Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon—who made her Broadway debut in Chicago in 2023 and is set to rejoin the revival in June—joined Off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey April 2. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag queen to play the role in a major production of the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical.
Monsoon joined the cast alongside Corbin Bleu, who returned to the company as Seymour after starring in the production opposite Constance Wu last year, and James Carpinello, who now plays dentist Orin Scrivello.
Take a look at the new stars in the gallery below:
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
James Carpinello and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu and Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu and Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu and Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
James Carpinello and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Morgan Ashley Bryant, Khadija Sankoh, James Carpinello, and Zakiya Baptiste in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Zakiya Baptiste, Corbin Bleu, Khadija Sankoh, and Morgan Ashley Bryant in Little Shop of Horrors
Zakiya Baptiste, Khadija Sankoh, Morgan Ashley Bryant, and Stephen DeRosa in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
Stephen DeRosa, Morgan Ashley Bryant, Khadija Sankoh, and Zakiya Baptiste in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon in Little Shop of Horrors
Jinkx Monsoon and Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
Corbin Bleu in Little Shop of Horrors
"Little Shop of Horrors was my favorite movie musical as a
kid but Audrey is a role I considered out of the realm of possibility
for me," said Monsoon in an earlier statement. "To get to play her in
this incredible production is terribly exciting. As a drag queen who
grew up watching the iconic Ellen Greene performance, I'm thrilled and
honored to get to bring Audrey to life in a whole new way that also pays
homage to her memorable origins."
READ: To Jinkx Monsoon, Starring in Chicago On Broadway Is Just Another Round of Snatch Game
The current cast of Little Shop of Horrors also features Tony nominee Stephen DeRosa as Mr. Mushnik, Major Attaway as The Voice of Audrey II, Tiffany Renee Thompson as Ronnette, Morgan Ashley Bryant as Crystal, and Khadija Sankoh as Chiffon plus Camryn Hampton, Michael Iannucci, Weston Chandler Long, Jeff Sears, Teddy Yudain, Zakiya Baptiste, Noel MacNeal, Jon Hoche, Johnny Newcomb, Melissa Victor, and Christine Wanda.
Previous players in the roles of Seymour and Audrey have included
Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard, Jeremy Jordan, Lena Hall, Maude Apatow,
Gideon Glick, Rob McClure, Skylar Astin, Conrad Ricamora, and Matt
Doyle.
The Off-Broadway revival resumed its run September 21, 2021, after temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer, the revival opened in October 2019. The creative team for the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical also includes choreographer Ellenore Scott, scenic designer Julian Crouch, lighting designer Bradley King, costume designer Tom Broecker, sound designer Jessica Paz, puppet designer Nicholas Mahon, original puppet designer Martin P. Robinson, hair and makeup designer Tommy Kurzman, music supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger Will Van Dyke, and casting director Jim Carnahan. Puppets are by Monkey Boys Productions.
General management is by Live Wire Theatrical/Chris Aniello, and production stage management is by Sara Sahin.
