In the depths of Skid Row, the roughest part of New York, hides a strange creature and this creature is nothing more than a common houseplant — or so the tale goes.
The ETSU Theatre and Dance Department is producing “Little Shop of Hours,” a play that follows Seymour Krelborn and his cannibalistic houseplant Audrey II. The production will be shown at the Martin Center March 30 to April 1 starting at 7:30 p.m. Matinee showings will be on April 1 and 2 starting at 2:30 p.m.
“I’m very very very excited, we’ve been working really hard and there has been a lot of effort put into this,” said Stephen Cradic, playing Seymour Krelborn. “It’s also a little nerve-wracking, but nerves are good—if you didn’t have nerves, it would show that you didn’t care.”
Many of the performers have been in theatre for a majority of their lives. Cradic has performed in community theatre since elementary school, which has led him to earning his fourth role in an ETSU production. Other performers have only been performing for a couple years, much like Caleb Vaughn, who plays Orange Scrivello.
“My role as the dentist is a very interesting one. I have the opportunity to portray things that may not always be funny in a very funny way,” said Vaughn. “I have the chance to draw the audience in with an interesting performance to say the least.”
Vaughn’s character is the villain in the production, but he hopes that the audience finds the character as enjoyable as he does while playing the role. For the role of Audrey II, the cast must have a puppeteer and a voice for the cannibalistic plant. Savannah Spangler, assistant scenic designer, controls Audrey II; while Taylor Phillips makes the plant come to life.
“I have been obsessed with theatre puppets since a very young age, so as soon as I heard we [the theatre department] was doing ‘Little Shop [of Horrors’] I jumped on the gun as soon as I could,” said Spangler. “I think we’ve put together something truly spectacular that I can’t wait for people to come out and see.”
The department was awarded a grant from the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts to obtain professional-grade puppets to bring Audrey II to life. Professor Melissa Shafer, director of the production, said she was extremely grateful for the grant. The production was chosen after a group of students read through a number of plays and chose their favorites for the upcoming season—“Little Shop of Horrors” was one of their top picks.
“This is a great show, it was really well written–the music, the lyrics, the book, it is very clever…it’s a classic,” said Shafer. “[Patrons can expect] a really good time, I think the performers really are doing a fabulous job…I think we’re really going to rock the place.”
Tickets are being sold online at etsu.edu/martin-center/events-tickets/theatre_dancedepartment.php.
For more information on the ETSU Department of Theatre & Dance, visit their website at etsu.edu/cas/theatre/.
