Just how big can a flytrap plant with an insatiable appetite get? Find out at the Royal Crown Players production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” opening Thursday, Nov. 21 at Roslyn High School. One of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, whose other credits include “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin.”
The musical follows the life of Seymour Krelborn played by Josh Goldenberg, a floral assistant on Skid Row who purchases an exotic plant with a mysterious need for human flesh. As Krelborn seeks the affection of his lovely coworker Audrey, portrayed by Erica Plaener, he also battles for control over his increasingly bloodthirsty plant, Audrey II. The plant quickly grows beyond what Krelborn imagined and turns into a bad mannered, R&B singing, and vulgar carnivore.
Also starring in the cast is Benjamin Berman as Mr. Mushnik and Daveen Rim as Orin Scrivello. The featured “Motown” quartet is comprised of Maggie Roberts, Jacqueline Steinberg, Maya Gordon and Casey Landman. Others in the cast include Griffin Berkenfeld, Arielle Waxman, Carly Heitner, Daniel Golden, Carly Chapman, Landon Allen, Adam Taxier and Adam Heitner. The ensemble includes Ryan Gomez, Jordan Curtis, Adam Grunther, Matthew Litvack and Sam Wasserman. The backup singers are Cindy Latin, Arielle Popick and Alexa Schaffer.
The inspiration for producing this comic musical for director Brad Frey is his recollection of how “groundbreaking” it was when he first saw it at the Orpheum Theater in New York in 1985.
“Directing Little Shop has been on my bucket list for a long time,” Frey said, adding that he is “delighted to be working with such a talented cast”.
The “Fab Four” pit band will be conducted by Scott Feiner, who also plays piano, along with Max Novick (guitar) Zak Levenstein (drums) and Brad Frey (keyboards).
Along with direction from Frey, the play features musical direction from Scott Feiner. The creative team also includes Mardi Braun (production and costumes), Eric Chocianowski (set design and construction) and Samantha Steinhart (choreography).
The stage manager is Trevor Cox and the backstage chiefs are Justin Kern and Sam Wasserman (lighting), Rachel Curtis (makeup) and Alex Baum (properties). Other chiefs include – Rachel Halpern (sound), Alex Schiffer with Oona Intenmann (house managers), Roxana Enamorado, Masuma Adib (set decoration) and Alex Schiffer (set construction). The business managers are Basia Kurlender and Bianca Rabbie. The box office managers are Maggie Roberts and Adam Heitner.
“Little Shop of Horrors” will be performed on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will take place in the Roslyn High School Auditorium.
To reserve tickets, call the RCP Box Office at (516) 801-5156 or order online by visiting their web site at www.RCP.roslynschools.org or by e-mailing rcp@roslynschools.org. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students. Roslyn senior citizens can see the Thursday matinee for free.
