Willows Theatre Presents 'Little Shop of Horrors'

The Willows Theatre Company opens its Fall 2008 season with the award-winning comic musical Little Shop of Horrors.  Directed by Richard Elliott, Little Shop plays August 11- September 14 at the Willows Theatre mainstage, 1975 Diamond Blvd. (in the Willows Shopping Center), Concord, CA 94520.

Little Shop of Horrors has Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics & Book by Howard Ashman, the team responsible for Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid.  Little Shop is the hilariously bloodcurdling musical comedy about an R&B singing plant bent on world domination.  Our Story: The nerdy Seymour works in a florist shop for the overbearing Mr. Mushnik and worships the beautiful (but somewhat dingy) Audrey.  A strange plant comes under Seymour's care and proceeds to grow in both size and malevolence. Helping move the story to its monster-movie climax are a hip girl-group trio (Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon), great songs, and of course, true love.
 
The award-winning score includes "Suddenly Seymour," Somewhere That's Green," "Downtown," and the ever-growing monster plant's aria of hysteria and mayhem, "Feed Me."

The long-running off-Broadway production debuted in 1982 and was based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film of the same name, produced and directed by horrormeister Roger Corman.  The original film was not a musical and included a very young Jack Nicholson as a dental patient, a completely over-the-top role, even for Nicholson.  The second film version, made in 1986 and directed by Frank Oz, featured Rick Moranis as Seymour, Ellen Green as Audrey, Vincent Gardenia as Mr. Mushnik, and Steve Martin as the evil dentist.

High energy, sly wit, and a great score have made Little Shop of Horrors an enduring favorite.  The musical has toured the U.S. and played all over the world, most recently completing a long run in London.  Ultimately, it's a tuneful show that the whole family will enjoy.

Tickets to Little Shop of Horrors are $30-$40 with discounts for students (6-18), seniors (65+), groups (10+), and Preview performances.  To purchase tickets call (925) 798-1300 or visit the Willows Theatre web site at www.willowstheatre.org.  Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. next to REI in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord, across the street from the Concord Hilton and one block east of the Willow Pass Road exit off Highway 680.

The Willows Theatre Company Daytime Box Office is located at 636 Ward Street in Martinez, in the lobby of the Campbell Theatre. Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday Noon-5 pm.

Recipient of the 2002 Cyril Award of the San Francisco Business Arts Council for Nonprofit Arts Excellence, the Willows Theatre Company is led by Producing Artistic Director Richard Elliott. The Willows Theatre Company 2008 Season Sponsors are Best Western John Muir Inn of Martinez, Rocco's Pizzeria of Walnut Creek, Industrial Lumber of Martinez, Alphagraphics of Walnut Creek, the Concord Hilton, and US Bank (student/teacher discount ticket sponsor).

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