Carrie played by Esther Brown in “Carrie the Musical” at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. (Photo provided)

Talk about bringing down the house.

“Carrie the Musical” has opened at the Mid Ohio Valley Players in Marietta.

The show, based on the iconic Stephen King debut novel of the same name, is about a teenage girl who is endlessly bullied at school and controlled by her overbearing and cruel mother at home.

Just as Carrie realizes she has special powers, a prank at the prom leads to horrifying events.

Opening last week, shows are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Esther Brown as Carrie and Dylan Large as Tommy in “Carrie the Musical” at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. Shows are scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Players Theatre, 229 Putnam St. (Photo provided)

Tickets are $15 each and are available in advance at midohiovalleyplayers.com or at the box office beginning 90 minutes before each show at 229 Putnam St.

Director Amber Nicole Smrek stumbled upon the musical five years ago.

“It was one of those shows that the music was so fun and the characters were just so crazy and lifelike,” Smrek said.

“At that time I was reading everything Stephen King. So to find out my worlds were colliding, it just seemed this was a musical I had to explore.

Add to it that this is the 50th anniversary of the novel’s debut, and it was meant to be.”

Vanessa Rake Koon as Carrie’s mother and Esther Brown as Carrie in rehearse a scene in “Carrie the Musical” at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. (Photo provided)

Assistant Director Melanie Elliott helped bring the vision to life, Smrek said.

“As soon as I said I was doing ‘Carrie the Musical’ she was excited and as on board as I was,” Smrek said.

“She is someone I care so much about and someone I truly look at as one of my sisters. To build this world with her and create all this has been great.”

Technical aspects have been “amped up,” Smrek said.

“We’ve gone for it. We’ve tried to make it huge and as spectacular as it needs to be. And we also have a cast that is phenomenal and I cannot stop raving about them,” Smrek said.

“Take our Carrie for example. She is just 18 years old and to have so much talent in someone so young is crazy.”

Playing Carrie is Esther Brown, who got the late-night call that she got the part.

“I was really sleepy and I was confused. I thought I was dreaming,” she said.

“I got the call that I would be playing Carrie and my mom freaked out. I didn’t think I was going to get it because I wasn’t originally going to audition for the role of Carrie. But I felt very honored.”

Playing the good guy Tommy Ross, who takes Carrie to the prom, is Dylan Large, who is new to Players stage, but not to the show, having previously performed in a South Carolina production.

“This is my second time doing ‘Carrie,'” Large said.

“I’ve always wanted to play Tommy really bad,” he said. “Sadly I didn’t get the role last time, but this time was my chance. So I’m happy to cross a dream role off my list.”

Another new face is Missy Arnold as gym teacher Miss Gardner, the fairy-godmother-type character who befriends Carrie and encourages her to go to the prom.

Arnold has enjoyed doing the show.

“I’ve done things at the Actors Guild (of Parkersburg) and with The Company at the Valley Gem,” she said.

“I’ve met new people and made a lot of new friends. They are a lot of fun and talented and I hope to do shows with them in the future.”

Much of the show is about bullying, she said.

“I don’t like bullies so I relate to Miss Gardner,” Arnold said.

“This show might teach you not to bully people.”

“Carrie the Musical” contains moderate language, violence and adult themes which may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Parental discretion is advised.

Flashing lights and fog machines will be used.

The players are Esther Brown as Carrie White, Vanessa Rake Koon as Margaret White, Taylor McConnell as Sue Snell, Dylan Large as Tommy Ross, Maggie “M.J.” Jones as Chris Hargensen, Nick Sandy as Billy Nolan, Missy Arnold as Miss Gardner, Nathaniel Hurst as Mr. Stephens and the Rev. Bliss, Chloe Arnold as Frieda, Alley Moore as Norma, Rebecca Maciag as Helen, Ket Perkins as George, Leon Elliott as Stokes and Minerva McKay as Freddy.

The production is sponsored by Blind Wave and Obermeyer’s Florist and is presented with permission by Concord Theatricals LTD.