Slow Burn Theatre Opens Season with LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

In an early Halloween treat, the Slow Burn Theatre 2022/2023 season presented by American National Bank begins with Little Shop of Horrors Saturday, October 15- Sunday, October 30 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

This delicious sci-fi smash about a man-eating plant has devoured the hearts of theater goers since it first opened off-Broadway 40 years ago winning Drama Desk awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Outstanding Special Effects. Composer Alan Menken, who collaborated with Ashman on Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, was nominated for the award for his music and was only bested by none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber for Cats!

Ashman's book for the musical was based on the cult film favorite by Roger Corman with a screenplay by Charles Griffith. Going full circle, the musical was adapted for film and won the Academy Award

for Best Original Song for "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space," which will be the rousing post-curtain call finale in Slow Burn Theatre's production.

Nick Anastasia portrays the meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush Audrey, portrayed by Caiti Marlowe. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore, voiced by Tarik Zeigler, promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and its intent on global domination.

Slow Burn Theatre Co-founder Matthew W. Korinko appears as Mr. Mushnik, Seymour's unsuspecting boss at the flower shop, while Jeffrey Keller portrays Audrey's not-so-nice dentist boyfriend. The hip, doo-wopping. street corner Greek chorus is performed by Kareema Khouri, Khadijah Rolle and Nayomi Braaf. They are joined by a talented ensemble of Aaron Atkinson, Kristie Rose Mills and Gianni Palermo.

Slow Burn Theatre Artistic Director Patrick Fitzwater directs and choreographs the musical as he leads a creative team featuring scenic designer Kelly Tighe, costume designer Rick Peña, lighting designer Clifford Spulock and musical director Eden Marte. Matthew McAvene Creations designed the Audrey 2 puppets that are manipulated by Aaron Atkinson. Jackie Lawlor is the production stage manager and Andre' Russell is the assistant stage manager.

This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and contains adult language or content.

The Slow Burn Theatre Company 2022/2023 Season presented by American National Bank continues with Footloose -The Musical, Dec. 17- Jan. 1; Honeymoon in Vegas - The Musical, Feb. 4-19; Cameron Mackintosh and Disney's Mary Poppins March 25-April 9; Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical, June 10-25.