Photo Flash: WVPT Continues 25TH Anniversary Season With LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Opens 6/30

West Virginia Public Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Summer Season by bringing back a cult-classic musical comedy thriller after fourteen years absence from the WVPT stage.  Little Shop of Horrors runs from June 30th through July 5th in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the WVU Creative Arts Center.  First appearing at WVPT in 1995, this audience favorite was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken—the team behind such Disney favorites as Aladdin and The Little Mermaid—and tells the story of a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical was based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman.

Starring as Seymour Krelbourn, the nerdy Florist assistant, is Robert Anthony Jones who audiences may remember from last season’s The Producers (Max) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Pablo) or his 2003 turns as Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls and King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.  Jones has also made a name for himself Off-Broadway and in regional theatre with roles in Dorian Gray, The Prince and the Pauper, and numerous others.  Portraying Jones’ love interest, the tragic Audrey, is National Tour and Off-Broadway star Kate Fahrner.  Best known for her turn as Glinda in the Chicago production of Wicked, Fahrner has starred in Sarah, Plain, and Tall Off-Broadway and the National Tours of Cats and The Full Monty.  Another Broadway veteran, Bob Arnold, portrays Mr. Mushnik, the Florist shop owner and WVPT favorite Robert Rokicki (Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie) plays the sadistic dentist, Orin, as well as a handful of other characters.

The remaining cast features Off-Broadway and tour veteran Michael Hodge as the Audrey II puppeteer (Hodge was featured in the original Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors) and WVPT veterans Tyson Jennette (Dreamgirls) as the Voice of Audrey II, Dionysia Williams (West Side Story, Urban Cowboy, A Chorus Line) as Chiffon, Shelese Franklin (Dreamgirls) as Crystal, and Alexis Rhoades (Aida, Dreamgirls) as Ronnette.

Debuting Off-Broadway in 1982, Little Shop of Horrors ran for 2209 performances (the third longest musical production in Off-Broadway history) and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award.  Subsequently, the musical was adapted into a hit motion picture starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin and a 2003 Broadway production.  Famous musical numbers include “Somewhere that’s Green,” “Dentist,” and “Suddenly, Seymour.”

Little Shop of Horrors is directed by WVPT favorite and Morgantown native David S. Sollish who audiences may remember from his numerous onstage performances in eleven seasons during the past fifteen years including as Mitch in last season’s A Streetcar Named Desire.  Morgantown native Liz Rossi choreographs and the musical direction is by Andrew Austin.

Little Shop of Horrors runs Tuesday, June 30th through Sunday, July 5th with performances on Tuesday thru Saturday at 8:00PM and 2:00 PM matinees on Wednesday and Sunday.  The season continues with Disney’s High School Musical: July 8—July 12 and July 15th—July 19; Doubt, A Parable: July 14—July 19; The Wedding Singer: July 21—July 26; Fiddler on the Roof: July 28—August 2; and Cats: August 4—August 9.

Five and three show packages available along with single tickets.  Discounts for students and children are also available. Special “Anniversary Day” tickets are available for $15.00 on opening nights and $20.00 RUSH tickets are available for all other performances two hours prior to curtain.  Special July 4th weekend prices are also available for Little Shop of Horrors performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  For tickets, call (304) 291-4122 (or toll free at 1-877-999-WVPT) or visit the WVPT box office in the WVU Creative Arts Center between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday; Saturdays 12:00PM-5:00PM; Sundays 12:00PM-4:00PM.  WVPT performs at the WVU Creative Arts Center, which is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.  More information can be obtained from WVPT’s website: www.wvpublictheatre.com.

Tyson Jenette

Robert Anthony Jones

Kate Fahrner