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Terror-ific Halloween Fun!
A VOICE NOT UNLIKE GOD’S thunders in serious prophetic tones: On the twenty-first day of the month of September, in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced – as such enemies often do – in the seeming most innocent and unlikely of places. (music begins)
Thus begins the hit musical "Little Shop of Horrors", which opens on October 29, at the CBT Carousel Theatre. Based on the low budget 1960 “B” movie directed by Roger Corman, this extremely goofy musical is part sci-fi, part black comedy, part Faustian legend and a whole lot of terrific fun. Set in early 1960’s Skid Row, the down and out characters struggle and dream of one day “getting out.” When Seymour comes upon a mysterious and unusual plant, the floundering florist shop where he works suddenly gets a new lease on life. The plant brings in business and as it grows (thanks to Seymour’s devoted care) the plant’s unusual dietary needs are discovered. The plant needs blood to grow. “Must be human, must be fresh” as the now talking plant tells Seymour. The plant promises Seymour fame and fortune if he will feed him what he needs. Reluctantly, Seymour capitulates and a tragic Faustian series of events ensue. Throw in a little romance (a blond bombshell named Audrey), a sadistic Elvis-like dentist, a singing and dancing plant, and a “Supremes-like” girl group and you have the recipe for a hysterically funny terror filled evening.
The music and lyrics were created by the terrifically talented Howard Ashman and Alan Menchen. "Little Shop" was their first big hit and ultimately catapulted them to great fame writing the Disney animated hits "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin." Ashman died in 1991, but Menchen has gone on to even greater heights writing other Disney hits as well as bringing several of the animated features to Broadway. There was a hit movie version of "Little Shop" created in 1986 starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Green. The music of "Little Shop" is a catchy combination of Motown, gospel, R&B and 60’s rock & roll influenced tunes. The cast of will feature our undergraduate student and guest artist David Kortemeier.
"Little Shop of Horrors" opens just in time for a little ghoulish Halloween fun!
The University of Tennessee | College of Arts & Sciences | UTK Theatre Department | Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 | 865-974-5161
