Cape Fear Regional Theatre is heading downtown, down to Skid Row. No, they aren’t moving to a new location-they are still holding court at 1707 Owen Drive as their home building on Hay Street is undergoing extensive renovations. They are taking us to Mushnik’s Flower Shop in the cult favorite musical, Little Shop of Horrors. From Oct. 23 through Nov. 16, make your way to the theatre to experience the thrilling tale of the alien, man-eating plant, and a love story that blooms in an unlikely place.
This production features a phenomenally talented cast of familiar faces and new friends. Deon Releford-Lee stars as Seymour Krelborn, the orphan whose love of strange plants gets him in some sticky situations. Releford-Lee got his start on the Cape Fear Regional stage in the 2014 production of Return to the Forbidden Planet. Since then, he has done theatre all over the world, including on Broadway as the understudy for Ike in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. He says that “coming here [to CFRT] feels like a homecoming.”
Seymour has three significant relationships in the play: with the cranky yet lovable Mr. Mushnik; with his co-worker and not-so-secret crush, Audrey; and with the mysterious plant that appears after a “total eclipse of the sun” that he affectionately names Audrey II.
It is clear that Seymour has had a tough life; Mr. Mushnik found him in an orphanage and isn’t exactly the most ideal example of what a loving father should be. But, according to Marc de la Concha, CFRT’s Education Director and frequent stage presence, Mushnik clearly has a soft spot for both his employees, Audrey and Seymour. He has given Seymour a home and a purpose and a sense of what a family might be like.
Audrey (the human one) is more than just an object of Seymour’s fancy. He looks out for her; he wants her to be safe and happy. He has fallen in love with her, but is also inspired by her. In Audrey, Seymour sees what life could be beyond Skid Row. She is a shop assistant alongside Seymour, and Mr. Mushnik has a soft spot for her as well. Plagued by a string of bad relationships, Audrey finds herself attached to an abusive boyfriend, a dentist who loves nothing more than to inflict pain. The story of Seymour and Audrey’s blossoming love is the tender center point of an otherwise darkly hilarious tale.
Then there is Audrey II. Very different in every way from its namesake, Audrey II is the villain we all love to hate and hate to love. Traditionally, the plant is represented by puppets of varying sizes, indicating how it grows throughout the show; the final version is massive. CFRT’s iteration of Audrey II will be different from what has been seen in past productions on film and onstage. Director Mary Kate Burke didn’t give any more details so as not to ruin the surprise. But there is no doubt that the Audrey II we will encounter in this production will be hilariously manipulative, nasty, but oh-so-entertaining.
Another feature of CFRT’s production that audiences will love is the choreography by Tyce Diorio. Returning to CFRT for his fourth project, Diorio is as accomplished as he is talented. His stellar career kicked off by touring with Janet Jackson and appearing in several of her videos and projects. He has also worked as a dancer and choreographer with the likes of Taylor Swift and Brandon Urie. Burke states that she loves working with Tyce because he is “kind and discerning while being exacting at the same time. He could do other things, but he loves it here so much; he makes the time to come from LA to Fayetteville to tell really incredible stories.”
The talented people are reason enough to make plans to see Little Shop of Horrors at CFRT, but the stage will do some heavy lifting in this show as well. Burke shares the space at 1707 Owen Drive is really well-suited for this show in particular. Having the whole audience so close to the stage provides a unique vantage point and will feel almost immersive. The proximity of the audience to the stage allows the director to incorporate some elements into Little Shop that will lend to its horror-movie aesthetic, not in a way that is truly scary, but in a way that intensifies its thrilling elements. No specific details are provided, as there will be lots of surprises in store. Even if you have seen Little Shop of Horrors recently, this production promises to be unique. To quote Burke, “it’s not your mama’s Little Shop!”
The timing of the production is intentional as well, with the show running right in the middle of the spooky season. While the show certainly has horror-movie elements — human-eating monster, a sadistic dentist, need we say more? — it is also full of funny moments, high-energy music, and campy nostalgia.
The theatre is offering a special discount for certain seats at this performance. The theatre’s temporary home in a former ballroom is arranged in a less traditional way, referred to as a thrust stage. In a thrust, the audience is arranged on three sides of the stage, instead of all on one side as is CFRT’s home stage. This arrangement provides great, unique perspectives of the action onstage. In an effort to help those who are less familiar with this arrangement appreciate its benefits, CFRT is offering those seats at a discount. Fear not, though; you are still guaranteed a great experience, whether you sit to the side or at the center of the audience.
As always, CFRT works to make theatre accessible to as many people as possible. The schedule includes Military and Educator Appreciation nights (Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, respectively), with a 25% discount for those who apply. Discounts are offered for military, educators, students, and seniors at every performance. Tickets can be purchased at cfrt.org or by calling the box office at 910-323-4233. Don’t wait, though; tickets for this show are selling fast!

(Top Photo: Emily Norah Samuelson plays Audrey in the upcoming Cape Fear Regional Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors.
Bottom Photo: Jasmyne Simpkins, who plays the character Ronnette, practices during a table read for Little Shop of Horrors. Photos courtesy of Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s Facebook page)