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Seymore Krelborn, portrayed by Peyton Smith, talks to his plant for the first time.

Plant eater
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: November 22, 2017

Valley Center to perform ‘Little Shop of Horrors'

If “Little Shop of Horrors" is so gory and gross, why can't audiences stop laughing?

The musical, which features a blood-thirsty talking plant and a self-medicating and sadistic dentist, is, at its core, a comedy.

And, yes, it's dark.

It's a dark comedy, explained Megan Upton-Tyner, VCHS teacher and director.

And it's coming to the Valley Center High School stage this weekend.

“It's theater magic at its finest — the puppeteering, the special effects, the lighting, the set design," Upton-Tyner said. “… Come see the show. It is so much fun. You'll be really glad you did. It's a great way to spend an evening."

You don't have to convince Peyton Smith.

The senior has the lead role as Seymore Krelborn, a budding botanist who grows a new plant with his own blood until Audrey II needs more than he can give.

“I'm very nervous, but it's just because it's my senior year," Smith said. “It's very sad. It's our last musical but it's going to be a great musical because we've put a lot of time into this. I'm excited, nervous and anxiety filled. But once we're out there we know we're having fun, we're brining the energy and bringing everything to life."

Smith's character falls for his fellow employee, Audrey, played by senior Jeannie Qualls.

“I honestly think we've put so much time and work into this show that it can't be anything less than amazing," Qualls said.

Controlling Audrey II is senior Madison Isham.

Isham said the puppeteering been a challenge.

“It's a lot of hard work," she said. “… It's a lot of movement. It's physically challenging."

The voice of the plant is senior Gabe Karst.

Isham said she had to memorize all of Karst's lines so she could control the plant correctly.

“We've put in a lot of hard work and it's going to be a great show," Isham said.

Upton-Tyner said “Little Shop of Horrors" has been on her to-do list for several years.

“Once you see it, you'll see that it's just perfect for this cast," she said. “With the addition of the plant, it's just fantastic. The music is just so fun."

The musical features a large chorus. The instrumental pit crew is directed by Mike McCormick.

The musical will be 7 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18.


Cast

Chelsea John as Chiffon, Anna Qualls as Ronnette, Kristen Schrag as Crystal, Sam Price as Mushnik, Jeannie Qualls as Audrey, Peyton Smith as Seymore Krelborn, Jakin Lefto as Orin Scrivello DDS, Gabe Karst as Audrey II, Madison Isham as Audrey II puppeteer, Janessa Woods as customer, Colten Brillhart as Bernstein, Dylan Bastian as Luce, Gabe Charvat as Skip Snip.

Dental Hygienists: Jessica Clark, Janett Duerksen, Jailyn Folster, Kassie Kinniburgh, Emma Grandstaff, Chloe Lille, Haven Massey, Chloe McGee, Sophia McNiel, Gracie Sroka, Sydney Wilson, Janessa Woods.

Company: Alex Barbour, Emmie Boese, Tommy Brown, Megan Brown, Shane Byers, Patrick Gillen, Sammie Gillig, Madison Jennings, Cheyenne Lisle, Diana Lopez, Emma McClurg, Adrien Miller, Skyle Outley, Zach Quandt, Chase Ramirez, Frank Reid, Brayden Ruble, Kaylee Schale, Zoe Schmitt, Addi Smith, Dylan Simmons, Faith Stacey, Graci Thompson, Lauren Tucker, Makayla Lake.

Technical crew

Stage manager Chesney Lund, set design Edie Reese and Megan Upton-Tyner, choreography Megan Upton-Tyner, lighting design/board operator Harrison Ducommun, sound design/board operator Devin Duerksen, assistant sound design Chris Paul, property mistress Ashlyn Mirwald, backstage crew Michael Charvat, Jarrod McCurry, Ashlyn Mirwald, Chris Paul, poster design Jessica Clark, costume construction Mary Upton, set construction Felicity Aston, Emmie Boese, Michael Charvat, Harrison Ducommun, Janett Duerksen, Aleecia Florez, Madison Isham, Isabel Lazos, Diana Lopez, Chesney Lund, Jarrod McCurry, Ashlyn Mirwald, Rhyan Morisset, Conner Peterson, Edie Reese, Xavier Schechter, Gracie Sroka, Jacqueline Toews, Megan Upton-Tyner, Makayla Lake.

Orchestra

Piano Sean Foster, synthesizers Amanda Jolly, drums Mike McCormick, bass Cole Ashcraft, trumpet 1 Edie Reese, trumpet 2 Zach Rankin, flute Garrett Rogers, reeds Asa Unruh.





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