The Port Angeles High School Drama Club, under the direction of Kelly Lovall, is now rehearsing “Little Shop of Horrors,” their fall musical production.
All performances take place in the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. on: Friday, Nov. 9; Saturday, Nov. 10; Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17, all at 7 p.m.
Matinee performances are Sunday, Nov. 11, and Sunday, Nov. 18, both at 2 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at Port Book and News, Odyssey Book Store and at the door.
Tickets are $10 each for general admission, and $8 each for students with an ASB card.
“Little Shop of Horrors” is a horror comedy rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film “The Little Shop of Horrors.”
The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly, Seymour.”
“Seymour is a naïve guy, wanting to impress people,” said Ethan Cameron, who plays the main character, Seymour Krelborn.
“Sometimes under those circumstances, people don’t make the best choices. That’s where the story unfolds.”
The plant, which increases in size during the performance, was rented from a shop in California and consists of four different puppets. The production is comprised of 19 actors and chorus members, and 30 stage crew members, all PA High School students.
“We haven’t done a musical production at Port Angeles High School since Fiddler on the Roof thirteen years ago,” Lovall, director and English teacher, said. “They are a lot of work, but we have extraordinary people involved in this production.”
Jolene Gailey furnishes the musical direction, Shawne Johnson is set designer, and Patric McInnes provide technical direction, to name a few. All three are PA High School instructors.
A trio of doo-wap girls do most of the dancing in the production. Dance experience among the cast members is sporadic.
“Not a problem,” choreographer Anna Pederson said. “I love working with non-dancers and people of all ages.” Pederson is on loan from Ballet Workshop and GhostLight Production.
“The kids are ready for this — they are so excited,” Lovall said. “We’ll have live musicians in the show, like a rock band. It’s a real celebration of rocking music, and it will be a blast!”
