Regional NewsLesli Margherita, Justin Huertas, Jason Veasey, More Star in Little Shop of Horrors Concerts November 17–18
Flint Repertory Theatre presents staged concerts of the classic Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical.
By
Andrew Gans
November 17, 2023
A host of theatre favorites star in Flint Repertory Theatre's Little Shop of Horrors in Concert November 17–18 at 8 PM at The FIM Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint, Michigan.
Directed by Ovation Award winner Michael Matthews, the staged concerts feature Olivier winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda) as Audrey, Justin Huertas (Lizard Boy) as Seymour, Jason Veasey (A Strange Loop) as Orin, Terren Wooten (aka Kizha Carr That Bearded Queen) as Audrey II, Jason Briggs as Mushnik, Arielle Crosby as Crystal, Lulu Fall (Natasha, Pierre,
and the Great Comet of 1812) as Ronnette, and Bryana Hall as Chiffon.
Little Shop of Horrors is based on the 1960 cult movie of
the same name. The musical version, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a
libretto by the late Howard Ashman, debuted Off-Broadway at WPA Theatre in
1982 (subsequently transferring to the Orpheum) starring Lee Wilkof and
Ellen Greene in a role that would become her signature (Greene also
starred in the film version). A Broadway production was mounted in 2003
co-starring Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler.
The current Off-Broadway revival at the Westside, now starring Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu, resumed its run
September 21, 2021, after temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the
pandemic.
“We’re so thrilled to produce this screamingly funny theatrical concert featuring a cast of Broadway stars, as well as some of our favorite Michigan performers,” said Flint Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Lluberes in an earlier statement. “Little Shop is a favorite for so many of us and this will be an outrageous rock concert version of the show like you’ve never seen before!”
The concerts also feature choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Brian E. Buckner, scenic design by Eli Sherlock, costume design by Whitney Locher, lighting design by Zach Blane, and sound design by Nina Field.
Filmed in 2023, the one-night-only event featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Peter Friedman, and more from the Ahrens and Flaherty musical's original cast.
Surrounded by period-accurate, 19th-century holiday decorations lit via candlelight, the 70-minute production is based on Dickens' own script of the classic.