A few short weeks ago, the ISB theater took a trip down Skid Road in this year’s play production of Little Shop of Horrors. As one of the viewers, I can testify to how incredibly moving and inspiring it was, but something most viewers don’t know is how much work was put into the performance itself.
Little Shop of Horrors is a dark comedy musical about a florist named Seymour who finds and raises a mysterious, man-eating plant that brings him fame, love, and chaos. To get a better look at the commitment required to be a part of the show, I spoke with Maggie H., one of the three “Urchins” who narrate and provide comedy throughout.
Opening Night
The cast spent months preparing. Constructing sets and costumes, memorizing lines, practicing choreography, they did it all. Maggie’s commitment was made clear as she recalled her timeline. “I think I practiced for my audition since I found out.” [that the school was going to perform Little Shop of Horrors] This clearly demonstrates her hard work, and shows the long-term effort required to pull off a performance of this magnitude.
Behind the scenes, the tight-knit cast had their own ways of supporting one another. Maggie explained that backstage was often its own miniature audience. “Because we have tv monitors backstage, a lot of us watched the show.” They made sure to consistently support each other, and it paid off.
Laughter and Leadership
The cast was full of laughs, and Maggie shared one particularly memorable moment. “During the song, ‘dentist’, Ethan, our lead, has to go behind the shop and he just stays there… there’s so many videos of him just hidden behind the shop!” Audience members would have never guessed, and these hilarious moments are something that helped to unite the cast.
The bond was particularly strong with the girls in the show, who bonded together doing each other’s stage makeup, sharing laughs, and helping prepare one another while in the dressing room.
Anyone who has seen the musical knows the amount of talent the leads need to have. Our own high schoolers, Ethan (Seymour) and Avery (Audrey), delivered outstanding performances each night. Maggie observed their hard working approach, saying that “They were really good at locking back in” after making jokes or messing up. They really set the standard for everyone, and the play wouldn’t be the same without them. Avery said that “Being in the musical was literally a dream come true. I’m so lucky to have been a part of it.”
The Power of Performance
As the curtain closed on the final night, one thing was clear: this year’s production of Little Shop of Horrors wasn’t just about a talking plant; it was about the power of passion, hard work, and community. The show was a huge success, but more importantly, it united a group of people and left each audience member a little changed. My mother who went to see the play herself said that “It was better than Broadway!” I was lucky to get to watch it, and I’m so proud of every single cast and crew member. They were stars.
Although the actors in the play were incredible, it is important to note that none of this could have happened without the true behind the scenes, the tech and sound crew. Stay tuned for a feature I will be doing later on about the tech director at ISB.
