Lake Zurich native takes lead in campy horror musical 'Carrie 2'

Demi Zaino has fond memories of scary movie fests in her family's basement around Halloween.

It was during one of these movie nights when she was a kid that the Lake Zurich native first came across Stephen King's horror classic “Carrie.”

Now, Zaino gets to play a character inspired by Carrie White - with an opportunity to make the role her own.

Zaino stars in Underscore Theatre Company's world premiere of “Carrie 2: The Rage (An Unauthorized Musical Parody),” a rock-infused sendup of “Carrie” and its spinoff “The Rage: Carrie 2.”

Zaino plays goth teen Rachel Lang, the musical's main character. She bears a striking similarity to original outcast Carrie, who burned her high school to the ground with her telekinetic powers a decade earlier. Sue Snell, Carrie's former classmate and Rachel's guidance counselor, worries about history repeating itself.

“The show takes place in the '90s, with a lot of angsty rock music,” Zaino says. “There's the cliché characters - the jocks, the cheerleaders and the outcasts. When one of the leading football players falls in love with Rachel, the loner who has telekinetic powers, the popular kids get upset and try to mess with her.”

Zaino says she's always had a special fondness for campy horror shows. She previously had a role in “Evil Dead the Musical,” which has a cult following like “Carrie.”

“I just really enjoy re-creating these horror films - no one would think they could become musicals,” she says.

With Underscore specializing in creating new musicals, Zaino could put her own spin on Rachel.

Zaino says she admires how true to form Rachel is - decisive, confident and comfortable with herself, even during her struggles.

“I think people can relate to the idea of just being strong in who you are,” she says. “Being indecisive is so common nowadays - even I struggle with it - and she's always confident in who she is and what she wants.”

Zaino picked up a love of musical theater at Lake Zurich High School, with her voice teacher sparking a lifelong passion. She was invited to play the lead in “Hairspray” at a theater festival, which she called a turning point in her career.

“There were over 600 to 700 people trying out, and I got the lead, and it was very humbling,” she says. “It was the best feeling in the world to know I was good enough to perform and be accepted. After that, I couldn't stop.”

Zaino has a passion for all avenues of storytelling, including acting, making music, singing and dancing. “My goal is not to be famous,” she says, “just to be successful in every aspect of creating art.”

“Carrie 2: The Rage (An Unauthorized Musical Parody)”

<b>Location:</b> Underscore Theatre Company at The Arkham, 4609 N. Clark St., Chicago, underscoretheatre.org

<b>Showtimes:</b> 7:30 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Oct. 31; 4 p.m. Sunday; runs through Nov. 19

<b>Tickets:</b> $20-$25