Little Shop of Horrors, a “rock-n-roll spoof of 1950s sci-fi,” opens today at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. North Carolina Theatre will be producing the show as part of their 2010 Broadway season. A special rate of $10 for N.C. State students will be available throughout the run of the show.
The cast includes the renowned Michael James Leslie as the carnivorous Audrey II; Leslie has performed this role for many years, in venues such as London, Broadway and Los Angeles.
“It’s just a show that works,” Leslie said. “It works at any location I’ve ever done, even though the plant eats half the cast.”
Little Shop of Horrors has a strange and interesting history. The show was originally a low-budget, science fiction movie in 1960. It was made into an off-Broadway play in 1982, and a film directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin in 1986. It finally came to Broadway in 2003 and subsequently traveled the globe.
”The show is more accessible now because of the [1986] movie. Kids love it,” Leslie said. He said he has never grown tired of playing the same role. “The show is never the same. It is still fun, and even though I only have 12 minutes of speaking, the audience always falls in love with the plant. Well, at least some of them do.”
Parker Fitzgerald, the puppeteer who brings Audrey II to life, said he is very enthusiastic about the production.
“It’s a fantastic show. The cast is outstanding and the [theater’s] space is spectacular,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald is also a Little Shop veteran, having performed as the puppeteer with this cast in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’m glad to be back in the saddle,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald encourages all to “come out to see a fantastic production, a great show and have some good laughs.”
Elizabeth Wait, a junior in agricultural education and animal science, is planning to attend Friday’s performance.
“My high school did the show. It was a lot of fun,” Wait said. Wait was excited to hear that North Carolina Theatre would be producing the production. “I’m a big fan of musicals in general — I’ve been to a lot over the years.”
Leslie, who has been acting for 30 years, said it is important to continually learn, no matter what craft one studies.
“Young people are not preparing themselves like they should. Even after you graduate, whether it’s in theatre or engineering or education, you must continually improve your craft,” Leslie said. “You can’t just get your degree, get a job and think you’ve learned everything. You must have passion and continually learn.”
