This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
If you're not familiar with the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman musical monster creation "Little Shop of Horrors," you have but one question to answer. Namely, what's your excuse?
Start where everyone else has, with Roger Corman's 1960 cult film about Seymour Krelborn's Faustian pact with a flower-shop plant. Not only does it feature a fresh-faced Jack Nicholson as the masochistic dental patient Wilbur Force, but it's so short you can watch it and still have time for the latest "Mad Men" episode. Menken and Ashman graced it with all the songs necessary not just for the Broadway smash, but also the popular 1986 film starring Rick Moranis and Steven Martin. Perhaps its most enduring quality, aside from the boffo soundtrack dripping with fantastic songs, is its undeniable sense of fun in every scene.
Wasatch Theatre Company's benefit production for the Salt Lake Education Foundation reprises Ally Sweeny in her previous role as Audrey for Desert Star's production, with Wasatch Theatre Company artistic directory Jim Martin as Seymour.
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"Little Shop of Horrors"
When • April 12-21, 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees April 14 and 21.
Where • Black Box Theatre at Rose Wagner Performing ARts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City.
Info • $20. Call 801-355-ARTS or visit http://www.arttix.org, http://www.wasatchtheatre.org or http://www.sledfoundation.org for more information.