Embrace Halloween with the cast of UNC Asheville’s TheatreUNCA and their production of Little Shop Of Horrors. Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman, with musical direction by Matthew Richmond, Little Shop is a larger than life, ridiculous Greek tragedy disguised as a tale about a blood thirsty plant. Performances will take place October 27-30, and November 3-6, 2022, inside UNC Asheville’s Carol Belk Theater. Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors will run $15 for general admission, $10 for faculty/staff, and $5 for students and may be purchased through Eventbrite.
“I’m honored to be working with such an amazing group of talented, hard-working people,” says lead actor and UNC Asheville senior MJ Gamelin. “We’re able to touch on poverty, abuse, gender roles, love, and all sorts of complex, real-world struggles. I especially appreciate being able to bring my identity as a nonbinary, transmasculine actor to the performance and portray Seymour with my whole, authentic self. We’ve brought this show into the modern era while still honoring the original material, and it’s shaping up to be something people won’t want to miss.”
The stage adaptation of Little Shop Of Horrors follows the same characters from the cult classic film. Seymour (MJ Gamelin) and Audrey (UNC Asheville senior Hannah VanGorder) work at a run-down flower shop, where they encounter the starving plant, soon to be known as Audrey II. In typical black comedy fashion, blood is spilled, hijinks ensue, and lovers unite.
“Despite my love for the script, directing it meant finding a way to work around the more ethnically and racially insensitive language and descriptors that exist within the play’s text and imagery,” says director Stephanie Beckman. UNC Asheville alumna Kirby Gibson ‘12 (Ronnette) adds, “Steph has taken great pains to avoid the obvious tropes from past productions. The plant is very different in execution. And this cast is fresh and talented. I look forward to sharing this version of the story with new audiences.”
Performances for Little Shop Of Horrors will occur as follows:
Oct. 27-29, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30, 2 p.m.
Nov. 3-5, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 6, 2 p.m.
To purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/427927260957
For more information, visit drama.unca.edu/engage/theatreunca/ or contact TheatreUNCA’s box office at 828-232-2291 or theatre@unca.edu.
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