High School Musical to Feature Man-Eating Plant

Everyone's favorite hungry plant is coming to Agoura Hills this spring in the 's rendition of Little Shop of Horrors, the last musical to be performed in the "G" building.

Directed by alumnus Nick Newkirk, who helmed last year's , the show will run April 24-28 at 7 p.m. with a special "Alumni Night" to be held April 26.

"This is one of the great all-time shows," said Newkirk. "Everyone will enjoy it. Plus, it's the last time the G building will be hosting a show before the productions move into the new ."

The show will have two lead casts, Newkirk said. Parker Apple, a junior, and Cici Stephan, a junior, will team up as 'Seymour' and 'Audrey' on April 24 and April 27; and Matt Oster, a senior, and Sydney Heller, a junior, will play the couple April 25, 26 and 28, according Newkirk. The voice of the plant will be portrayed by senior Kevin Gilmond, except on "Alumni Night," on which school music teacher will do the honors.

Little Shop of Horrors is described as a comedy horror rock musical written by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, said Newkirk. "It's about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood," he said.

The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors directed by Roger Corman. The music includes several well-known tunes, including the title song "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Suddenly, Seymour."

It is also one of the longest running off-Broadway shows in history.

Chad Bloom is the high school production's music director and alumnus Lynne Jacobellis is doing the choreography.

Advance tickets are available through Maria Oster at 818-889-1262 or at the door for $16/adults and $11/students. The special price for AHS alumni on "Alumni Night" is $11.