This content was published: January 24, 1997. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
"Little Shop of Horrors"at PCC
Photos and Story by Mark Evertz
Portland Community College Theatre Arts Department presents "Little Shop of Horrors," a wacky musical that takes place "sometime in the not too distant past," for its winter term production.
The performance will be held in the Performing Arts Center on the Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Avenue. Performance dates are set for March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for students and seniors, $6 general admission. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 3, at 1 p.m. and may be obtained in person at the box office located in the lobby of Performing Arts Center or by telephone, 977-4949. Reservations will be taken by phone between 1 and 5 p.m.
Set on Skid Row, near Mushnik’s flower shop, the story involves Seymour, who has discovered a very strange and blood-thirsty plant, and Audrey, another clerk in the flower shop. Murder and mayhem abound with lots of laughs in-between and music set to a do-wop sound. The book and lyrics are by Howard Ashman, music is by Alan Menken.
The show is directed by Sue Parks-Hilden, theater arts instructor at PCC who says the production may well be PCC’s "most ambitious to date." Dan Hays, on staff at PCC, is the designer and technical director, and PCC staffer Margaret Hetherington is the costumer. Karl Mansfield is the musical director and Cheri Price the choreographer, both well-known Portland talents.
The cast includes PCC students Kevin Dees of Lake Oswego as Seymour, Alyssa Hendrickson of Tigard as Audrey, Adam Jacobson of Portland as Orin and Mark Schouten of Portland as Mushnik. PCC students in the back-up chorus include Laura Bisbee, Jeremy Davidson, Karey Fowers, David Gorman, Rosilyn Koupal, Michael Lee, Karellen Lloyd, Shannon Midzalkowski, Will Porter, Ryan S. Thomas, Shawn Stevens and Sunday Renee White.
Audrey II, the plant, will be the voice of Rebecca Kimball. "It is almost always played by a male," said Hays. "So it will add an interesting element." The 12-foot plant and the other three versions were built and designed by John Martin, shop foreman at PCC, and Diane Trapp, of Illusionary Designs.