Rice University's Lovett Theater will present “Little Shop of Horrors” Nov. 6-8 at Lovett Commons. The out of this world love story with a carnivorous twist is a tale about ambition, morality and greed. Performances begin at 8 p.m. each evening with a special encore at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
Howard Ashman wrote the book and lyrics, with music by Alan Menken, and the musical is based on the film by Roger Corman, adapted from a screenplay by Charles Griffith. It premiered off-off-Broadway at the Workshop of the Players' Art in 1982 before transferring to the Orpheum Theatre off-Broadway later that year, where it ran for five years. The show was revived on Broadway in 2003 at the Virginia Theatre — now the August Wilson Theatre — for a 372-performance run.
“Little Shop of Horrors” is widely considered a nonstop blast, sci-fi horror comedy, and rock musical that has become one of the most treasured pieces of American musical theatre. While paying homage to doo-wop and Motown recordings, the story follows a luckless florist shop worker, Seymour, who raises a wisecracking plant that develops a craving for blood. He delights in the fame and fortune that his leafy, ever-growing friend attracts, while trying to show his co-worker Audrey that she is the girl of his dreams. As Seymour discovers his plant’s intergalactic origins and intent toward world domination, he learns the lesson: “Don’t feed the plants!”
“There's a lot of really catchy tunes that will stick in your head, but also, it leaves you asking a lot of questions,” said Birdie McCain, executive producer and sophomore English major. “I think the show makes you kind of think a lot more than you expect to with just a little Halloween horror piece. Audiences should expect to be really delighted in the spectacle, laugh a lot, and also contemplate a lot of deeper things that we're trying to hint at in the show.”
When deciding this year’s production, Lovett Theater considered several pitches, but “Little Shop of Horrors” rose to the top. McCain said student Celeste Uribe, who suggested the show, had a clear vision and strong passion for it, and her dedication promised to make the production memorable.
"From my perspective, there is so much to be said about the moral, creative and cultural impact of the show,” director Uribe said. “I could wax poetic about the points the show makes about the disparities between a person’s potential and their environments, the dangers of pretty privilege and the slippery slope that can occur from a refusal to self-reflect. When it comes to my version of this show, if it feels that deep, then I promise you, it really is."
One of the undeniable characters in the show is Audrey II, the talking, singing plant that grows and grows throughout the show. To build the puppet, the production crew brought in horticulture enthusiasts.
“Design wise, we have gardeners and botanists on our puppet team who are creating a really big plant,” McCain said. “They pulled from real life designs, so it's going to look a lot different than a lot of Audrey IIs that might have been previously seen.”
She also mentioned the set is on a much bigger scale compared to many student-produced shows beforehand.
“We're working with a really, really big team to make it come to life in a way that Rice Theater hasn't seen yet,” she said.
"Little Shop of Horrors" marks a return to the stage for Lovett Theater. The group, founded in 2006, went on a 15-year hiatus before making a comeback last year with "Into the Woods," followed by "The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals." The current production reflects the theater’s revival and the infusion of new talent, helping to ensure its continued growth.
“We had a lot of freshmen auditioned this year, which is really exciting,” McCain said. “We have an understudy cast that is mostly made up of freshmen who are being introduced, or reintroduced in some cases, to the Rice theater community, which is really exciting.”
The cast includes Nat Pujet (Seymour), Edith Ibeke (Audrey), Auggie Schwarz (Audrey II), Julian Puerta (Orin Scrivello/Patrick Martin), Josh Carmona (Mr. Mushnik), Alexi Pierre-Louis (Ronnette), Lauren Hunsaker (Chiffon), Eshe Lovely (Crystal), Brett Woffington (Bernstein), Landon Geronimo (Skip Snip) and Sarah Bradley (Mrs. Luce).
The artistic team includes Uribe (director/lead costume designer), Michael Li (assistant director), Jeffrey Youngson (music director), Ella Martinez (assistant music director), Ava Carson (choreographer), Ell Roseborrough (choreographer), Carolina (stage manager), Kerah Roque (assistant stage manager), Elise Stewart (pit conductor), Oliver Szabo (rehearsal pianist), Ian Schecter (lead props designer/lead plant designer), Jonathan Goldfeder (lead sound designer), Aidan Davenport (lead lighting designer), Paris Yuan (assistant lighting designer), John Israel (lead plant designer), Karis Williams (lead plant designer), Lucas Williams (lead set designer), Harrison Conway (lead set designer), Adam Vuong (assistant set designer), Ella Mackenzie (costume liaison) and Doc Moss (lead hair and makeup designer).
Pit musicians include Melanie Navaratna (piano), Luis Rangel (clarinet), Sergio Rodriguez (clarinet), Michelle Kim (flute), Nadia Thieriot (percussion) and Emma Phipatanakul (piano).
Tickets are free to all Rice Students. There is a $5 general admission ticket fee for non-students.
For more information, visit instagram.com/lovett_theater or lovetttheaterrice.wordpress.com.