Audrey II is at Aptos High!

By Ashley Johnson, 11th-grade student at Aptos High

Are you ready for the thrill of a lifetime? Well, come on down to Aptos High School and plant your eyes and ears on our production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Enter the alleyways of Skid Row with a show that features the script and music from the Original Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors from 1982, with book and lyrics written by Howard Ashman and music written by Alan Menken.

It’s an experience taking you to the early 1960s, a world of horror mixed with lovely greenery. This production will just get you in the mood for Halloween. (Be advised that it may not be suitable for small children.)

“Little Shop of Horrors” is a story of wonder, horror, romance, and tragedy. A trio of street urchins — Mari Goulart (10th grade) as Crystal, Nora Cookerly (11) as Chiffon, and Ema Low (12) as Ronnette — use their powerhouse vocals to narrate the tragic story of a struggling plant shop in Downtown Skid Row. The owner of the shop, Mr. Mushnik is played by Marcos Ramirez-Cruz (11). His two employees Audrey and Seymour work together to make the shop successful with a new discovery, which appears innocent, until it’s not.

The peculiar and beautiful Audrey is played by Abigail Anderson (11). She is joined by the awkward and once forgotten Seymour Krelborn, who is played by Wyatt Leffler (12). Seymour begins to rise to the top with his new “strange and interesting plant,” Audrey II, thanks to a mysterious and sudden “total eclipse of the sun.” The Audrey II character is played by a series of puppeteers, including Kaia Chilton (11), Danni Kim (11th) and Riley McManus (12) who manipulate the ever-growing Audrey II.

Portraying the Voice of this horrifying Venus Fly Trap is Conner Prete (11). He describes his character to be “very rewarding to play even though it is a quite technically difficult character to pull off.” This mysterious friendship between plant and human does not end well. The once innocent little plant begins to grow with the consumption of blood, its first victim being Audrey’s tough, and not-so-nice dentist boyfriend, Orin, played by sophomore Tanis Spaugh.

But feeding the plant has its consequences. Its hunger grows and so does Seymour’s fame. As Seymour’s behavior becomes more suspicious with sudden disappearances, dizzy spells, offers of a lifetime, and a monstrous blood-thirsty plant, the next choice becomes unclear; when will it be enough for Seymour?

Just in time for the spooky season, Aptos High invites YOU to come see our show at the Aptos High Performing Arts Center.

Opening night is Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Performances also take place through Oct. 31. 1:30 p.m. matinee shows are on Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, and at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 30.

Tickets are $10. Reserved seating is available online at aptos.seatyourself.biz. Unreserved seats are available at the door 30 minutes before curtain.

We are proud of our cast and crew for producing such a technically-heavy show, and thank AHS Theatre Manager Luke Hess and parent volunteers for helping with the set and technical side. From lights to sound, puppeteering and choreography, to our ensemble of singers, live band and stage crew, everyone in our Drama Production class has put so much effort into making this show come to life.

We would also love to shout out our director/teacher Stacy Aronovici, our Music Director/choir teacher Jessalynn Levine, and OmieMay Grau (12), our associate director, for putting tons of their ideas and hours into this show.

So, please make your way to Aptos High and enjoy the show!