Spotlight On: Lio Owen

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Carrie. Get to know Lio Owen who is portraying George in our production!

Introduce yourself to our audience.

Hi! I’m Lio Owen, and I play George. I’ve been in stage plays before and have been singing for years, but this is my first musical! 

How do you balance the heightened, supernatural elements of the show with the grounded, painful reality of high school bullying?

A lot of times in fiction/fantasy media, the fantastical elements of it are used as metaphors for real life situations or struggles. I think Carrie is very similar, and uses her emerging powers and eventual breakdown as a way of showing how painfully impactful bullying can be on real people’s lives. 

What is your favorite musical motif or lyric in Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford’s score that helps define your character?

How does this production make Carrie feel relevant to modern audiences?

As a teenager, I see a lot of myself in some of the characters in this show. I think the portrayal of high school and the social dynamics that come with it, as well as the trauma the characters face, will be relatable to the audience despite its supernatural elements.

What has been the most physically or emotionally demanding part of the rehearsal process for you?

As I’ve never done a musical before, I’m really not much of a dancer, so when we started learning choreography, it took a lot of mental and physical energy to learn and repeat the dances over and over.

What surprised you most about the script and score compared to the original Stephen King novel or the films?

I’m always a little disappointed by any version of Carrie that doesn’t specify Carrie as someone plus size or not conventionally attractive. A lot of the original story is centered around Carrie being bullied for her looks or size, which is all too accurate to public schools today, and something I’ve experienced personally as well. I think it takes away some of the accuracy of the story. To be fair, though, so does the telekinesis.

How does the ensemble use choreography and movement to amplify the tension and horror onstage?

Every cast member in this show has incredible talent and acting instincts. The individuality of each character gives so much room for personalization, and, especially in the darkest moments of the show, my cast members have done an incredible job of bringing their characters to life, and death. 

If your character could give one piece of advice to their younger self, what would it be?

George, in my mind, is an incredibly hard worker. He doesn’t have much natural talent for things like sports or even school, but I think that just makes him want to work harder. If he had advice for his younger self, it would be to never give up, but make sure he takes time for himself to rest. 

What do you hope audiences are discussing in the car on their ride home from the theater?