LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: Long Beach Is Somewhere That's Green

LONG BEACH, CA -- This weekend, July 23 - 26 marks the final weekend to catch Musical Theatre West's production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time. The musical parodies the genre of 1950s Science Fiction movies, but with a wicked, at times touching sense of humor. The musical features music from the Academy Award®-winning songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the pair that ushered in the renaissance of Disney Animated Musicals in the early 90's (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin).

The musical's roots first started as a low-budget Roger Corman movie in 1960 (featuring a cameo by Jack Nicholson) , then was re-imagined into the hit Off-Broadway musical in 1982 that starred Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene. Later, it was adapted into a cult movie musical in 1986 starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, reprising her iconic stage role. The music, composed in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several show-stoppers including "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green," "Suddenly, Seymour," and, of course, the title song.

Musical Theatre West's production which began July 10, stars Danny Gurwin (Little Women, The Full Monty, The Scarlet Pimpernel) as Seymour, Lowe Taylor (Divorce, the Musical) as Audrey, Peter Paige (TV's Queer As Folk) as The Dentist, and Stuart Pankin (TV's Not Necessarily The News) as Mushnik. The voice of Audrey II is performed by Michael A. Shepperd (Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway). The cast also includes Meloney Collins (Purlie at the Pasadena Playhouse), Kamilah Marshall (Hairspray, The Lion King, Rent), and Fredericka Meek (TV's General Hospital).

The musical comedy recounts the story of Seymour, a down-and out skid row floral assistant at Mushnik's Flower Shop. He becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, then finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, presented by Musical Theatre West, is directed by Steven Glaudini. Musical Direction is by Daniel Thomas. Choreography is by DJ Gray. Tickets for the remaining shows (ending July 26) are $30-$78 and are available online at www.musical.org or by calling the box office at (562) 856-1999. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS replaces DREAMGIRLS as the final show for the 2008-2009 Season.

Performances are held at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 Atherton Street in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West is celebrating 55 Years of bringing Broadway's best to Long Beach, California. Visit www.musical.org for more information and showtimes.

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