“Carrie: The Musical” is one of the most technically-ambitious productions Civic Theatre of Allentown has mounted.

Set Designer Ann Beyersdorfer has created a huge interior of a high school gymnasium that doubles as a classroom; becomes the home of high school student Carrie (an amazing August Fegley) and her mom, Margaret (the always amazing Tracy Ceschin), and a psychiatrist’s office where fellow student, Sue (excellent Emilie Leyes), recalls to a Doctor (Deena Linn) the circumstances of the big night, which serves to frame the story.

The big night would be the prom. That event is central to the storyline in “Carrie: The Musical,” which stays true to plot elements of the 1976 movie and 1974 Stephen King novel.

Director William Sanders emphasizes the tragic elements of bullying, certainly part of the source material but more prominent now because of increased awareness of the topic and the implementation of anti-bullying initiatives in school and community. The storyline also deals with the dysfunctional relationship between the mother and daughter.

“Carrie: The Musical” is no polemic. It’s a rousing, well-paced, song-filled (11 songs in Act I and 12 songs in Act II, including three reprises) big entertainment. What’s more, Civic’s production is paced by superb performances by a mostly young high-energy cast. The opening night, Oct. 7, performance was seen for this review. “Carrie,” in its Lehigh Valley stage debut, continues through Oct. 23 at the Nineteenth Street Theatre, Allentown.

The familiar storyline, with the book by Lawrence D. Cohen, who wrote the screenplay for the 1976 movie, builds inevitably to the climatic scene. Yes, there will be “blood.”

The telekinetic powers of Carrie are presented through clever stagecraft by Technical Director Alexander Michaels and Lighting Designer Will Morris, who, as Costume Designer, put together great teen outfits and gorgeous prom dresses and neat tuxedos (from C.E. Roth Formal Wear) for the students. Hair and Wigs are by Kim Danish.

Music Director Steve Reisteter leads the seven-piece pop-rock band, which plays the songs, with music by Michael Gore and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, in a bouncy and compelling manner. Sound Designer is Helena Confer (the opening sound pastiche is impressive).

Among the standout songs, are “Open Your Heart,” a duet sung beautifully by Ceschin and Fegley, and “Dreamer in Disguise,” sung impressively by Thomas Riley (Tommy, a student), and in the Act 2 reprise as a duet with Fegley. Leyes is memorable in “Once You See.”

Also in Act 1, Fegley and Kristen Stachina (excellent as Miss Gardner, the gym teacher), blend wonderfully in “Unsuspected Hearts,” a duet they reprise in Act II.

Act 1 concludes with a touching “I Remember How Those Boys Could Dance,” as Ceschin and Fegley illuminate a core dispute in their relationship: a mother’s disappointments dashing a daughter’s dreams.

Ceschin makes the mother somewhat sympathetic rather than an out-and-out horrible character.

Fegley manages an extraordinary range of emotions, all the more so impressive because she is portraying a character of her own age.

“You Shine,” in Act II, perhaps the strongest pop song, is rendered movingly by Leyes and Riley. Ceschin has a fine solo turn in “When There’s No One.”

Each of the female vocalists is a standout, including Hannah Bonnett (Chris, the “ringleader”), who belts it out in “The World According To Chris,” and with Sam Thompson (Billy) conspires to engineer the “Prom Climax.” Pat Kelly (Mr. Stephens) has some good moments.

The students, hailing from Muhlenberg College, Emmaus High School, Parkland High School, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts and Bethlehem Catholic High School, among other area schools, bring believability to “Carrie: The Musical.” They, after all, have lived or are living the story that this production so capably tells. It’s a show that is, by turns, charming and scary, not unlike high school.

Ticket information: Civic Theatre of Allentown Box Office, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown; civictheatre.com; 610-432-8943