CONNEAUT – In the early scenes in “Little Shop of Horrors,” the lead character, Seymour, drips life into a sickly alien plant, bringing about chaos.
The Conneaut High School theatre department will bring that plant and the world of “Little Shop of Horrors” to life with a production of the show.
“I’m really excited for it,” Director Austin Blair said. “This is a show that I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now. This is one of my favorite musicals, personally. This is the first show that I actually ever music directed back when I was a student in college, and then six years later, I did it at Arlene’s Broadway on Buffalo as Seymour, which was a lot of fun. It’s a really fun, intimate show. There’s a lot that goes into it, but it is a small cast show, which I was wanting to do because we’ve been doing so many big shows for the last few years – the Addams Family, Seussical, Wizard of Oz. I kind of wanted to dial it down just a little bit and have just a little bit more of an intimate cast, but they’re pretty powerful. It’s like the perfect musical.”
The CHS Theatre Department will perform “Little Shop of Horrors” on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday, March 22, at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 while tickets for students, seniors and Conneaut Area City Schools staff are $8. Children under 5 can enter free.
Concessions will be available through the Conneaut Athletic Boosters.
“I think after the success that we’ve had for the last few shows, our stamina has built up a little bit, and they’ve been doing a really good job,” Blair said. “They’ve been up to the challenge, specifically for Audrey II.”
Jackson Birt will portray the lead character Seymour.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing when I was writing those names down (for parts I wanted),” Birt said. “That’s usually how it goes. I just kind of guess on what the roles are going to be. I heard that Seymour was a good one, so I wrote him down. I think I suit him really well. I’m really happy to have it. I’m really grateful that I have such a big part of the show.”
Natalia Bermudez-Colon will take on the role of Audrey.
“When I do roles, I go for people that are more like me and she’s not like me at all,” Bermudez-Colon said. “I was like, ‘I would like a challenge for one.’”
“She is quite a character,” Bermudez-Colon continued. “I’ve done a lot of research. I’ve seen other people do her character, and I kind of just took inspiration from what I liked.”
The remainder of the cast Sean Young as The Dentist; Aurelia Huya, Ella Elliott and Allison Lucas as the Street Urchins and Jonathon Carpenter as Mr. Mushnik.
“It really helps that we have those seasoned actors now,” Blair said. “Building this program, these kids know how this works, what tasks are needed to be done, how the rehearsals flow. They can really show those that are a little bit more green just how all of this works, and really get them to understand there’s a lot that goes into the show. We’re trying to run it right now. We’re going through the piano, the pit orchestra will be here in a bit, the set’s coming along, the props. It’s really fun. It’s a great learning experience for them.”
CHS teacher Tyler Pew will be tasked with voicing the alien plant, Audrey II.
“On occasion, for some of the characters in our show, I usually have guest appearances,” Blair said. “If you remember ‘Wizard of Oz,’ I had (CHS teacher) Gabe Cellini as The Wizard, and we projected his head and everything. (Conneaut Middle School Principal) Jim Kennedy was the narrator for ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ I’m having (CHS teacher) Tyler Pew to be Audrey II and he’s done a great job. He’s done a lot at the Ashtabula Arts Center, as well. It’s a difficult role. I could’ve had the students to do it, but I just kind of wanted to do something just a little bit different.”
Birt, who has to interact with Audrey II the most, has come to enjoy one of the songs with the plant, “Get It.”
“I love the plant,” Birt said. “I love the whole song. It’s a great time, so much fun. It is kind of difficult (to act with a plant). I don’t know what it’s made of, to be honest, it’s like foam and stuff, but it looks really good. It’s pretty convincing. The voice of it is offstage, so I kind of have to listen really closely for that.”
Kenzie Bennett is the stage manager and oversees 15 total cast members and 10 crew with a six-person pit band providing music.
“She’s done all of our shows,” Blair said. “It’s really, really nice just to have someone who knows what I’m thinking before I say it. It’s really nice to have that person who’s like, ‘Okay, Mr. Blair needs this. He wants this.’ A good stage manager is really sharp with them. She keeps them going. Once the performances start and we get to tech week, she’s basically in charge.”
Blair is the director and co-music director and Susan Trost is the co-music director. Jason Walker is serving as the assistant director and Grant Bennett is the technical director.
Many of the students didn’t know about the show, but they were quick to learn about it.
“A lot of them have seen the film,” Blair said. “A lot of them watched the film after I announced it. They’re absolutely ecstatic about this one. It’s just such a good show, and it has such fun music to it. The only difference with this show as to the previous shows that we’ve done, there are some more adult themes in this. People are being eaten by a plant. There’s murder. There’s domestic abuse. The Dentist hits Audrey a lot. There’s some swearing in this. These are more adult themes, but I think that the cast that we have is up to displaying those appropriately.”
Bermudez-Colon had seen some clips of the show, but made it a point to learn more once she was casted.
“I did not watch the movie,” Bermudez-Colon said. “I did know about it. I watched little clips of it, but I didn’t know it fully. I did sit down with my family and watch it after I got the role, though.”
Birt was unfamiliar with the show, but was quick do some research, as well.
“I did go and watch the movie and the Broadway recordings,” Birt said. “I’ve seen it all now, and I’m really grateful to be a part of it. It’s really a lot of fun, and it’s a really, really great show. We have a great cast. We’ve got a great pit. I’m really happy. I’m really excited for the show.”
One thing the cast has learned about the show is they truly enjoy it.
“It is so much fun,” Bermudez-Colon said. “I’ve only done one other show before, but this is one of my favorite shows ever, and the cast is just so fun to be around. This is a lot of fun.”
Birt, who has had a role in every show the CHS theatre department has performed since the program made its return, has loved preparing for “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“This one’s been great,” Birt said. “It’s definitely my favorite so far. I love the show. I had never seen it before. I don’t really watch musicals, but I love being a part of them. This one’s definitely no different. I’ve had a great time.”
