MOUNT CARROLL – Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of Northwest Illinois, will present the final show of its summer subscription series, Little Shop of Horrors, Thursday, August 10th through Sunday, August 20th at the playhouse in Mount Carroll. Acclaimed Chicago director, Lili-Anne Brown (Hairspray, Cabaret, Sweet Charity), returns to direct the musical.
Based on Roger Corman’s super fast, super creepy, super cult hit film, Little Shop of Horrors is the story of Seymour Krelborn, a lovesick clerk in Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist. He stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his beloved, ditzy coworker. Over time, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and appetite, and he must choose between love, fame and saving the world.
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular musical comedies in the world. From its first performance in Manhattan’s East Village 35 years ago, Little Shop of Horrors has grown into an international hit, with long running productions in L.A., London, Japan, Peoria, Hollywood, Sweden, Bulgaria, Broadway and theatres across the nation.
A successful 1986 film adaptation of the musical starred Rick Moranis and was nominated for two Academy Awards. The film is notable because it only used puppetry and miniatures for all of its special effects, rather than blue screens or digital video effects.
“The musical is full of wonderful 60s pop-cultural references, and all of those jokes and references are so layered, it’s a great amount of fun,” said Brown.
Beaudry added, “It’s one of the most delightfully absurd musical ever written, and we haven’t done it at TLP in over 30 years. The audiences are going to love it.”
Resident performers Sam Columbus and Elya Faye Bottiger star in TLP’s productionas Seymour and Audrey, respectively. Marcus Martin voices the plant, Audrey II. Grant Brown plays flower shop owner Mr. Mushnik, with Kieran McCabe as Orin Scrivello, a sadistic dentist (made famous by Stave Martin in the musical film adaptation).
Shayla Brielle G., Emilie Kouatchou and Nissi Shalome play 60s girl group inspired Greek chorus, who narrate the action of the show with songs like the title number, Skid Row, Da-Doo and Don’t Feed The Plants. Will Hughes and Ken Singleton complete the cast.
For show times and to purchase tickets, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call the Box Office at 815-244-2035. The Box Office is open every day from 10:00 – 3:00 and until intermission on days of performances. The playhouse is located at 8215 Black Oak Road in rural Mount Carroll.
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