‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Coming to Clemente Soto Velez This Weekend!

The infamous Audrey II will sprout and feed at the Clemente Soto Velez this weekend. Yup, Little Shop of Horrors is headed to the local stage (Flamboyan Theater) for two nights only – Friday and Saturday. And it’s only fitting that the longtime cult classic be hosted on the Lower East Side where the show first got its roots.

In May 1982, Little Shop of Horrors debuted at the Off-Broadway WPA Theater, and two months later at the Orpheum on Second Avenue. The script was actually based on the low-key 1960 film of same name, but changed some major plot points and added a Doo-wop musical component. Indeed, the girl group interludes are sung by Ronnette, Crystal, and Chiffon, an obvious nod to the early-60s genre.

The overall story concerns introverted florist Seymour Krelborn and his space-borne plant acquisition, Audrey II. Named for the girl of his dreams, the blood-sucking venus fly trap manipulates the proprietor of Mushnik’s Skid Row Florists for a constant stream of blood. Which equates to murder.

Setting for this later adaptation – co-written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken – is New York City, with Skid Row presumably the Bowery environs.

Since you’ve been engrossed in the history, here’s a reminder. Performances of Little Shop of Horrors are at 8pm on Friday and Saturday at CSV. Purchase tickets here; it’ll cost ya $25 apiece.

Feed me…