An immersive version of a musical inspired by a horror book and film highlights the Halloween season at Muhlenberg College.

Muhlenberg Theatre & Dance’s “Carrie: The Musical” runs Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, Paul C. Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts.

“Carrie: The Musical,” adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel and the 1976 film based on it, tells the story of Carrie White (Abby Bera), a teenage outcast living under the rule of her controlling mother.

When she discovers she can move things with her mind, Carrie’s world begins to move, too.

When Carrie is humiliated at the prom, she unleashes her powers, causing chaos and destruction. The musical explores themes of bullying, religious extremism and the consequences of not conforming to societal norms.

Written by Lawrence Cohen, with music by Michael Gore and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, “Carrie: The Musical” had a legendary, troubled history. It premiered on Broadway in 1988, where it was a notorious flop.

Despite its initial failure, the show gained a following. A revised Off-Broadway production in 2012 received mostly positive reviews.

Muhlenberg’s production will be presented in a way patrons have never seen before, says director James Peck.

“They’re effectively building a theater,” Peck says.

“A big inspiration for the design has been German Expressionism. There are these enormous panels that loom over the stage. It has this sense of ‘Welcome to the Thunderdome.’ It’s ominous.

“From the minute people walk into the theater, they’ll have that sense that they’ve entered another zone,” says Peck.

The production is using a thrust stage, which means the audience is on three sides.

“It’s super up close and personal,” Bera says. “The audience is going to be right there.”

The show’s choreographer Lyndsey Vader says it’s been “wild” working with the thrust stage.

“All the musical theater choreography I’ve done has been for the proscenium stage,” says Vader.

“The thrust stage has re-activated my love for audience proximity and the immersive experience. We hope that the audience really feels a part of the story,” Vader says.

An iconic creepy touch is the prom scene in which Carrie gets dumped with pig’s blood. Usually, productions use red lights for the scene. Muhlenberg is going to use red liquid.

“It’s going to look like actual blood,” Bera says.

“We’ve had one test,” Peck says.

“Lyndsey Vader was our stand-in for Abby. We dumped a gallon of water from 10-and-a-half feet, which is where it’s going to fall from, to make sure that it wouldn’t hurt and to see how far the splash zone would be, so that we won’t get blood on the audience,” says Peck.

The music enhances the production’s sinister tone. Says Peck:

“There are chord progressions and shapes that give it a creepy vibe. If you think about your favorite horror movie, there’s definitely music playing when the big bad is lurking behind the door. It seems like an oxymoron, but it doesn’t feel like one.”

Peck praises the talents of the student performers and calls Bera and Amaya Romero, who plays Carrie’s mother, “extraordinary singers.”

“There are several numbers which they have together that are sort of grand opera,” Peck says. “They’re these soaring arias. They sound amazing together.”

Theater-goers are encouraged to attend in costume for the Oct. 31 performance for a trick-or-treat surprise.

“Carrie: The Musical,” 8 p.m. Oct. 28, 29, 30; 7 p.m. Oct. 31; 2 p.m. Nov. 1, Paul C. Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown. 484-664-3333; https://muhlenberg.edu/seeashow

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com