Poster Design: Jamison Rieger

 

"Little Shop of Horrors" is a beloved musical that combines comedy, horror, and catchy tunes into a captivating and darkly humorous theatrical experience. Set in the urban backdrop of Skid Row, the play tells the story of Seymour, a nerdy florist, and his discovery of a mysterious and carnivorous plant named Audrey II, after his coworker and love interest. As Seymour nurtures Audrey II, the plant grows to extraordinary proportions and develops an insatiable appetite for human blood. With each feeding, Audrey II grants Seymour fame, fortune, and the attention of his crush, Audrey. However, as the plant's demands escalate, Seymour faces a moral dilemma and must confront the consequences of his Faustian bargain. Filled with memorable songs, wry humor, and a dose of camp, "Little Shop of Horrors" is a delightfully twisted tale that explores themes of ambition, desire, and the price of success, all wrapped in a hilarious and memorable musical package.

 

Set Design: Jamison Rieger | Set Dressing: Tara Abell | Set Construction: LEUSD Tech Crew

 

The set for "Little Shop of Horrors" is a captivating and atmospheric depiction of a gritty urban neighborhood, evoking a sense of decay and foreboding. The primary focal point is the run-down flower shop, Mushnik's Skid Row Florists, with its worn facade, faded signage, and dilapidated interior. Surrounding the shop are towering buildings that cast long shadows, emphasizing the sense of confinement and hopelessness. For this play, the director (Ms. Abell) requested that the set be designed in a still reminiscent of those settings created by Tim Burton. Tim Burton's art style is a unique and captivating blend of dark whimsy, gothic aesthetics, and macabre charm. Burton's use of stark contrasts, both in color and lighting, creates a striking atmosphere, often favoring a palette of somber tones interspersed with bursts of vivid hues. There is a sense of nostalgia and melancholy present in his work, as he explores themes of loneliness, outsiders, and the beauty found in the unconventional. Burton's art style invites audiences into a darkly enchanting realm where the strange and the ordinary coexist, leaving an indelible imprint on the imagination and forever shaping the way we perceive storytelling in film and art. Additionally, the centerpiece of the set for "Little Shop of Horrors" is Audrey II, the larger-than-life carnivorous plant, which progressively grows in size and becomes increasingly menacing. The dominant colors chosen for the set intentionally contrasted with the yellow-green of the puppet, "Audrey II" while the red of Audrey II's veins is used to line the faux wallpaper with Burtonesque vine-like lines. The design of Audrey II at once dominates and integrates with the set, blending organic elements to create a sinister and mesmerizing presence. Overall, the set for "Little Shop of Horrors" effectively captures the dark, gritty, and visually compelling environment that serves as the backdrop for the play's twisted tale of love, ambition, and a man-eating plant.