Little Shop of Horrors
Patrick Tangredi
Hello and welcome to our PCC family of performers and technicians! We are once again embarking on a journey through the catalog of musical theatre. On our previous journey, we explored, through film, the daily lives of kids living in Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY. The 1970s musical brought the hopes and fears, triumphs and defeats into reality with The Me Nobody Knows. It’s a new day and a new reality for all of us – dare I say “post-pandemic”.
The Fall of 2023 brings to our PCC campuses the excitement of more students, more resources, and more opportunities to gather and create collectively in the arts. We are back! So, what better way to celebrate the performing arts than by mounting a musical?
Production schedule
This is a Winter Term production. The show will run March 8-10 and 14-17, 2024. Rehearsals will generally run Tuesday – Friday, 3-6pm and two Saturdays. Strike is on the final Sunday of the run.
Little Shop of Horrors plot
Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is loosely based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors. The songs are kitschy, catchy, and memorable. This show is a cult classic and family experience all in one.
Characters
Audition information is below.
| Name | Gender | Part size | Vocal part(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour Krelborn | Male | Lead | Tenor |
| Audrey | Female | Lead | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. | Male | Supporting | Baritone |
| Audrey II (puppeteer) | Any | Supporting | Silent |
| Voice of Audrey II (offstage) | Male | Supporting | Baritone |
| Mr. Mushnik | Male | Supporting | Baritone |
| Chiffon | Female | Supporting | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Ronnette | Female | Supporting | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Crystal | Female | Supporting | Mezzo-Soprano |
Other characters
- Patrick Martin: A sleepy opportunist, tries for a clipping off the plant.
- Wino #1 and Wino #2: Sight gags and schtick throughout the show.
- Customer: In the plant shop.
- Bernstein: An uptown bight from NBC, offers Seymore his own gardening show.
- Mrs. Luce: The wife of the editor of Life Magazine.
- Ensemble: All are welcome to audition. Parts require a little movement and a little singing.
- 2 houseless popping out of the manhole
- 1 mom with a stroller and a baby
- 1 young girl (looks 8-9 with a yoyo, chewing bubble gum)
- 2 bike or scooter riders
- 3 business people, suited
- 1DJ with boombox, retro
- 1 breakdancer
- 2 young teenagers playing basketball in the crowd
- 2 seniors
- 1 person running with a dog
There can be up to 20 available slots for walk-ons joining the cast as they sing the title song “Little Shop of Horrors” in an early morning street scene. Other parts represent life in the busy city by sopping, singing, and dancing their way through the epic song “Downtown” (affectionately known as “Skidrow”)!
Technicians
You are needed to make the magic happen! Our family of players and technicians are interspersed throughout the show and build a bond between the actor and the stage crew. If you can paint, paper mâché, build, costume, craft, or are interested or proficient at lighting design, set crew, house management, publicity (including social media), or you want to learn any of these skills, the musical is a fine way to get started.
All skill levels and ages are welcome!
Auditions
Arrive 10 minutes before the audition begins. You will fill out the sign-in sheet and will be called when it’s your turn.
- October 11, 4-6pm, Sylvania CT 126 (come into the classroom)
- October 12, 4-6pm, Sylvania Little Theater (no drinks except water in a closed container)
- October 13, 2:15-4:15pm, Sylvania Performing Arts Center
Preparation for the audition
Sing 32 bars of a song from a musical or a standard from the American Songbook. You may sing one of these songs from the show:
- “Little Shop of Horrors”
- “Somewhere That’s Green”
- “Downtown (Skidrow)”
Audition clothing
Black is always acceptable. You should wear comfortable clothes to move in. Wear character shoes, ballet, hip hop, or jazz shoes, or regular flats. Tennis shoes are fine if you have none of the above. Dance in this show is mostly stage movement. There is some choreography for specific characters, like the street urchins.
Masks are up to your discretion. If you have COVID at the time of the audition, contact me at julianne.johnson2@pcc.edu and send in a phone recording of your audition.
We look forward to meeting you!
Julianne Johnson Director