West Washington presents "Little Shop of Horrors" this weekend

FEED ME, SEYMOUR!

West Washington Drama will bring a darkly comedic classic to the stage this weekend with its production of Little Shop of Horrors, a cult-favorite musical that blends humor, horror, and a cautionary tale about ambition.

The story follows Seymour Krelborn, a timid florist’s assistant who discovers a mysterious plant after a solar eclipse. Naming it Audrey II in honor of the woman he loves, Seymour soon learns the plant has... an unusual appetite. As the plant grows, so does Seymour’s fame and fortune, but the cost of feeding it becomes increasingly dire. The show balances absurd comedy with darker themes, ultimately delivering a message about greed, power, and the consequences of getting what you wish for.

Director Kayla Seybold said the decision to stage the musical was both personal and practical.

“We did this show at Salem when I was a sophomore in high school, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had on stage ever,” Seybold said. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and I just felt like we had the right kids this year.”

That group of students has taken on what Seybold describes as a demanding production, both musically and technically.

“The harmonies are tough, and they’re tight, and we’re doing all of them,” she said. “Then we’ve got this giant puppet that is on stage in every scene, pretty much. Learning to interact with a puppet instead of a person is hard.”

The production’s centerpiece, the iconic "Audrey II" puppet, presents its own set of challenges. Kingston Sizemore, who operates the puppet, “is a hot, sweaty mess by the end of it because he is working so hard… just manhandling this giant piece of equipment for an hour straight,” Seybold said.

Despite the difficulty, Seybold praised the cast’s commitment.

“These kids are awesome,” she said. “They have had so much fun with the show and they push themselves so hard… they have done nothing but sing for, like, the past two months.”

She added that students regularly check their pitch and rehearse harmonies before practices, calling them “dedicated” and “really professional” throughout the process.

Seybold encouraged the community to attend.

“Everybody needs to come see the show,” she said. “It’s a horror story that’s also funny, but also has a really important message wrapped up in it… it’s the perfect musical.”

The talented young cast stars Brooks Deaton as Seymour Krelborn and Juneau Main as Audrey. The "Greek chorus" of Urchins is comprised of Marlee Chase, Presley Gibson, Ashton Briner, Lilly Grindle, Phoebe Weilbaker, and Adah Ledgerwood. Malachi Weilbaker plays the sadistic "Dentist!" and Audrey's good-for-nothing boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, DDS. Philip Carlton co-stars as Mr. Mushnik. The voice of the plant, Audrey II, is supplied by Anistyn Sizemore, with Kingston Sizemore performing the plant's puppetry. Other roles include Kenzie Engleman as Bernstein, Stella Richards as Skip Snip, Olivia McKinney as Mrs. Luce, and Lexie Chastain as Patrick Martin.

The ensemble is comprised of Liddy Williams, Ginger Devine, Phoebe Ferguson, Lucy Brown, and Sierra Reed. Tandon Nance, Caleb Pavey, and Jackson Whitlow run lights.

Performances will take place Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, with entry through Door 17. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.