Nordonia Drama kicks off theater season with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
by Laura Bednar
Nordonia Drama has added a musical to its mainstage production lineup, marking the first time in school history there will be a fall musical, fall play and a spring musical.
Drama director Chris Simmons said he has wanted to produce more shows, but the pandemic slowed those plans. This year, “everything was in place logistically to support three shows,” he said. Students learned of the third show at the first drama meeting of the school year, which Simmons said created pandemonium and excitement.
The fall musical is “Little Shop of Horrors,” with performances Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The show has a cast of eight and instead of a pit band, the actors will sing along with a recorded track.
“Smaller cast musicals we can’t do in the spring,” said Simmons, adding that because fall is marching band season, it is more difficult for student musicians to make time for the pit band.
The Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi musical focuses on meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn, who stumbles on a new species of plant he names “Audrey II.” The foul-mouthed, R&B-singing plant promises Krelborn fame and fortune as long as he keeps feeding it blood. Eventually, Krelborn discovers Audrey II’s outer space origins and intent to take over the world.
Cast members are Caeden Bolling as Krelborn, Ella Bozan as Audrey and Ezekiel Rayle as Orin Scrivello. Rounding out the cast is Zion Fountain as Mr. Mushnik, Princess Okechukwu as Audrey II and Camille Laviano, Aubrey Spinetti and Mason Tyler as the Urchins.
Simmons said the musical includes some profanity and scary scenes, but because the horror is exaggerated, it comes off as funny. Tickets are available online via Hometown Ticketing and are $12 each. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour before showtime.
Audiences can look forward to the fall play “Little Women,” scheduled for Dec. 6-8. The cast of 12 will perform the classic novel that focuses on Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth and Amy. The student actors will perform playwright Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the novel, which retains the major plot points but is structured as Jo’s retelling of her family history for a more theatrical approach.
The spring musical, April 11-13, will be “The Addams Family: School Edition.”
“I’m looking forward for the opportunity to showcase to the community how lucky I am to have the talented and dedicated students and staff to do three shows,” said Simmons.
For more information on all performances, visit nordoniadrama.com. ∞