Little Shop of Horrors to Open on March 27 at the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center

Starting on March 27 and running through April 1, the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center (AUPAC) will present Little Shop of Horrors directed and choreographed by Meredith R. Van Scoy in the Olmsted Theatre, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY.  Little Shop of Horrors, about a down-and-out skid row floral assistant named Seymour, was made popular off-Broadway in 1982 and a subsequent Broadway production followed. When Seymour discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood, he becomes an overnight sensation and soon the exotic plant named Audrey II grows into an ill-tempered R&B-singing carnivore who offers fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite.

The Department of Theatre chose this musical in order to positively serve the students in their education by giving the actors a chance to work on a comedic musical, two genres that many universities rarely explore. Although this musical is a spoof of old B monster movies, Ms. Van Scoy says that, “The characters [in this musical] are still loveable and relatable” because this show aims not to just “make fun of the [B movie] genre…but to show love and respect for it.” The musical, composed by Alan Menken and written by Howard Ashman, is based on the low-budget 1960, black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors. The score uses elements of early 1950s and 60s rock and roll, doo-wop, and early Motown. Audiences familiar with the musical will be intrigued by this production’s utilization of the diversity of the department as it highlights student’s varied talents, ethnicities, and skillsets instead of molding the students to archetypes. The typically blonde female lead is played by a Hispanic actress and the usually male voice of the carnivorous plant will be sung by a female.

Meredith R. Van Scoy, from Limestone, NY teaches musical theatre movement, as well as works as the stitcher in Adelphi University’s costume shop. She is “Excited for her first opportunity to work with these actors in a venue other than dance and movement.” She holds a master’s degree in theatre performance from Binghamton University and spends her summers performing at various regional theatres in New York State.  Other directorial and choreographic credits include: Wiley and the Hairy Man, The Jungle Book, and The Wizard of Oz (Cortland Repertory Theatre), A Year With Frog and Toad (The Cider Mill Playhouse), Pippin(Binghamton University), Steel Magnolias, Evita, Something’s Afoot (St. Bonaventure University). Meredith has received The Theater Association of New York State (TANYS) award for choreography in productions of Oklahoma andCabaret.

Individual tickets for this event are on sale now and will be available at the door.  Regular price tickets are $20 and discounts are available for groups, students and seniors.  To learn more about AUPAC’s season, please visit pac.adelphi.edu or call The Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at 516. 877.4000.