The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 dark comic film of the same name.
It is one of the first written by the team of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman who went on to write some of the most famous Disney animated musicals such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
Little Shop of Horrors premiered Off-Off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to Off-Broadway, where it had a five-year run becoming the highest grossing Off-Broadway musical of all time. The show eventually made it to Broadway in 2003, 21 years after it was first performed. You might have seen a movie version of the musical made in 1986. The stage version is a little different.
Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. In the introduction to the acting edition of the script, Howard Ashman wrote that the show, "satirizes many things: science fiction, 'B' movies, musical comedy itself, and even the Faust legend". The music is written in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown. It includes several well-known tunes, including "Skid Row (Downtown)" and "Suddenly, Seymour".
Whatever you do, don't feed the plants!
Feedback
"I'm not usually one for sending out whole staff E-mails but after being at Opening Night of the School Show last night I couldn't help myself! If you can get hold of a ticket for tonight or tomorrow I urge you to do so - it's incredible! It would be unfair to pick out individual performances as everyone was outstanding - cast, crew and band. The set is something to behold! I felt very proud of our pupils last night and I know they really appreciate staff coming along to support them. I'd go to all three nights if I could. The best night of the school year!"
"I thought I would share a review from my gran (who like most gran's does not give praise easily). Quote: "It was better than Broadway!" Thanks so much to everyone who worked so hard to put it all together. It was a fantastic way to spend an evening!"
"Please thank all cast/staff/ parents/ pupils for a wonderful show they just get better and better one comment I heard after the show "this show should be on at the Edinburgh Fringe " need I say more."
"Awesome production of ' Little Shop of Horrors' last night. Fantastic acting and singing with belly laughing moments throughout. A huge thanks to everyone behind the scenes in the Production Team for making this another memorable production. One not to be missed."
"I can only add my encouragement to all staff to go along and support the pupils - the show was once again absolutely fabulous - for me, it is genuinely the highlight of the school year - I cannot believe the amount of talent we have - pupils of course, first and foremost, but the staff involved in every aspect are a credit to our profession - quite seriously - you all deserve medals for your hard work, effort and the time you put in to give these kids memories that they will have forever!. Wow, wow, wow!!"
"Gob smacked! Superb! Better than the famous " Anything Goes" , I heard one former school show star say! The singing, the choreography, the set ( Councillor Alex Davidson could not believe that we hadn't bought the set, scenery and plants in). Well done!"
"The school show - fabulous! Review from my mum - 'Staging so professional'. 'Wouldn't be out of place at on the West End!' I think she meant London but could have been Glasgow."
"I'm emailing to echo what was said yesterday about the school show. I was there last night with my family and we all absolutely loved it, my youngest was mildly scared of the plant (she's 9) whilst being intrigued by how it worked and I had to let her touch it at the end just to satisfy her that it wasn't real! Her words this morning were "mum that show last night was awesome." Thanks to all the cast and crew it was truly memorable."
"The show was unbelievable! The acting, singing (from such a small group), stage, puppet, music, dancing, scene crew was so professional it really is what makes me so proud to be a teacher of Broxburn Academy."
"Please pass on my regards to the fabulous pupils as the show really did make me laugh, cry and be so impressed with them! Every year it just gets better and better!"
"We just wanted to let you know we have just seen Wednesday nights performance of your 2015 School show, Little Shop of Horrors. What can we say, there aren't enough superlatives in the English language to describe this fantastic production. It wouldn't be out of place at the Edinburgh fringe. To all the cast, musicians and crew. You have set the bar high, thank you for an excellent evening's entertainment."
"A short, wholly inadequate but enthusiastic thank you for the invitation to the school musical.
Absolutely fabulous - a really memorable evening."
"My wife and I attended last night's performance of the school musical. We both really enjoyed the evening and thought the show was very good with an extremely high professional delivery by all concerned. In my former role as an Education Officer in West Lothian I have attended many school schools and I have to tell you this musical is among the very best I have ever seen. It was wonderful to watch and listen to a group of very talented performers. I am sure that all this hard work and commitment to this musical will pay great benefits in terms of the self confidence of all who took part. I am sure this will influence the manner in which they will approach their studies once they leave school."
