chilling 2013-14 theatre season debut with a production of the cult classic, "CARRIE the musical."

The show will run for 12 performances between Thursday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 20, in Varner Studio Theatre.

Based on the book by Stephen King, the musical is written by Lawrence Cohen, Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford. The story centers on Carrie White, a misfit at school who is terrorized by her holier-than-thou mother at home. When a prank at the prom goes horribly wrong, Carrie's classmates learn of a terrifying secret she possesses.

The production will offer a special late night showing on Saturday, Oct. 19, and performances on Friday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 13, will be shadow-signed by TerpTheatre. Tickets are $18 for the general public, and $10 for students, children and all visitors to 10 a.m. matinees.

Utilizing the experience of professionally-trained faculty, MTD students will present a diverse lineup of productions for the 2013-14 season, set in an intimately-sized space on the OU campus.

Scheduled for production in November is "Blithe Spirit," a sprightly, supernatural comedy set in the 1940s. Written by Noël Coward, the story focuses on author Charles Condomine and his hiring of a medium, Madame Arcati, who inadvertently raises the ghost of his late wife, Elvira.

In February 2014, the staging of "Under Milk Wood" by Dylan Thomas will offer an entertaining and poetic journey exploring the lives of the inhabitants of a fishing village on the coast of Wales. Audience members will be enchanted as the villagers plot and laugh, hope and remember.

OU Theatre's annual children's theatre show, "Freckleface Strawberry the Musical" by Gary Kupper and Rose Caiola, and based on the popular books by actress Julianne Moore, will take the stage in May 2014. Audiences will see how Freckleface Strawberry would do anything to get rid of her freckles until she learns that everyone is different – and that this is what makes everyone special.

The 2013-14 season will also include an engaging musical production in March. Producers expect to announce details of this event soon.

Detailed information about show times is available at oakland.edu/theatreseason. Complete ticket information is also available online at oakland.edu/tickets or by calling (248) 370-2030. All events are subject to cancellation or change, and updated production information is available on the Oakland website calendar.