This fall, step into the funny and frightful world of Skid Row as O’Dowd Theatre brings the beloved musical Little Shop of Horrors to life
Little Shop of Horrors tells the thrilling tale of Seymour, a timid florist who discovers and raises a talking, bloodthirsty houseplant named Audrey II. As the plant grows, it lures Seymour with promises of fame, fortune, and even world domination, forcing him to choose between satisfying its hunger and protecting the people he loves. Meredith Barnidge, Drama Program Manager at O’Dowd, describes it best: “It’s a show about what happens when you partner with evil.” Full of laughs and jaw-dropping surprises, this is a production you simply can’t miss.
Behind the scenes, the tech department has been working tirelessly in collaboration with professional artist and O’Dowd parent Scott Morse to build five puppets, all changing in size as the monster satisfies its peculiar appetite. Vivien Olofsen ’28, head of the puppet team (also known as the creature crew), says they’ve used a plethora of random materials to bring the plant to life, including couch cushions, creature cast, hot glue, zip ties, cut-up trash cans, and wire cables. Under the guidance of Jonathan Angeles ’08, Technical Director, students have had complete creative freedom, ingeniously transforming inanimate objects into a living, breathing monster.
Onstage, Eli Morse ’27, the show’s leading man who plays the role of Seymour, describes the production as “universally enjoyable; you’ll just have to watch out for the man-eating puppet!” Eli, along with 24 talented actors and 30+ dedicated crew members, rehearses daily from 3:30 to 6:30pm. “It’s been an amazing cast to work with,” he adds, emphasizing that this show is truly a labor of passion and hard work.
This production also debuts a brand-new lightboard, which Mr. Angeles explains, “connects to all our old light fixtures so we can do an upgrade of the whole theater system,” enhancing the range and vividness of color. Ms. Barnidge adds, “It sets us up for an all-LED theater,” marking a huge step forward for the program. “The whole O’Dowd community has come together to support the dramatic arts. From parent volunteers to donor support, we are able to make this special production one to be remembered. I am incredibly grateful.”
There is also an exciting new development in the high school theater world: members of the cast and crew can now join the new International Thespian Society. To qualify, they must have over 100 hours of theatre time on O’Dowd’s stage, have been enrolled in at least two classes in the dramatic arts, maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, and prepare for the competition. According to Ms. Barnidge, members “must attend the Leadership and Tech Conference, which happens at Santa Clara University, and in the spring travel to Southern California to compete against 3,000 other students who are also members of the honors program.” Currently, there are 13 students eligible to apply, and that number will surely grow.
Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors are on sale now for $20 for general admission, senior/youth tickets for $15, and O’Dowd students get $10 tickets on the O’Dowd website. Opening night is on Halloween, and the full performance schedule can be found online. Attend at your own risk!
