Little Shop of Horrors!
Book by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith
Director: Lori Towne
Music Director: Andrew Briggs
Choreographer: Kyle C. Greene
Performance Dates: July 18 - 27, 2013 in MCC's Theatre Outback
Synopsis
A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!
One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS never fails to entertain. A small cast, band and unit set make the other aspects of production a snap.
Audition Date & Time
Tuesday, April 23rd 6:00 - 10:00pm
MCC Music Building (MU43) at the Southern & Dobson Campus in Mesa.
1833 W. Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85202
The Music Building is located on the NE side of campus nearest the football field off of Southern Avenue.
Callback Date & Time
Saturday, April 27th 10:00am - 1:00pm
To Schedule an Audition Appointment
Email: Lori Towne, Director at hometownemusic@gmail.com. In the subject field write: Little Shop Audition
What To Prepare
One cutting (approximately 32 bars) or two cuttings (approximately 16 bars each) that features your best character acting and singing. Please bring sheet music. Accompanist will be provided. No monologue necessary. (You may sing selections from the show if you like but it is not required. Those called back will sing cuttings from the show)
All auditioning will learn choreography that night. Come prepared to move. This is not a dance heavy show.
Character Breakdown
Seymour: (Male 18-20’s) Tenor, Low Bb to Top A
Our Insecure, naïve, put-upon, florist’s clerk hero. He’s sweet, well-meaning, somewhat shy, awkward and lacking in social skills. Comedic timing a must.
Audrey: (Female 18-20’s ) Belter, who needs a sweet sound at times. Low A to Belted D.
She is the vulnerable, gum- snapping, bleached-blonde secret love of Seymour’s life. Lacking in education and self-esteem, she suffers from feelings of hopelessness at her situation in life, including her abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Orin. She is a sweet and somewhat air-headed character.
Mr. Mushnik: (Male 30-60 ) Baritone, Low Ab to top F.
Their boss. Owner of Mushnik’s Flower Shop, a failing business on Skid Row, Mr. Mushnik is given to cursing in Yiddish. He is a man who seldom smiles and often yells.
Orin (the Dentist): (Male, 20’s-30’s) Baritone, Low A to top F.
Egotistical, rough and insensitive; he is Audrey’s abusive boyfriend. He’s a sadistic dentist. A motorcycle-riding, black leather jacket-wearing tough-guy. He is tall, dark, handsome, and sadistic. Orin’s addiction to causing others pain is his motivation for life. Comedic timing a must.
Audrey II (Voice of the Plant): Booming bass/baritone and funky . Low F to top G.
The voice of the plant is provided by an actor on an offstage microphone: A street- smart, funky, conniving villain. Audrey II: A wise-cracking anthropomorphic cross between a Venus flytrap and an avocado with teeth, Audrey II is Seymour’s favorite and soon-famous plant. Once the plant has the taste of human blood there is The plant is the reason everything in the show occurs. To this end, the personality ranges from gently persuasive to murderously sadistic.
The Plant: The creature is played by a series of puppets. We need a minimum of two
puppeteers. Strong upper body strength is a must. Puppeteers are not seen by audience but are
integral to the production of this show!
Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon: Female street urchins who function as both participants within the action of the play, and as a trio of “doo-wop” chorus girls outside it. They are our primary story-tellers who help move the story along and provide some narrative. They’re hip, smart, and the only characters who really know what’s going on. They occasionally sing to the audience directly, with a secret smile that says, we know something you don’t know. Must sound funky, soulful, jazzy and huge with every note sung. Low Alto to high belt.
Mr. Bernstein: An uptown bigshot from NBC, Bernstein offers Seymour his own gardening show.
Mrs. Luce: The wife of the editor of life magazine a wealthy representative from Life Magazine; a schmoozing business type; puts on airs a fast-talking media hotshot
Skip Snip: a smooth, trench-coated East Coast talent agent
Patrick Martin: a sleazy opportunist, he tries to talk Seymour and Mushnik into leaf cuttings of Audrey II.
Customers: overly enthusiastic passers-by; male or female.
Radio Announcer
Skid Row Ensemble – Ranging in age from 16-70, they are down on their luck. They are NOT addicts, they have just fallen on tough times. They feel a unity among their fellow men.
Additional Info
If cast, all members must register for MUP270 – Music Theatre Workshop here at MCC. This is a 2-credit course ($76/credit), and scholarships are available.
