In an early Halloween treat, the Slow Burn Theatre 2022/2023 season presented by American National Bank begins with Little Shop of HorrorsSaturday, October 15- Sunday, October 30 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
This delicious sci-fi smash about a man-eating plant has devoured the hearts of theater goers since it first opened off-Broadway 40 years ago winning Drama Desk awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Outstanding Special Effects. Composer Alan Menken, who collaborated with Ashman on Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, was nominated for the award for his music and was only bested by none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber for Cats!
Ashman’s book for the musical was based on the cult film favorite by Roger Corman with a screenplay by Charles Griffith. Going full circle, the musical was adapted for film and won the Academy Award
for Best Original Song for “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space,”which will be the rousing post-curtain call finale in Slow Burn Theatre’s production.
Nick Anastasia portrays the meek floral assistant Seymour Krelbornwho stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” – after his coworker crush Audrey, portrayed by Caiti Marlowe. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore, voiced by Tarik Zeigler,promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelbornas long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and its intent on global domination.
Slow Burn Theatre Co-founder Matthew W. Korinko appears as Mr. Mushnik, Seymour’sunsuspecting boss at the flower shop, while Jeffrey Keller portrays Audrey’s not-so-nice dentist boyfriend. The hip, doo-wopping. street corner Greek chorus is performed by Kareema Khouri, Khadijah Rolle and NayomiBraaf. They are joined by a talented ensemble of Aaron Atkinson, Kristie Rose Mills and Gianni Palermo.
Slow Burn Theatre ArtisticDirector Patrick Fitzwater directs and choreographs the musical as he leads a creative team featuring scenic designer Kelly Tighe, costume designer Rick Peña, lighting designer Clifford Spulock and musical director Eden Marte.Matthew McAvene Creations designed the Audrey 2 puppets that are manipulated by Aaron Atkinson. Jackie Lawlor is the production stage manager and Andre’ Russell is the assistant stage manager.
This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and contains adult language or content.
The Slow Burn Theatre Company 2022/2023 Season presented by American National Bank continues with Footloose -The Musical, Dec. 17- Jan. 1; Honeymoon in Vegas – The Musical, Feb. 4-19; Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins March 25-April 9; Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical, June 10-25.
Little Shop of Horrors performance times vary. Tickets are $49-$65.Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222 or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and Parker Playhouse.
Major support for the Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at Youtube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.
The Broward Center 2022/2023 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment of the Arts.
About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
