Look out, look out, look out, look out! Man-eating plants from outer space have been spotted near Ogunquit, Maine, as Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors begins performances at Ogunquit Playhouse August 22. Hunter Foster (who starred in the musical's 2003 Broadway bow) is directing the production, which will continue through September 21.
RuPaul's Drag Race star Latrice Royale leads the production as Audrey II, sharing the stage with Etai Benson (The Band's Visit) as Seymour, Talia Suskauer (Wicked) as Audrey, Adam Heller (Some Like It Hot) as Mr. Mushnik, Edward Watts (The Book of Mormon) as Orin Scrivello, Chelsea Hooker (Hair) as Crystal, Briana Brooks (Beautiful) as Ronette, and Olivia Elease Hardy (Kimberly Akimbo) as Chiffon.
Rounding out the company are ensemble members Nick Davis, Joseph Ryan Harrington, and Jackson Kanawha Perry; along with understudies Ray DeMattis, Diva LaMarr, Amirah Joy Lomax, and Christian Probst.
Featuring a book and lyrics by Ashman and music by Menken, Little Shop of Horrors is adapted from Roger Corman's zany horror film with a screenplay by Charles Griffith, centering on a man-eating plant that begins its campaign of world destruction in a tiny florist shop on skid row. The musical version premiered Off-Broadway in 1982, and quickly became a worldwide hit, including a 1986 big screen version, a 2003 Broadway bow, and a currently running Off-Broadway revival.
That 2003 Broadway iteration, which starred director Foster as Seymour, appears to be coming back in some capacity for Ogunquit's production, specifically through Scott Pask's original scenic design. The Ogunquit creative team, otherwise unaffiliated with the Broadway production, also includes choreographer Mara Newbery Greer, music director Dan Pardo, additional scenic designer Nate Bertone, lighting designer Richard Latta, costume designers Dustin Cross and Bryce Turgeon, sound designer Kevin Heard, and wig, hair, and makeup designer Roxanne De Luna. Rebecca McBee serves as production stage manager with Veronica Aglow as assistant stage manager.
Ogunquit's Little Shop of Horrors is being presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Tickets are available at OgunquitPlayhouse.org.
