Town and Country Players Opens '11 Season, Begins With LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Town and Country Players opens its 64th season with "Little Shop of Horrors" at Town and Country Players April 8 through 23, and reminds audiences that musicals that thrive on the White Way continue to please here in Bucks County.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film directed by Roger Corman. The cult classic was adapted in the 1980's by the hit team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (composer of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin.)

This production marks another collaboration by John Zimmerman, producer Nancy Ridgeway, and musical director Don Tennenblatt whom, yet again, hit the mark as their cast of seasoned actors who hail from here to Philadelphia, take to the multi-leveled stage. The production staff orchestrates a script and score complete with high-octane tunes and the occasional heart-stopping ballad.

"Little Shop of Horrors" blends comedy and mayhem with the crucial element of human need, and promises to appeal to patrons who welcome hip, edgy theater that showcases great vocal talent, appealing choreography (by Page Ridgeway of Doylestown), and laugh-out-loud comedy. Not to divulge too much, but buy a ticket just to see Audrey II who often steals the spotlight from its "living" cast of characters.

The music of "Little Shop..." was composed by Alan Menken, (who brought you Disney hits such as "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast,") and pays homage to early 1960's rock and roll, Motown and the funky styling of doo-wop with the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", plus other well-known melodies, "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour".

The story centers on Seymour Krelborn (Michael Schiumo of Horsham), a twenty-something orphan (and uber-nerd) who works in the crummiest, poorly supported flower shop on Skid Row. In fact, business is so uneventful at Mushnik's Skid Row Florists that its cranky boss, Mr. Mushnik (DeLarme Landes of Doylestown) has informed his only two employees, Seymour and bimbo-with-a-heart-of-gold Audrey (Chelsea Stotter of Merion), that the time has come to close shop for good. Fortunately for the unrequited co-workers, a straggling customer is so enchanted by the "strange and interesting plant" sitting in the store window that he buys $100 worth of roses. This starts Mr. Mushnik and Seymour to thinking that this plant, named Audrey II (the voice of Andrea Cartegena of northeast Philadelphia), which Seymour just happened to find not long after a total eclipse of the sun, may be the answer to all of their prayers. Before long, business is booming, Seymour is finding it harder and harder to think of the sexy Audrey as just a co-worker, and she is wondering if maybe Seymour might just be the knight in wimp's armor who can rescue her from Orin Scrivello D.D.S., her sadistic dentist boyfriend (Kevin Palardy of Doylestown). Meanwhile, a gaggle of grade school dropouts named after a 1960s girl group, the Urchins, (Alyssa Farrell of Horsham, Melissa Angelo-Schiumo of Horsham and Page Ridgeway, who also served as the production's choreographer) keep popping up to comment on the action and to harmonize to Ashman and Menken's memorable songs.

Puppeteers who manipulate the many growth spirts of Audrey II include James Zimmerman, Chris Wehba and Freddy Conover. The production team of "Little Shop..." also includes John Demeter, co-producer and lighting designer; Kitty Landes, stage manager; David Sharper, set design/construction; Scott Monsees, sound design; Don Brown, master electrician and board operator; Bridget Fox, props; Lynne Anne Donchez, hair/wigs and make-up design; Stephanie Zimmerman, hair/make-up; Barb Emch, set artist; John Neuman and Milo Neuman, spot light; Beth Keeley and Jennifer Kosmider, stage crew.

Director John Zimmerman says it best, "I think people will be surprised when they see the level of quality in this production. We've really raised the bar consistently over the past few years at T and C, and this show is no exception. The singing, acting, staging and FX work is really high quality and at $18 a ticket, you can't go wrong with this production."

"Little Shop of Horrors" runs April 8 through 23, 2011, with a complimentary Wine and Cheese Reception following the opening night performance. A few tickets are still available, but get them while they last, because musicals at the Barn do sell out.

Town and Country Players is located at 4158 York Road (Route 263) between routes 413 and 313 in Buckingham (near None Such Farm.)

Evening Friday and Saturday curtain is at 8 p.m., while Sunday matinee curtain is at 3 p.m. The Box Office opens one hour prior to each performance. Purchase tickets through Brown Paper Tickets with a credit card by either phoning 800-838-3006 or go to www.townandcountryplayers.org and click on reservations. Indicate preference for tickets receipt - mailed, print out at home or pick-up at the Box Office the night/afternoon of the show. Season or Gold Patron tickets are also available through the phone number or web site listed above.

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