PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Primping, Prom Dresses and Pig's Blood! Backstage With the Bad Boy of Chicago's Carrie the MusicalThe cult musical Carrie, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, officially opened in Chicago June 1 following previews that began May 29. Sawyer Smith, who plays bully Billy Nolan, shares these behind-the-scenes shots.
By
Matthew Blank
June 20, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Primping, Prom Dresses and Pig's Blood! Backstage With the Bad Boy of Chicago's Carrie the Musical
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Primping, Prom Dresses and Pig's Blood! Backstage With the Bad Boy of Chicago's Carrie the Musical
The cult musical Carrie, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, officially opened in Chicago June 1 following previews that began May 29. Sawyer Smith, who plays bully Billy Nolan, shares these behind-the-scenes shots.
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What's up, Playbill? It's me, Sawyer Smith. I am playing Billy Nolan in Bailiwick Chicago's Carrie! Time to head to the theater and get BLOODY!
Sawyer Smith
Welcome to Chicago!!!
Sawyer Smith
No trip to the theater would be complete without a healthy meal, or should I say a happy meal?
Sawyer Smith
Our lovely home!!!
Sawyer Smith
Some of the cast in the theatre before fight call. Check out that KILLER set...get it? KILLER? I barely know'er!
Sawyer Smith
The lovely Kelly Krauter, who plays Frieda, signing in for the show. Check out those shades!
Sawyer Smith
The cast starts arriving for fight call, and we were checking lights. Fight calls are not always this colorful.
Sawyer Smith
SMILE for Playbill!!!
Sawyer Smith
Our Carrie, the lovely Callie Johnson, and me posing in our safety gear. Being in Carrie is tough business!
Sawyer Smith
I decided to take some action shots from my track in The Destruction. Check out that proper telekinesis stance.
Sawyer Smith
This is the tormented face of evil that kills me onstage every night. The HORROR!!!
Sawyer Smith
Callie and our Chris, Samantha Dubina, go over Sam's demise, as I get into character as a corpse.
Sawyer Smith
Time for Margaret White (Katherine L. Condit) to go over her fight call with Callie. RUN CALLIE!!!
Sawyer Smith
Just kidding you can tell it's just pretend because they are smiling!
Sawyer Smith
Time for vocal warm ups. Every actor has his or her own personal way of warming up. Our Sue Snell (Rochelle Therrien) warms up as a cat. MEOW!!!
Sawyer Smith
After warming up its time to circle up and check in! The man in the hat is our super cool music director Aaron Benham.
Sawyer Smith
Our amazing assistant stage manager Megan Kowalsky doing some of her presets before house open!
Sawyer Smith
Time to head back to our dressing room. Don't worry, Rochelle loves to pop in and admire our Pokemon collection. Someone keeps bringing them in from his happy meals...
Sawyer Smith
Katherine patiently awaiting her turn to get into costume.
Sawyer Smith
The girls dressing room! Front row Left to Right: Kasey Alfonso, Rochelle Therrien, Kelly Krauter, Molly Coleman Back Row : Sam Dubina, Callie Johnson
Sawyer Smith
Time to get my skater boi look on. Billy is ready, and ladies... he is single.
Sawyer Smith
Conner Meinhart, playing George, loves our backstage antics.
Sawyer Smith
Boys dressing room. Conner, and Henry McGinniss, playing Tommy, getting ready. Ryan Lanning is unsure of this, but I give it a thumbs up!
Sawyer Smith
Time to check my props. Gotta love theater where your props are flasks and fake drugs.
Our wonderful Wardrobe Supervisor Gregory Graham and our favorite gym teacher Ms. Gardner (Kate Garassino)
Sawyer Smith
Sam finds time to do her nails before the show, she is THAT dedicated.
Sawyer Smith
Ms. Gardner (Kate Garassino) and Mr. Stevens (Ryan Lanning) pose for a prom shot!
Sawyer Smith
"I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a cool mom." Katherine shows us she isn't all work and no play!
Sawyer Smith
George Tooles, who plays Stokes, laces up his show boots, while Ryan gets some of his classroom props ready during act one. Kelly is the beauty in the back checking her props.
Sawyer Smith
Intermission selfie on the steps. Front L-R (Sawyer Smith, Kasey Alfonso, Kelly Krauter) Back (Jon Martinez, George Tooles, Samantha Dubina, Conner Meinhart)
Sawyer Smith
Costume change, and selfie with Katherine! Love this Diva!!
Sawyer Smith
Look Chris and Billy can smile, we aren't all evil!
Sawyer Smith
Callie getting done up for prom! She's a pretty girl, Mama!
Sawyer Smith
I might've known you were gonna wear RED, Carrie! Beautiful Girl!
Sawyer Smith
The Girls are ready for prom! You can't clock those gowns!
Sawyer Smith
Molly Coleman as Frieda is our very own GIRL ON FIRE!!! Eat your heart out Jennifer Lawrence!
Sawyer Smith
George gets his boutineer pinned on by Kate, while Conner creeps in the background.
Sawyer Smith
Next in line is Conner. Ryan is in deep contemplation. What IS Mr. Stevens' motivation at prom?
Sawyer Smith
The boys are ready for prom! L-R (Conner Meinhart, Ryan Stajmiger, Sawyer Smith, George Toles, Henry McGinniss)
Sawyer Smith
Sue doesn't get to go to prom, so she Snapchats!!!
Sawyer Smith
But once the girls are at prom Sam and Rochelle get the WHOLE dressing room to themselves! Cartwheel, anyone?
Sawyer Smith
After a quick change Sam and Callie pose for a friendly shot!
Sawyer Smith
Two Villains are better than one!
Sawyer Smith
BUT THREE VILLAINS ARE BETTER THAN TWO!!! #Math
Sawyer Smith
Katherine and Ryan Lanning awaiting their cues. While Gregory explains to Ryan Stajmiger that "tux" is just an abbreviation of the word tuxedo.
Sawyer Smith
It's a blood bath out there! Or is it stage blood? Only one way to find out, come see CARRIE!!!
Presented by Bailiwick Chicago, performances continue through July 12 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater.
The musical, which was revised and presented Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2012 following its famed 1988 Broadway premiere, features a book by original screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen, lyrics by Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford and music by Academy Award winner Michael Gore. Directed by Michael Driscoll, the production stars Callie Johnson (Pal Joey, Next to Normal) as Carrie and Katherine Lynne Condit (Chess, A Chorus Line) as Margaret White with Samantha Dubina, Kate Garassino, Ryan Lanning, Kasey Alfonso, Molly Coleman, Damon Gillespie, Kelly Anne Krauter, Henry McGinniss, Conner Meinhart, Sawyer Smith, Rochelle Therrien and George Toles.
Here's how the production is billed: "Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it..."
The creative team for Carrie includes Brigitte Ditmars (choreographer), Stephen H. Carmody (scenic designer), Raquel Adorno (costume designer), Charlie Cooper (lighting designer), Patrick Bley (sound designer) and Heather Stuck (stage manager). The production features music direction by Aaron Benham.
Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago, IL.
Tickets and more information are available by calling (773) 871-3000 or visiting victorygardens.org.
