WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Pia Haas, Westchester Broadway Theatre. August 5, 2007: WBT opens it's revival of Little Shop of Horrors this Thursday evening for a through September run. "Little Shop" is a zany, fun filled, Faustian tale about a timid florist shop worker who raises a plant that takes a carnivorous delight feeding on human blood.
The Man-Eating Plant of Little Shop of Horrors.
Photo by John Vecchiola, Courtesy, The WBT
Composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, based the hilariously creepy musical on the low-budget 1960 cult film The Little Shop of Horrors. The movie, directed by Roger Corman, included a 23-year-old Jack Nicholson amongst a cast of unknowns. The catchy musical score, composed by Menken in the style of 1960's rock -‘n- roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several show-stoppers including "Skid Row," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly Seymour," as well as the title song “Little Shop of Horrors”.
Seymour Krelborn, a quintessential nerd who mops floors in Mr. Mushnik's failing skid row flower shop, is broke, shy, and hopelessly in love with Audrey. He begins to nurture a "strange and interesting new plant" which has the magical ability to draw in customers and the attention of the girl of his dreams. Soon, Mushnik's Flower Shop is a success and Seymour is a local celebrity.
But there's something very peculiar about the horticultural oddity - it thrives on the kind of plant food that is not always easily available - human blood. Soon the plant, which Seymour has named Audrey II, grows into a giant, ill-tempered, R&B singing carnivore who offers Seymour fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite. It finally reveals itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!
Little Shop of Horrors is directed and choreographed by Ardsley’s Patricia Wilcox. Ms. Wilcox returns to WBT after directing and choreographing last year’s terrific production of “Aida “. Eric Santagata portrays the love-sick Seymour who risks all for the girl of his dreams, Audrey, played by Julie Connors. The voracious plant will be brought to life by two performers. Puppeteer /designer, Bill Diamond will be encased in his foam rubber cocoon of a puppet every night swaying and lip-sinking as it rants, bellows & rocks out with the fabulously ominous voice of Terri White.
Bob Arnold is the miserly florist shop owner, Mr. Mushnik. Gary Lynch will make us squirm in our seats as Audrey’s sadistic dentist boyfriend. Kimberly Hamby, Talana Deshaies, and Jalynn Steele will be the Ronnettes, a skid row Greek chorus of sorts, and David Patrick Ford, Joel Briel, and Molly Mastrangelo, round out the cast in various roles.
Set Design by George Puello and Steve Loftus, Costumes by Gail Baldoni, Lighting Design by Andrew Gmoser, Sound Design by Jonathan Hatton, Stage Management and Properties by Victor Lukas, Associate Producers are Lisa Tiso and George Puello. Assistant Choreographer is Michelle Weber. Puppets built and operated by Diamond Studios,
Little Shop of Horrors had its world premiere on May 6, 1982 at the WPA Theatre before settling into a long run at the Orpheum Theatre, opening July 27, 1982 and playing for 2209 performances This original production, directed by Ashman, was critically acclaimed and won several awards including the 1982-1983 New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the London Evening Standard Award all for Best Musical. When it closed, it was the third-longest running musical and the highest-grossing production in off-Broadway history. Seymour Krelborn was played by Lee Wilkoff and Audrey was played by Ellen Greene
In addition to the original off-Broadway production, the musical has been performed all over the world. The musical was also made into a film in 1986, directed by Frank Oz, starring Ellen Greene reprising her role of Audrey and Rick Moranis as Seymour & featuring Steve Martin as the dentist.. The Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Jerry Zaks, opened in October of 2003 at the Virginia Theatre in New York with Hunter Foster as Seymour and Kerry Butler as Audrey. Hunter Foster was nominated for a 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance. The closing Broadway cast included Joey Fatone and Jessica-Snow Wilson.
For Box Office information, times of performances call 592-2222.
