The Garden Theatre will present TheatreWorks' production of the rock-n-roll musical Little Shop of Horrors, where a man-eating plant and a cast of colorful characters take root at the Garden Theatre to kick off the 2011-12 Season on October 14-November 6.
Little Shop of Horrors is produced and directed by Scott A. Cook, the artistic producer at TheatreWorks Florida. Cook has developed show designs and concepts for companies such as Universal Studios Florida and the Walt Disney World Company, and won numerous producer's honors including the Pierrots Award, Best Musical for Cats at Theatre Winter Haven in 2006.
Cook says new costume and set designs, vocal arrangements, fresh choreography and an enhanced Audrey II puppet are just a few of the elements different about this show.
"The community has been buzzing since we announced the show at the beginning of this year," said Cook. "I create the world as a sincere, honest and realistic environment and challenge the actors to portray their roles from the heart inside this strange and bizarre place. I anticipate an incredible theatrical journey for all who will step inside the world of Little Shop of Horrors."
Kevin Cole performs as the down-and-out plant shop florist Seymour, Candace Neal co-stars as the attractive Audrey, and Jamaal Solomon as the voice of the oversized plant Audrey II. Andrew Johnson puppeteers Audrey II, Frank Siano performs as Mr. Mushnik, and Casey Sweeney as Orin Scrivello, DDS. The singing urchins are played by Katrina Johnson, Desiree Perez, and Caroline Drage. This will be the first time for all of the actors to perform on the Garden Theatre stage apart from Kevin Cole, who performed in The Sound of Music last season. Tim Pappas serves as musical director, having done so for The Sound of Music and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in previous seasons at the Garden Theatre.
Two free-of-charge preview acts of Little Shop of Horrors will be performed to the public at the Garden Theatre during MusicFest Weekend at 2:30pm and 3pm on Saturday, October 8. Patrons may take a photo with the larger-than-life Audrey II plant following the 3pm performance.
"Patrons are especially excited about this season," said Alauna McMillen, general manager of the Garden Theatre. "By launching our season with such a high-energy musical, we hope to harness that energy and carry it throughout the whole year."
Little Shop of Horrors kicks off the Garden Theatre's fourth full theatre season, which will conclude in May 2012 with the Garden Theatre's self-produced musical The Music Man.
Tickets are $26 for adults, $22 for students and seniors. Shows are Friday and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. For tickets, visit the new Garden Theatre website gardentheatre.org or call the Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736).
