'Little Shop of Horrors' opens for business August 5
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| The cast of "Little Shop of Horrors," ready to take the stage at the Becker Auditorium August 5. |
“Little Shop of Horrors,” written as a rock musical, tells the story of a nerdy, hapless florist who inadvertently grows a giant man-eating plant that helps him find success and romance…..well, sort of. The music is a rollicking combination of 1960’s rock and roll, 1950’s doo-wop and early Motown. You may have seen the 1986 film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. This production has been carefully edited by David and Assistant Director Dawn Carpenter to exclude anything graphic or gory. David considers the Bonners Ferry Summer Youth Theatre production to be “fairly tame,” making it dramatically different from the movie.
“I consider this to be a “kid friendly” show,” commented David.
Now in its fourth summer, Bonners Ferry Summer Youth Theatre has grown into a mature theatrical program which offers youth a positive activity during the summer months. This particular production has been a somewhat bittersweet experience for both David and Dawn as four of the starring cast members, who have been part of the Summer Youth Theatre program since its inception, have graduated from BFHS and will be leaving Bonners Ferry in the fall.
Ben Heart, who stars as Seymour Mushkin, Sara Owinyo, starring as Crystal, Jesse Tobin, starring as Ronnette and Charena Branscum, choreographer and puppeteer, have all been involved in the program since the summer of 2008.
“This production is bittersweet because we are losing our senior performers. Ben, Sara, Charena and Jesse will all be going to college and each of them will be pursuing a different aspect of the performing arts in some fashion,” David said.
Not only have the seniors worked very diligently on this production but the younger cast members have gained valuable performing experience as well.
“It’s been exciting to watch the younger performers jump in with both feet to create believable characters,” David related. “I’ve really enjoyed watching the older kids shepherding and mentoring the younger performers.”
Not only have the youth become involved, but the parents have pitched in a much-needed hand as well.
“This show has been especially fun because the parent involvement has been exceptional,” commented Dawn who has also worked as the show’s Music Director. “For example, this is the largest set we’ve ever done and the help we’ve had from parents has been really phenomenal.”
The entire cast is adamant about giving credit to Bruce and Charlie Spradlin, Chris Dinning and Jerry and Tamy Branscum who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the cast and crew. Dawn gives special credit to “an adult volunteer” (who wishes to remain anonymous) who hand-crafted three different versions of the man-eating plant that grows during the course of the play. In addition, the Branscums created the intricate puppetry that allows the full-grown plant to seem to come alive on stage.
“I never realized how many hours the volunteers put in until I was part of this play,” emphasized McKaela Spradlin who plays Miss Snip. “They worked for hours and I never before realized how much they worked or how much they care about us. They should be thanked.”
The exceptional artwork that transforms the blank canvas of the Becker stage into Mushnik’s Flower Shop and the street outside was completed by Dawn and the parent volunteers.
Both Chase Dinning and Charena Branscum commented on the intricacy of the set.
“This set is better than any we’ve ever had,” said Chase.
“In fact, this is probably the best set we’ve ever had,” added Charena.
Two different actresses, Katrina Svec and Brook Wilson, will be performing the lead female part of Audrey on different evenings. “Techies” Marshall Watts and McKenzie Nash will be behind the scenes with the lights and sound for all four performances.
In a first for the Summer Youth Theatre program, David Carpenter himself will sing the part of the man-eating plant.
Carl Svec, in his first “big kid” production with the Summer Youth Theatre program, has been impressed with the level of commitment and dedication it has taken to put on a performance of this intricacy and high caliber.
“I think this play has been a lot more work compared to doing the younger productions I’ve been in,” he said. “We’ve spent more hours and done more work. There has been a lot more critique from Carp but it’s all been constructive. The players have missed a lot of family time in the evenings in order to do this. It has really amazed me to see how well things have come together.”
Perhaps Caitlin Alexander, who plays Chiffon, summed it up best.
“The community always expects the best from Summer Youth Theatre. This is definitely the hardest production we’ve done and the best as far as singing, acting and dancing. In my opinion, this is the best performance that Summer Youth Theatre has done yet.”
“Little Shop of Horrors” will play on the following dates and times:
Friday, August 5, 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 7, 6 p.m.
Friday, August 12,7 p.m.
Saturday, August 13, 7 p.m.
At the door, tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children. Tickets can also be pre-purchased from a cast member for $5.
CAST
Ben Heart – Seymour Mushkin
Brook Wilson and Katrina Svec - Audrey
The Trio: Sara Owinyo – Crystal, Jesse Tobin – Ronnette, Caitlin Alexander – Chiffon
Charena Branscum - Audrey II Puppeteer
Isaac Ryckeghem – Dentist
Andi Floyd – Mrs. Mushkin
Chase Dinning – Patrick Martin
McKaela Spradlin – Miss Snip
Kendra Urbaniak – Mrs. Luce
Company: Michael Brooks, Zach Cleve, Carl Svec, Chase Dinning, McKaela Spradlin, Kendra Urbaniak
Technical Crew: McKenzie Nash, Marshall Watts
Choreographer: Charena Branscum