'Little Shop Of Horrors' To Be Presented On Wilburton Campus
(Press Release 04-24-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

    Theatre Eastern and the Eastern Music Department invite you to attend the spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors Thursday, April 30th and Friday, May 1st in Mitchell Auditorium on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College.

    Little Shop of Horrors started out as a Roger Corman, 1960s B-Movie. It was a campy black and white horror film, with a cameo by a very young Jack Nicholson. In the 1980s the screenplay by Charles Griffith was adapted into a stage musical with Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Music by Alan Menken (the composers of later Disney hits such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid.) The musical was so popular that in 1986 it was made into a second movie, this time a musical starring big name stars like Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and Rick Moranis.

    The fun, yet creepy musical tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a timid loser who finds a mysterious plant that he names Audrey II after a co-worker that he loves. As Seymour’s life improves, and his dreams start to come true, it becomes clear that the plant is a bloodthirsty, man-eating, alien that threatens to destroy the world. Enjoy the fun as Seymour makes his choices – and reaps the consequences. The show is great fun for teens and adults but also has a theme akin to the legend of Faust, who sold his soul for earthly pleasures – and who doesn’t enjoy a funny monster show once in a while?

    Robert Miller, an Eastern sophomore from Vian, will star as Seymour, and Whitney Waldrop, a freshman from Wilburton, will play his love interest, the original Audrey. Their crusty boss, Mr. Mushnik, will be played by Eastern adjunct instructor, Peery Lee, and a trio of singing narrators from a 60s girl-group will be played by Michelle Tengbeh of Wilburton (as Chiffon), Callie Bush of Wilburton (as Ronnette), and Rachel Herron of Pittsburg (as Crystal). The cast also includes: Smithville sophomore Boomer Lowrie as sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello and the Voice of Audrey II. Plant Puppeteering will be done by freshman Andy Fancher, and other cast members include: Panola sophomore, Katie Foster, Wilburton High School Junior, Marissa Scott, and Eastern science instructor, Pat Ratliff. Harrah freshman TJ Harvey is the Stage Manager.

    Little Shop of Horrors, with Musical Direction by Eastern instructors Paul Enis and Mary Ford, and Choreography by local favorite Dottie Minshall, will play Thursday, April 30th at 10:30am and 7:30pm and Friday, May 1st at 10:30am and 7:30pm. Tickets are $5 for adults, and $3 for students under 18. As always, Eastern students and employees are free. Tickets are available at the door one hour before each performance, and seating is first come, first served.

    For more information call Director, Melissa Heath-Lee at 918-465-1758.

	Eastern students Robert Miller from Vian, playing as Seymour, and Boomer Lowrie from Smithville, playing as the sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello prepare for the annual Spring Musical.
Eastern sophomore Robert Miller, right, from Vian, 60's girl-group include from left: Callie Bush from Wilburton; Michelle Tengbeh, Wilburton and Rachel Herron of Pittsburg.
	Eastern students Whitney Waldrop, a freshman from Wilburton playing as Audrey and Robert Miller, a sophomore from Vian playing as Seymour, prepare for the annual Spring Musical.