DC Players to present ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Defiance College’s thespians, the DC Players, will present Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s “gleefully gruesome” musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” on April 4 – 6. This 1982 off-Broadway hit is about a nerdy florist shop worker raising a plant that feeds on human blood. The show was based on a 1960 film—filmed in two days—and was filmed again in 1986. Mencken’s music is in 1960’s style and uses rock and roll, doo-wop, and some early Motown styles. This is the first performance of the musical in Defiance.

The DC Players’ cast of 21 features: Kaitlin Switzer, Katy Doak, and Robin Mason as the Doo-Wop girls, who function almost as a Greek Chorus, setting up and commenting upon the action; Adam Schlett as Mushnik, the owner of the down-and-out flower shop that is saved by the unusual plant that grows there; Mark Vandevnder as Seymore Krelborn, the nerdy shop keeper, hopelessly smitten with his co-worker, Audrey, and the unfortunate slave to a ever-larger plant; Andrea Galbraith as Audrey, Seymore’s secret love, and victim of her sadistic, dentist, Elvis-type boyfriend; and David Zwiebel as Orin the dentist who has some pretty bad habits.

The plant, named Audrey II, will be brought to life by Shorty Williamson, with a voice by Nick Rausch. Matt Mt. Castle will appear as the dentist’s customer. Supporting players include: Don Hasselswerth as the Wino and Kip Snip; Celisa Hardesty as the Bag Lady; Katy Adams and Kristen Weirauch as Hookers;  Brittany Martin as the Flowershop Girl; Shorty Williamson as the Pimp; Adam Hart as the Radio Man; Adam Fausey as Berstein; Kristen Weirauch as Mrs. Luce; Adam Hart as Martin; and Tierney May as the Shop Lady.

The street people and chorus include: Brittany Martin, Katy Adams, Kristen Weirauch, Celisa Hardesty, Tierney May, Sara Langley, Adam Hart, Adam Fausey, and Matt Mt.Castle.

The Friday and Saturday, April 4 & 5, performances are at 8 p.m. and the Sunday, April 6, performance is at 2 p.m. All performances are in Schomburg Auditorium on the Defiance College Campus. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students. Reservations can be made by calling 419 783-2462. The show is being directed by Ken Neuenschwander with music direction by Janet Lyne.