Spreading The Tendrils Of Joy At Christmas Time!

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Spreading The Tendrils Of Joy At Christmas Time!

From the creators of hit Broadway musicals BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE LITTLE MERMAID, comes LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS a madcap, delightfully scary and quirky joy of a musical, opening at Q theatre from November 1.

Starring Rima Te Wiata as the voice of Audrey II, Tim Carlsen as Seymour, Colleen Davis as Audrey, Andrew Grainger as the Dentist and Paul Barrett as Mr Musnik, and featuring Bella Kalolo, Rosita Vai and Brownyn Turei as the Motown styled shoop-shooping Ronnettes.

Geeky florist Seymour spends day in day out slaving away in Mr Musnik's Florists, dreaming about the glamorous and bubble headed Audrey. Until one day he stumbles upon a strange and exotic new plant that could change his luck forever.

An overnight success, the newly christened Audrey II offers Seymour a ticket out of Skid Row and perhaps even a chance of a date with the real life Audrey.

But Audrey II ain't no ordinary shrub, she's an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B singing carnivore.

One of the longest running and most successful off-Broadway musicals of all time. Hilarious, charming, and packed full of unforgettable tunes, including Downtown, Suddenly Seymour and Somewhere That's Green, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS never fails to entertain.

"With its wonderfully geeky hero, a demented dentist, a goofy girl and a singing plant, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was the first major success for multiple Academy Award-winning creative duo Howard Ashman and Alan Menken." says Colin McColl, ATC's Artistic Director.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 17, 1950, Howard Ashman was a highly successful lyricist, librettist, playwright, and director. He received his MFA from Indiana University before moving to New York in 1974. Two years later, Ashman teamed with Menken for the first time creating a musical version of Kurt Vonnegut's "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater." They went on to write the musical version of Roger Corman's 1960 cult film "Little Shop of Horrors" and won critical raves and awards including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical of 1982-83. The off-beat show was transformed into a motion picture by Frank Oz in 1986, subsequently winning the musical duo their first Academy Award nominations.

As a producer and lyricist for Disney, Ashman made a huge splash in the world of animation. His first credit, "The Little Mermaid," which he co-produced with John Musker, won an Oscar for Best Song. "Beauty and the Beast", the first animated film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Motion Picture, gained him his first executive producing credit with Disney. The film's title song won him a second Oscar. The Off-Broadway production of the show transferred to Broadway in 1994 and has gone on to become one of the ten longest running musicals in Broadway history.

Alan Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "Pocahontas" have each won him two Academy Awards. He also composed the scores for THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, HERCULES, THE LAST CASTLE, HOME ON THE RANGE, ENCHANTED, and TANGLED. Menken has collaborated on several occasions with lyricists, including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, Glenn Slater, and Stephen Schwartz. Having won a total of eight Oscars, he has won more Oscars than any other living individual. He has been Oscar-nominated a total of nineteen times.

"LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a delightful, toe-tapping experience which has spread its tentacles of pleasure and scariness far from its off-Broadway origins." - Colin

Tickets for LITTLE SHOP OF HORROES can be purchased from Q, 305 Queen Street, 09 309 9771 or www.atc.co.nz.

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Production Information

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
By Alan Menken and Howard Ashman

From November 1
Q, 305 Queen St

Cast:
Rima Te Wiata – Audrey II
Tim Carlson – Seymour
Colleen Davis – Audrey
Andrew Grainger – The Dentist
Bella Kalolo
Rosita Vai
Bronwyn Turei
Paul Barrett – Mr Musnik
Kyle Cheun - puppeteer

Creative team:
Simon Coleman – Direction
Jason Te Mete – Musical Direction
Sandra Rasmussen – Choreographer
Elizabeth Whiting – Costume Design
Tracey Collins – Set Design

Flyer Copy
The world's funkiest musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is ready to spread it's tendrils to Auckland!

Geeky florist Seymour thinks he's got just the ticket for himself and the bubble headed Audrey to get out of Skid Row via the strange and exotic plant, Audrey II. But she ain't no ordinary shrub, she's an ill tempered, foul mouthed, R&B singing carnivore.

This spectacular show features an outrageously fabulous cast of New Zealand's leading musical performers including soul diva Bella Kallolo, NZ Idol Rosita Vai and Go Girl Bronwyn Turei as the Motown inspired shoop-shooping Ronettes.

An irresistible, madcap adventure LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is the longest running off-Broadway musical of all time, so whether you're a die-hard fan or just a seedling, Audrey II and her team is ready to trap you with their seductive songs including Downtown, Suddenly Seymour, Little Shop of Horrors, I Am A Dentist and Somewhere That's Green.

ENDS

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