STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes Look at Olney Theatre's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Olney Theatre Center presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, opening tonight, August 1 and running through August 26.  BroadwayWorld has a behind the scenes look at the cast, director, and a backstage tour of unloading Audrey II.  Check it out below.

Little Shop of Horrors, composed by Alan Menken and written by Howard Ashman, is about a hapless florist shop worker, Seymour, who finds and raises a mysterious, blood-thirsty plant that brings the florist attention from everyone, including his crush Audrey.

The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman, and includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour." An eight-time Oscar© winner, Mr. Menken was the composer for Newsies, which recently won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical, Score, and Sister Act which completes its Broadway run August 26.

The characters of Skid Row are lead by James Gardiner as Seymour. Carolyn Agan makes her Olney Theatre Center debut as Audrey. Broadway veteran and Helen Hayes Award-nominated actor Bobby Smith returns to Olney Theatre Center in the role of Orin, the dentist everyone loves to hate.  Baritone Ethan Watermeier plays Mushnik. Kara-Tameika Watkins and Shaunte Tabb return to Olney Theatre Center as the singing street urchins Chiffon and Crystal. Ms. Watkins and Ms. Tabb are joined by Leayne Freeman as Ronnette, who is making her Olney Theatre Center debut.  The Little Shop of Horrors cast also features Tina Ghandchilar, Matthew Schleigh, Russell Sunday and Stephawn Stephens as the voice of Audrey II. Erik Brooks is the puppeteer for Audrey II.

Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors start at $26; please contact the Olney Theatre Center Box Office at (301) 924-3400 to make reservations or visit olneytheatre.org.

More Articles by This Author...