Towngate’s Parcel Players Present ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ This Weekend
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WHEELING -- Oglebay Institute's Parcel Players close their summer season with the deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, "Little Shop of Horrors."
The production will continue to be staged today through Sunday, Aug. 4-6, at Towngate Theatre in Wheeling. Thursday night's opening performance was sold out.
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and The Beast" and "Aladdin") are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.
The musical is a cult classic loosely based on the 1960 movie, and 1986 re-make, of the same title. Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names "Audrey II" after his crush at the shop. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for human blood.
The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly, Seymour."
Directed by Erin Bond, the production features two casts because of the number of talented young thespians who auditioned for this popular show.
The cast for Thursday and Saturday includes Jacob Boyette, McKenna Everson, Issac Perry, Sydney Hess, Gabrielle Contraguerro, Jana Schodzinski, Taylor Andrews, Morgan Carlin, Veda Wheeler, Alex Frabrizio, John Papadimitriou and Keyuri Morgan.
The cast for Friday and Sunday includes Austin Schwanker, Abby Young, Hank Kelley, Griffin Harder, Josie Figaretti, Veda Wheeler, Cora Spielvogel, Jayden Kindler, Flannery Muscar, Bella Bruno, JJ Brown and Emma Weese.
Ensemble members, performing in all four shows, are Cole Tarrant, Leia Weese, Everett Poole, Aneliese Gutherie, Sydney Willson, Reagan Pockl, Grace Mull, Peyton Florence and Lydia McConnaghay.
Begun more than 50 years ago, Oglebay Institute's Parcel Players summer theater program offers young people interested in theater a chance to act, direct, design sets, work with costumes, lighting and more while providing fine entertainment to the public. By fostering young talent, Parcel Players helps ensure the future of community theater in the Ohio Valley.
Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased online at www.oionline.com, by calling 304-242-7700 or at the door, if available.
The Parcel Players 2023 Season is sponsored by Janell & Gary Loh.
Part of the nonprofit Oglebay Institute, Towngate Theatre is located across the street from St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in the historic Centre Market district of Wheeling at 2118 Market St.
Towngate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.