NEWS

 

Davidson, N.C.  — Flowers are starting to bloom all over Davidson, but there’s one special plant that’s taken root in the black box theatre of Community School of Davidson. Audrey II, one of the stars of the beloved musical Little Shop of Horrors, is in full bloom. A campy show with a cult-like following, Little Shop of Horrors features a nerdy florist who seizes his opportunity for romance and success via a man-eating plant (Audrey II), who always has an appetite.

This is the third time Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, CSD’s upper school theatre arts educator/director, has directed the succulent musical that was made into a motion picture starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin in 1986. “Little Shop of Horrors is familiar to the younger set, and it has accessible roles that I felt I could cast this year,” explains Ohlman-Roberge of her selection. 

The cast of 25 includes some fresh faces, as well as CSD seniors Griffin Small (Seymour) and Garret MacIntyre (Orin Scrivello, DDS and Audrey II), who have done 15 shows together. Last seen in CSD’s productions of Into the Woods and Shrek, this dynamic duo is always a pleasure to watch.

“Garret pulls out the best possible performer in me, and I wouldn’t make half the choices I do without him,” says Small, who is currently auditioning for BFA programs around the country. “We’ve been best friends for a while, so it makes it fun,” adds MacIntyre.

During their sophomore year they performed in CSD’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, an experience they both count as a favorite. “Garret and I got to play dads together and just have a ton of super fun moments,” recalls Small. Adds MacIntyre, “It was super fun — and funny.”

MacIntyre, who is heading to UNC Wilmington to study business after graduation, says he’ll miss the family aspect about doing theatre at CSD the most. “These two are like brothers on and off stage,” says Ohlman-Roberge. “They often finish each other’s sentences, which makes rehearsing with them always a joy.”

Ohlman-Roberge likes how Little Shop of Horrors gives Small and MacIntyre, along with the cast, the opportunity to create big characters, as it teaches about the idea of parody, dark humor, and puppetry. “It’s always a crowd pleaser,” says Ohlman-Roberge. This year it will be even more so as MacIntyre and Small feed off each other one last time on CSD’s stage.

Little Shop of Horrors runs March 14-24 at Community School of Davidson Art Space at 404 Armour Street in Davidson. Tickets can be purchased at https://search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/csdspartans/buy-tix

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