Peter Paige Joins Cast Of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS At Carpenter PAC, Opens 7/11

Peter Paige joins cast of Little Shop of Horrors to play the role of Dr. Orin Scrivello D.D.S. Perhaps best known for his role as Emmett Honeycutt on Showtime's hit series "Queer as Folk", Peter's other television credits include recurring and guest star roles on "Will & Grace", "Time of Your Life", "Girlfriends", and "Caroline in the City". His very first audition in Los Angeles earned him a guest-starring role on "Suddenly Susan".

Also an accomplished stage actor, Peter has appeared at major regional theatres throughout the country, most notably in world premieres at La Jolla Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, and Playwrights Horizons. He has performed nearly every genre of play, from the Greeks to Shakespeare to contemporary American work such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Rivals, Secret Agents, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Pantophobia, his two-man show written and performed with Abraham Higginbotham.

Little Shop of Horrors previews on July 10th and opens July 11, 2009 and runs through July 26, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

The story follows a meek down-and out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Little Shop of Horrors never fails to entertain.

Paul Garman, Musical Theatre West's Executive Director/Producer is, "pleased to present this delightful show with sets and costumes direct from the recent Broadway revival."

Steven Glaudini, Associate Artistic Director of Musical Theatre West, who recently directed the critically acclaimed MTW production of The Producers will direct this Little Shop of Horrors. "It has always been one of my favorite shows, and I am thrilled to be able to guide this terrific cast in this contemporary classic by the songwriting team of Disney's Beauty and the Beast."

The cast in the Musical Theatre West production of Little Shop of Horrors features Danny Gurwin as Seymour (Broadway's Little Women, The Full Monty, The Scarlet Pimpernel), Peter Paige as Orin and Others (Emmett in Television's "Queer as Folk"), Lowe Taylor as Audrey (The Marvelous Wonderettes, Divorce, The Musical), Stuart Pankin as Mr. Mushnik (HBO's "Not Necessisarily The News", MTW's Silk Stockings), Michael Shepperd as the Voice of Audrey II (Artistic Director of the Celebration Theatre, Little Shop on Broadway), Kamilah Marshall, Meloney Collins and Fredericka Meek.

Performance dates and times are as follows: Thursday evening, July 16 & 23 at 8PM, Friday evening, July 10, 17, 24 at 8PM, Saturday Evening, July 11,18 & 25 at 8PM, Saturday matinees, July 18 & 25 at 2PM, Sunday matinees, July 12, 19 & 26 at 2PM and Sunday evening, July 19 at 7PM. Little Shop of Horrors previews on Friday, July 10th with discounted tickets available.

Ticket prices for Little Shop of Horrors at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center range in price from $30 and $58 with special premium seating available ranging in price from $66 to $78 (first eleven rows center, subject to availability). Group discounts for parties of 15 or more are available by calling Michael in the Group Sales Department. All tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 562-856-1999 x 4, or in person at the Box Office at 4350 E 7th Street, Long Beach (corner of Ximeno Avenue). Tickets are available online now at the MTW website, www.musical.org. Musical Theatre West is on Facebook.

Musical Theatre West's 2009/2010 season kicks off in October '09 with Meet Me in St. Louis then followed by Sweeney Todd, The Marvelous Wonderettes and 1776. RENT is a bonus show offered in December '09.

Under the direction of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, Musical Theatre West remains one of Southern California's oldest and most respected theater production companies, and continues to be one of the fastest-growing arts organizations in the Long Beach area. The company is enjoying its 56th season and is currently celebrating eleven years since their inaugural production at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. MTW has recently reached out to surrounding communities, performing at the Heritage Forum in Anaheim and the Curtis Theatre in Brea. Follow Musical Theatre West on Facebook.

The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located at 6200 Atherton Street, Long Beach, on the campus of California

State University, Long Beach. The theater is just west of Palo Verde Avenue. For more information please log on to www.musical.org.

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