Civic Theatre of Allentown Presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Everybody's favorite musical about a blood-thirsty plant is about to get a long-overdue Civic treatment! Little Shop of Horrors, one of storied writing duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's most treasured accomplishments, will open at Civic Theatre on Friday, February 19th and run through Sunday, March 7th, with all shows at Civic's 19th Street Theatre. Ticket prices range from $26 to $31; they are on sale now at www.CivicTheatre.com, by calling 610.432.8943 or by visiting Civic's Box Office at 527 N 19th Street in Allentown.

Based on the 1960 B-movie of the same name, Little Shop tells the story of Seymour, a nerdy orphan working at a flower shop in urban Skid Row. He harbors a crush on fellow co-worker Audrey and is berated by his boss daily. One day, as Seymour is seeking a new plant, he finds a very mysterious unidentified plant which he dubs Audrey II. Seymour's new plant has a thirst for blood, however, and grows to the point where a drop or two of blood no longer satisfies it. Soon enough, Seymour is feeding the people in his way to Audrey II, but faces losing Audrey, his new girlfriend, as a result.

Civic Artistic Director William Sanders will direct this show, with musical direction by Justin Brehm, Muhlenberg student Michael Hull playing Seymour and Allentown resident Cheryl Moritz as Audrey. "Little Shop is one of my favorite musicals," says Sanders, "It has the craftmanship that defined new styles of making musical theatre and impacted many subsequent hit shows. It's one of the new classics!"

Menken and Ashman, who also worked together on the Disney films Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, won both the Drama Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical in 1983 for Little Shop of Horrors. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several now-legendary show-stoppers including "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly, Seymour," in addition to the title song.

Tickets are currently on sale for Little Shop of Horrors and can be purchased by calling 610.432.8943 or by visiting Civic's Box Office at 527 N 19th Street in Allentown.

Civic's Box Office # is 610.432.8943. All shows will be produced at Civic's 19th Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA. Free parking for the shows is available along Liberty and Allen Streets near 19th Street and in the Wachovia Bank parking lot at 19th and Liberty (after the bank is closed).

Civic Theatre's 2009-2010 stage season sponsors are Service Electric, The Morning Call and WDIY. Further sponsorship of Little Shop of Horrors has been provided by The Express Times.

Civic Theatre of Allentown is a 501c3 non-profit organization that professionally produces live theatre, is the home to the Lehigh Valley's only year-round independent, foreign and arthouse cinema, and is also the home of the Lehigh Valley's premier children's theatre school. More information on Civic Theatre of Allentown can be found at www.civictheatre.com.

 

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