Nick Cearley, Gina Milo, Jamison Stern Set for LITTLE SHOP at Portland Stage

Portland Center Stage at The Armory's 2016-2017 season kicks off with the hilarious and rockin' sci-fi musical, Little Shop of Horrors, based on the film by Roger Corman, with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. The demonic plant will take over the U.S. Bank Main Stage with preview performances beginning September 10; an opening night on September 16; and performances running through October 16. Bill Fennelly directs a cast featuring Nick Cearley, Gina Milo, Jamison Stern, Chaz Rose, David Meyers, Ebony Blake, Johari Nandi and Alexis Tidwell.

Regular tickets start at $25. Tickets may be purchased at www.pcs.org, 503.445.3700, or in- person from the box office (128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR). Rush tickets are $20. Students and patrons who are 30 or younger can purchase $30 tickets in all premium seating areas. Showtimes are Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (excluding September 25 and October 2); Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. (excluding September 10, 11, 17 and October 1); and Thursday matinees at noon (excluding September 15). Little Shop of Horrors is recommended for ages 12+. Contains theatrical haze and mature content. Information at https://www.pcs.org/littleshop.

Bill Fennelly (most recently Black Pearl Sings!) returns to direct this musical thriller, as a co- production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. "I'm looking forward to bringing one of the most beloved and hilarious American musical comedies to spine-tingling life in a brand new production at The Armory," said Fennelly. "The year is 1963," he continued, "America is a country on the brink, and a terrifying creature is blossoming on Skid Row to begin his quest for world domination. Set to the rhythm of a rockin' Motown beat, it's suspenseful ... it's romantic ... it's bone-chilling ... it's Little Shop of Horrors!"With a score that is part rock 'n' roll, part doo-wop and part Motown, Little Shop of Horrors is the story of the shy and love-struck florist's assistant, Seymour, who finds fame, fortune and a whole lot more when he nurtures a strange little plant with a strong - and scary - thirst. Based on the darkly comic 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (who also collaborated on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast) created a unique musical that swept the Off-Broadway awards when it premiered at the Orpheum Theatre in 1982 (New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award). In 1986, the musical was made into a film directed by Frank Oz. A revival of the musical debuted on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre in 2003.

Starring as the insecure florist clerk Seymour is Nick Cearley (The Skivvies, All Shook Up, First National Tour; most recently Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, Off-Broadway); his naive love interest, Audrey, will be played by Gina Milo (LES MISERABLES, Broadway and National Tour; Annie, National Tour); the maniacal dentist Orin will be played by Jamison Stern (By Jeeves and How The Grinch Stole Christmas on Broadway; Little Shop of Horrors, National Tour); and the owner of the East Side florist shop, Mr. Mushnik, will be played by local actor David Meyers (Drammy Award for The Light in the Piazza at Portland Playhouse). Making up Skid Row's Greek chorus-style trio with a Motown sound is Ebony Blake as Ronnette (The Book of Mormon, First National Tour); Johari Nandi as Chiffon (LES MISERABLES, The Muny); and Alexis Tidwell as Crystal (Little Shop of Horrors at Gretna Theatre). Taking on the voice of the blood-thirsty plant Audrey II is Chaz Rose (Black Angels Over Tuskegee, Off-Broadway). The plant - built in-house for this production - will be operated by Stephen Kriz Gardner and members of The Armory running crew.

THE CREATIVE TEAM
Director Bill Fennelly (Gypsy and Black Pearl Sings!; his work has been seen on Broadway and Off- Broadway; most recently he received S.A.L.T. Awards for Director of the Year/Production of the Year for both Hairspray and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Syracuse Stage) leads a creative team featuring Musical Supervisor Rick Lewis (most recently Ain't Misbehavin'); Choreographer Kent Zimmerman (most recently Ain't Misbehavin'); Scenic Designer Michael Schweikardt (debut; Off- Broadway productions include The Bus and Gates Of Gold); Costume Designer Kathleen Geldard (debut at The Armory; designs for Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and others); Lighting Designer William Kirkham (debut; designs for American Music Theatre Project, Arizona Broadway Theatre and others); Sound Designer Casi Pacilio (most recently A Streetcar Named Desire); with Stage Manager Mark Tynan, Assistant Stage Manager Janine Vanderhoff, Production Assistant Bailey Anne Maxwell, and Plant Operator/Production Assistant #2 Stephen Kriz Gardner. Bringing the Motown-infused score to life is Jeffrey Childs (Conductor/Piano), Tim Ribner (Keyboards), Will Amend (Bass), Mitch Wilson (Drums) and Eric Toner (Guitar).