Cleveland Play House's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Starring Lauren Molina, Opens Tonight

Squeals of delight and blood-curdling screams of fright will fill the Allen Theatre as Cleveland Play House's (CPH) Centennial Season continues with a humorous and heartfelt production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. CPH's production brings this dark storyline to life with loads of gleefully twisted comedy and head-bopping doo-wop on the Allen Theatre stage now through Feb. 7. Opening night is tonight, January 15, 2016.

Hearkening back to its very first productions in 1915 that featured sophisticated marionettes, CPH is bringing the cheeky and blood-thirsty plant Audrey II to life in a production that will be every vocal coach's dream - and every hemophobic's worst nightmare!

Often described as a "comedy horror rock musical," LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is based on the 1960 film The LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS directed by Roger Corman. In 1982, the dynamic duo of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, etc.) transformed the story into an off-Broadway musical, which eventually landed on the big screen in the 1986 Frank Oz film starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin.

Set in a flower shop on Skid Row, Seymour is a nerdy floral clerk with a knack for plants, but not much else. However, one peculiar plant he's tending might just be his ticket to fame, fortune - and the girl of his dreams. There's only one teeny - but 'growing' - problem: This plant has an unquenchable thirst for the red stuff (type O, A, or B... he's not picky). Mixing Motown, B-movies, and The American Dream, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is the screamingly funny, out-of-this-world hit musical featuring indelible songs like "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly, Seymour."

The LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS cast features KEV ABRAMS (Puppeteer), ARI BUTLER (Seymour), HALLIE BULLEIT (Urchin/Bassist), LARRY CAHN (Mr. Mushnik), BRITTANY CAMPBELL (Urchin/Guitarist), EDDIE COOPER (Voice of The Plant), KATE FERBER (Assistant Musical Director/Urchin/Keyboardist), INJOY FOUNTAIN (Urchin/Drummer), LAUREN MOLINA (Audrey), ALANNA SAUNDERS (Urchin/Vocalist), JOEY TARANTO (Orin) .

The Creative Team includes HOWARD ASHMAN (Playwright), ALAN MENKEN (Composer), AMANDA DEHNERT (Director/Musical Director/Choreographer), JUDE SANDY (Assistant Director).

The LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Design Team features PHILIP WITCOMB (Scenic Designer), MELISSA TORCHIA (Costume Designer), BRIAN GALE (Lighting Designer), JOSH HORVATH (Sound Designer), PHANTOM LIMB (Puppet Design), WIGS AND WHISKERS (Wig Design).

The Stage Manager for this production is JOHN GODBOUT and the Assistant Stage Manager is Jennifer Caster. Casting for this production was done by GEOFF JOSSELSON/CALLERI CASTING.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will take place in the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square. Tickets range in price from $20-$100 each. Students under the age of 25 with a valid ID will be offered a special 50% off ticket price. To order single tickets, call 216-241-6000 or visit clevelandplayhouse.com. Groups of 10+ save up to 40% off single ticket prices; call 216-400-7027.

Photo Credit: Roger Mastroianni