'Little Shop' no small show to mount
What better time than October to stage a dark comedy musical about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood?
ArtReach Educational Theatre and Spotlite Theatrix Production Company are jointly staging the rock musical "Little Shop of Horrors" this weekend at Stage One Theatre, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines. It is their fall fundraiser, according to Dan Walsh, program director for ArtReach.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, and Oct. 4, as well as 2 p.m. Oct. 4 and Oct. 5. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door; call (630) 808-5852.
The plot of the show, according to Walsh, is that a geeky young man discovers a mysterious plant, similar to a Venus Fly Trap, and makes a pact with the plant to win the heart of the girl he loves. Eventually, it is revealed that the plant's interests are in serious conflict with the interests of the humans around it.
The music, composed by Alan Menken, is done in the style of 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown.
"When people heard that we were doing this show, I had so many tell me that they love this show but that no one ever performs it," Walsh said.
"Well, I found out why no one performs it. Obtaining and putting together the many and massive plants was real challenge. We rented them from a company in Springfield, Mo., one of only five companies in the country that rents them."
The rental fees are very high and working with the foam rubber and fabric plants is challenging, Walsh admitted.
"They start out very small and as the show progresses, they get bigger and bigger until the last one is longer than my car," he said. "But they look amazing and learning to operate these plant puppets has been a neat experience for the teens."
Stage One Theatre, because of its age and "lived in" look, is particularly appropriate for the performance, Walsh added.
"It is an older theater and we are keeping the lights low to give it a spooky feeling," he said.
"We are trying to expose the teenagers in our troupe to classic contemporary theater with this show," Walsh explained.
Six teens between the ages of 14 and 18 are cast in the show, along with four adult professionals.
The cast includes Dan Walsh, Hanna Forrest and Ricardo Torres of Chicago; Lisa Brueck of Montgomery; Kevin Marquette of Franklin Park; Dennis Dire of Lombard; Lin Hendrickson of Round Lake; Melissa Baumann of Palatine; Lisa Stroka of Arlington Heights; Aaron Gomez of McHenry; and Breton Spiller of Buffalo Grove.
"In the spring we always do a huge musical where we cast all of the children in our program," Walsh explained. "But in the fall we do a fundraiser with a much smaller cast and we only include our most advanced teenagers whom we consider to be on the professional track."
ArtReach Educational Theatre exposes children to all aspects of theater, music and dance. They accept children between the ages of 6 and 18 and professional actors and teachers challenge and encourage the students to develop their dancing, acting and singing skills. The school is in its sixth year.
If you go
What: "Little Shop of Horrors" musical by ArtReach Educational Theatre and Spotlite Theatrix Production Company
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, and Oct. 4; and 2 p.m. Oct. 4 and Oct. 5
Where: Stage One Theatre, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines
Cost: $15 in advance, $18 at the door
Call: (630) 808-5852 or visit artreachspotlite.com