By Mark Bauer/reporter

It’s a story of a boy, a girl and a man-eating plant from outer space.

That’s how Donna Bonfield, stage manager of the upcoming play Little Shop of Horrors, describes the production set to open Friday, April 20, on SE Campus.

Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Pert Durapau, associate professor of speech and drama, will run April 20-21 and April 26-28 in the Roberson Theatre.

Written by Howard Ashman with musical composition by Alan Menken, the musical is the 1982 stage adaptation of the 1960 film that featured Jack Nicholson. The film originally garnered very little attention upon its release, but has since become a classic.

The musical is set in a plant shop where Seymour, the shopkeeper, discovers his extraterrestrial plant, the Audrey II, feeds on the blood of humans.

Zac Ramsey, the actor who plays Seymour, said he performed as Seymour in a high school production of the play, but now has more freedom to do what he wants with it.

“ I can add my own unique twist to it,” he said.

Taylea Preston, who plays Audrey, Seymour’s love interest, said she has wanted to play this role since she was 6. 

“ I know all the songs, but being on stage is totally different from being alone in the car,” she said.
The entire cast and crew—including the director and stage manager—all agreed that the plants are what the audience can look forward to the most.

“ All of them have been built on this campus,” Durapau said.

A total of four different plants of various sizes will be used to portray the growth of the plant, Audrey II, throughout the play. The fourth and final plant will require three people to operate it: Erika Kae, Tyler Wilson and Jason Patrick.

Among the challenges of working with Audrey II, Bonfield said, is syncing the movements of the mouth of the plant with the dialogue that is voiced off-stage by André Green.

Bonfield said the technical director, Alex Robertson, can be credited with much of the design and construction of the set, which includes, for the first time in three years, a revolving stage.

“ It sets on what is basically a lazy Susan and was constructed so that it could literally be turned by just one person,” she said.

The production has been rated PG-13 for some graphic elements.

Thursday-Friday performances are at 8 p.m., and Saturday performances are 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets are free for faculty, staff and students and $5 for the general public.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the box office at 817-515-3599.