LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Begins Tonight in Melbourne

Starring Brent Hill and Esther Hannaford, the Melbourne season of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will be staged at the Comedy Theatre from tonight May 4 for a strictly limited season.

This brand new, all-Australian production is currently playing at Hayes Theatre Co in Sydney where it is generating tremendously glowing reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Produced by Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions who brought us the 2014 multi award winning Sweet Charity, this gleefully gruesome musical combines the upbeat, doo wop Motown score, puppet wizardry and a wickedly talented Australian cast. Award-winning creative duo Director Dean Bryant and Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth have once again combined their ingenious minds to bring Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's book and score to life, creating a deviously delicious out-of-this-world musical experience. They have joined forces with master puppet-makers Erth to create a brand new Audrey II for the 21st century.

The extraordinarily talented Brent Hill stars as the unassuming, hapless flower shop worker Seymour Krelborn while multiple-award winner Esther Hannaford plays the object of Seymour's affections, Audrey. The opportunistic shop owner Mr Mushnik, is played by Tyler Coppin while the role of the demon dentist and Audrey's sadistic boyfriend is acclaimed actor Scott Johnson. Angelique Cassimatis, Josie Lane and Chloe Zuel play the three Supreme-esque streetwise urchins while Dash Kruck and Kuki Tipoki complete the cast playing in the ensemble.

Laced with dark humour and irresistible music, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is one of the longest-running off Broadway shows of all time. Inspired by the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, this rock musical version of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS premiered off Broadway in 1982 before enjoying a successful run on Broadway and in London's West End, eventually inspiring the 1986 film version by veteran puppeteer Frank Oz that starred Rick Moranis. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin) rocking doo-wop score includes the popular songs 'Feed Me', 'Suddenly Seymour' and 'Somewhere That's Green'.

When meek, down-and-out floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new plant species that he names 'Audrey II' after his co-worker crush, it seems like a serendipitous ticket to fame and fortune. But as Audrey II grows and grows - into a foul-mouthed, smooth-talking, R&B-singing carnivore - Seymour discovers that feeding his ambition starts to require juicier and less justifiable ingredients. Before he knows it, our accidental hero Seymour and the gutsy but guileless Audrey must battle the perilous and persuasive plant - not just for their lives, but for the very future of planet earth!

In addition to director Dean Bryant, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions have also brought musical director Andrew Worboys, set designer Owen Phillips, costume designer Tim Chappel, and lighting designer Ross Graham to the team for this spine-tingling musical theatre event. Puppet makers Erth are recognised as an innovator of physical and visual theatre both nationally and internationally. They have created visual masterpieces for numerous cultural events and museums inspiring audiences with their unique and dynamic vision.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director) at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City by the WPA Theatre, David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Schubert Organization.

IF YOU GO:

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2016

NEW TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2016

Melbourne - Comedy Theatre from May 4th 2016

For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.au.

For more information, visit www.littleshoptour.com.au.