Topic: College of Fine Arts
March 21, 2011
Ball State student Matthew Glasner plays Seymour Krelborn to student Corey Rudell~~~s Mr. Mushnik in the university~~~s adaptation of "Little Shop of Horrors."
A twist of science fiction and musical theatrics will bring the popular Broadway show "Little Shop of Horrors" to life on the Ball State University Theatre stage. The musical known for songs such as "Skid Row (Downtown)" and "Somewhere That's Green" opens March 31 at 7:30 p.m. with additional shows scheduled for the same time April 1-2 and April 6-9. Audiences also can catch a matinee April 3 at 2:30 p.m.
The cast of 20 students will transform the stage into downtown New York Skid Row 1962 and tell the story of Seymour Krelborn, an orphan who makes a pact with a huge venus flytrap Audrey II— a plant that is very mysterious and possibly dangerous. Krelborn provides the plant with a special diet in return for promises of love and success. The musical shares the consequences that come when you make such unsavory deals.
Despite the predicament caused by Krelborn's pact with Audrey II, "Little Shop" will offer plenty of comic relief and musical highlights to lighten the mood. "Our audiences should experience a high energy evening of great singing and dancing in a B-science fiction world that alternates between big laughs and creepy thrills," said Michael Daehn, associate professor in theatre education and "Little Shop" director.
Daehn has enjoyed directing such a spirited rock production. "The best part of directing any show is the opportunity to jump into a new, unfamiliar world, and this is a tremendously fun one to explore," he said.
"Little Shop of Horrors" began as a Roger Corman low budget movie with Jack Nicholson appearing in his debut-acting role. It became popularized in the 1980s with an Off-Broadway run and was made into a Disney movie in 1986, starring Rick Moranis as Seymour and Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops as the voice of Audrey II. It later came to Broadway in 2003. Daehn says audiences should expect differences between Ball State's production of the musical and the film version of the story.
"We found a few ways artistically do this a little differently than anyone who's tackled ‘Little Shop' before," Daehn said. "And unlike the movie version, our ending is like the original musical—a little more realistic in which the character's actions have consequences."
Tickets for the performance cost $12.50 for the general public, $11.50 for faculty and staff, $9.50 for senior citizens, and $6.50 for students. They are available from the University Theatre Box Office, open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the box office at 765-285-8749 or visit www.bsu.edu/theatre for more information.
By Samantha Irons