About "Little Shop of Horrors"

The botanical bloodlust musical comedy about a hapless florist shop worker, the girl of his dreams and one very voracious plant. 

A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop Of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatregoers for over thirty years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" -- after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it... blood! Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination! 

Press Release

"Little Shop of Horrors" Lights Up MTC MainStage in Norwalk

usic Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, concludes its 2014/2015 season with "Little Shop of Horrors" the hit rock musical comedy about a hapless florist shop worker, the girl of his dreams and one very voracious plant. With book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Performances are April 17-May 3, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, at The Melissa & Doug Theatre at The New MTC, 509 Westport Avenue (behind the Jones New York and Nine West Outlet) in Norwalk, CT. Tickets range from $30-$50 ($5 discount for seniors/students) and are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com

"Little Shop of Horrors" is based on the cult classic film directed by Roger Corman, with a screenplay by Charles Griffith, and was turned into a musical by Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music). Ashman and Menken are also the musical team who wrote Disney's "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin." The musical premiered Off-Off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to the Orpheum Theatre Off-Broadway, where it had a five-year run, winning several awards including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

MTC's professional Equity cast includes Fairfield native Elissa DeMaria (Audrey), who appeared as Natalie in the MTC MainStage production of "Next to Normal" as Natalie, as well as "Shout!" on the Norwegian Jade throughout Europe, "The Marvelous Wonderettes," "Seussical," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "The Light in the Piazza." Norwalk native Anthony DiCostanzo (Seymour) has appeared in  "Vieux Carre," "A Soft Murder," "Elegies" and "A Proper Place." He holds a BFA in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory and is creative director of Haus Cat, an art’s collaborative. Kristian Espiritu (Crystal), appeared in the critically-acclaimed hit "Here Lies Love" at The Public Theater, as well as "Lesbian Love Octagon" at the Kraine Theater, "Junie B. Jones" at TWUSA and on the Disney Cruise Lines. Inuka Ivaska (Chiffon) has appeared in "Jerry’s Girls," "Dreamgirls," "Hair," "Hairspray" and "Flashback" as Tina Turner and Diana Ross. Tony Lawson (Orin and Others) appeared in the MTC MainStage productions of "The Fantasticks" as El Gallo, Pete in "Pete 'n' Keely," on Broadway in "Les Miserables," and on the national tour of Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" and Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." Gabrielle Lee (Ronette) has appeared in national and European tours, Off-Broadway and in regional theater productions including "Dreamgirls," "Smokey Joe’s Cafe," "Showboat," "Ain’t Misbehavin'" and "My Fair Lady." She has performed with Natalie Cole, Steely Dan, Michael Bolton, Marvin Hamlish and Harry Belafonte, and appeared as a guest performer of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Peter McClung (Audrey II) has appeared as Amos in "Chicago," as the title role in "Sweeney Todd" and was a member of the political satire group The Capitol Steps. Stamford native Lou Ursone (Musknik) appeared in the MTC MainStage as Hucklebee in "The Fantasticks." Other favorite roles include Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof", John Adams in "1776", and Zaza/Albin in "La Cage aux Folles". His television work includes "Loving," "Ryan’s Hope," "All My Children," "One Life to Live," "Rescue 911" and "Unsolved Mysteries."

"Little Shop of Horrors" is directed by MTC co-founder and Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors. The design team includes set design by David Huevelman, lighting by Tyler H. First, costumes by Diane Vanderkroef, choreography by Steven Midura and musical direction by Thomas Martin Conroy. The production is stage managed by Jim Schilling.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is sponsored in part by Shoff Darby Insurance Agency, and is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. MTC is proud to partner again this season with Rizzuto's Wood-Fired Kitchen and Bar of Westport, offering a special discount to "Little Shop of Horrors" ticket holders (see ticket for details).

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Who's Who

Kevin Connors (Director, Executive Artistic Director & Co-Founder) Professional musical theatre composer and director for over 30 years and recipient of the Tom Killen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Connecticut Professional Theatre by the Connecticut Critics’ Circle, as well as a special citation from The Connecticut State Legislature and Governor Dannel Malloy. Off-Broadway credits include Prime Time Prophet, Jukebox Saturday Night, The Abandoned Loves of Frederick R., Life Anonymous, Lover:The Valentino Musical, Babes Off Broadway, Saloon and Suzy Q. Connecticut directing credits include The Fantasticks, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Babes in Toyland, Bah Humbug! (all at Stamford’s Rich Forum); Grand Re-Opening of the Palace Theatre starring Skitch Henderson, Louise Pitre, James Naughton and Joan Rivers; Baby (Polka Dot Playhouse), Christopher Columbus and Operetta in Red, White and Blue (New England Lyric Operetta). Mr. Connors began his career as a performer touring his own act with Bob Hope, Henny Youngman and Johnny Mathis, and his debut CD—The Things We Never Say—was released in October 2000. In 1987, he co-founded Music Theatre of Connecticut with Jim Schilling, and has since directed more than 30 Equity MTC MainStage productions including Next to Normal (Best Musical and Best Director Nominee), Yours, Anne (Best Musical Nominee), It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Moss Hart Award Winner), A Little Night Music, Edges, john & jen, Doubt, My Way: The Music of Frank Sinatra and The Last 5 Years; as well as writing original music and lyrics for more than 10 MTC children’s musicals. His latest work, Mothers and Sons (with playwright Joe Landry) had its critically-acclaimed World Premiere on the MTC Mainstage in January 2009 and is currently in development for Off-Broadway. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Musical Theatre at The Hartt School of Music/University of Hartford, Sacred Heart University, the University of Bridgeport, and at Musical Theatre Works in NYC. He has created many of MTC’s educational programs including the nationally-recognized College-Bound in the Performing Arts, which he now presents at theatre schools throughout the country. Kevin is a proud member of AEA, ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild. www.kevconnors.com

Thomas Martin Conroy (Musical Director) Dr. Thomas Conroy works as a music director as well as an actor in New York City and in regional theaters around the country. He toured (as an actor/singer/dancer) nationally with Grease, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Crazy For You and Cabaret.  He sang back-up for Bernadette Peters and toured with the Paris Lido in a specialty act that followed the great Phyllis Diller. Tom earned his doctor of musical arts in composition at Rice University. Following that, he taught harmony, musicianship, and counterpoint at Texas A & M University, the University of Houston, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Following a course of reading the Great Books at St. John’s College Santa Fe, Tom spent a year teaching introduction to philosophy, philosophy of religion, and introduction to ethics at Ivy Tech Community College in Muncie, Indiana where he maintains an historic home. Recent composition performances include his homage to choral music teachers and conductors: This is Why I Sing, which was premiered by the Houston Chamber Choir and has been featured on NPR; and Searching for Spinoza, a two-act musical drama, premiered by the opera department at UNC Chapel Hill. The newest works in his catalog include The Brodie Set, a song cycle based on Muriel Spark’s novella, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Necklace, a one-act chamber opera based on Guy de Maupassant’s short story. Following Little Shop of Horrors, he will music direct Into the Woods at Seacoast Repertory Theater in Portsmouth, NH and Xanadu at the Arts Center in Hilton Head, SC.