Photo Flash: First Look at Kentwood Players LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Beg. Tonight

Kentwood Players proudly presents the comedy rock musical "Little Shop of Horrors" with book by Howard Ashman and music and lyrics by Alan Menken, from tonight, September 13 through October 19, 2013 for a six-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045. The production is directed and choreographed by Michael-Anthony Nozzi with musical direction by Joshua Eli Kranz, and produced by Shari Barrett and Sheridan Cole Crawford by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. The production features original Audrey II puppets designed by Michael-Anthony Nozzi and costumes designed by Maria Cohen and Arlene Cohen.

The cast features Elizabeth Adabale, Shari Barrett, Randy Brown, Brett Chapin, David Contreras, John Devereaux, Ruth Andrea Featherstone, Rusty Gregg, Barbara Haberman, Adeline Hall, Trevor Hart, Stephanie Hotz, Carly Linehan, Amanda Majkrzak, Peter Miller, Fiona Okida, Kristin Towers-Rowles, Michael Sandidge, Ethan Schyman, Hollister Starrett, Cole Edward Wagner, and Brittney S. Wheeler. Please note the role of Audrey is played by Kristin Towers-Rowles except on September 20-21-22 when Carly Linehan plays the role.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is based on the 1960 science-fiction film by Roger Corman and opened off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre in Manhattan's East Village on July 27, 1982. The production, directed by Ashman, with musical staging by Edie Cowan, was critically acclaimed and won several awards including the 1982-1983 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. The music, composed by Alan Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop, and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly, Seymour." The musical was also made into a 1986 film of the same name, directed by Frank Oz.

The plot centers on Seymour, a down-and out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. He names her "Audrey II" after his real lady love, but the plant soon grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding her growing appetite. A sadistic nitrous-oxide inhaling dentist is just one of Audrey II's gustatory delights as she eats her way through Seymour's friends and acquaintances. When botanists want to make cuttings to send all over the world, Seymour discovers the truth about Audrey II and knows he must stop her before it's too late.

Tickets are $23.00 with a $2.00 discount for seniors, students, servicemen, and Metro riders. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 4-7 PM. You may also purchase tickets online at www.kentwoodplayers.org. For group ticket sales, please call the box office.

For more information about Kentwood Players including our productions, upcoming auditions, and our Kentwood Kids Children's Theatre classes and productions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter.

To meet the "Little Shop of Horrors" production team and learn more about Kentwood Players and what goes on at the Westchester Playhouse, the public is invited to attend our general membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.

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