EAST WEST PLAYERS PRESENTS POPULAR CULT MUSICAL
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theatre, builds on its reputation of producing high-quality musicals with the third selection of its 37th Anniversary Season, the charming and hilarious LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman and screenplay by Charles Griffith. Long-time EWP artists Glen Chin will direct, with musical direction by Scott Nagatani.

Continuing the theatre’s tradition of blending East and West in its productions, an all-Asian American cast will perform LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS re-set in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, a timeless and magical place where anything can happen. It is in a gloomy, rundown flower shop that we meet Seymour, the nerdy clerk, Audrey, the beautiful salesgirl and “Audrey II,” an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore offering Seymour fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite – finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination.

“I’m very excited about this production because while we’re adding our own twist to the play, East West Players always maintains the integrity and purpose of the piece, and the audience will have an opportunity to see an extremely talented cast of Asian American actors,” said Chin, whose last project at EWP was directing HEADING EAST in 1998.

“While Asian Pacific American artists are gaining inroads into musical theatre and ensembles are becoming more integrated, roles are still very limited. It’s important for East West Players to do productions like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to give Asian Pacific American actors the chance to do roles they might not otherwise have the opportunity to perform,” said Marilyn Tokuda, EWP’s interim artistic director.

“We’ve had great success in the past with our musicals such as A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, CABARET and SWEENEY TODD. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will be a fun romp with great music and irresistible characters, and will leave you singing and smiling as you leave the theater,” Tokuda added.

The cast for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS includes (in alphabetical order) Samuel Chen, Jason Fong, Ai Goeku, Kym Hoy, Kurt Kuniyoshi, Sharline Liu, Dom Magwili, Blythe Matsui, Alexander Selma, Jenni Selma and Ian Shen.

Puppet Design for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is by Michael Earl, Set Design by Evan Bartoletti, Costume Design by Dori Quan, Lighting Design by Guido Girardi, Sound Design by Kaname Morshita, Choreography Betsy Chang and Property Master is Ken Takemoto. Ricardo Figueroa is the Production Stage Manager.

All performances in the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, located in Little Tokyo at 120 Judge John Aiso St. (formerly San Pedro St. between Temple and First Streets). The opening night is set for Feb. 5, 2003 (includes gala reception with the director, cast and crew) and closing on March 2, 2003. Previews begin Jan. 30. Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. There are no Saturday matinee performances on Feb. 1 and 8.

Singles Night on Friday, Feb. 14 is sponsored by Click2Asia.

Ticket prices are $60 for Opening Night; regular performances are $35 in the orchestra and $30 for the balcony. Tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday, 11 am – 5 pm by calling (213) 625-7000. Senior, student and group discounts are available.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Music Theater International, 421 W. 54th St., New York, NY 10019.

Questions? Email gwangung@u.washington.edu