Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre to stage ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
WINONA, Minn. — Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre’s (GCST) production of Little Shop of Horrors, July 10- Aug. 2 at the Saint Mary’s University Page Theatre, will mark two milestones in Winona-native Mike Speck’s professional life.
First, GCST’s 2008 summer season will be the first time Speck has performed in Winona since Rock Solid Theatre’s production of Godspell in 2002. Second, Speck will be repeating a role for the first time: the voice of Audrey II, the manipulative man-eating plant at the heart of Little Shop of Horrors.
“I’ve done a number of shows twice – Little Shop included, actually,” comments Speck, 29. “But I’ve always had a different role the second time around, even if it was as small a change as switching which brother I played in Joseph [and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]. The chance to tackle Audrey II again, with more experience and better technique – it’ll be a great test and great fun.”
Speck’s first time doing Little Shop was with the Fountain City River Players, immediately after graduating from Winona Senior High School. He played Orin, the sadistic dentist famously played by Steve Martin in the movie. But it wasn’t until his junior year at Luther College that he got the chance to voice the vegetable. One of his former roommates was the puppeteer that controlled the giant flytrap’s movement – and provided lip synch for Speck’s lines.
“Theatre’s always a collaborative art form, but this role obviously requires even more cooperation between actors than usual – I’m literally providing only half of the character” without the puppeteer, Speck notes. Even playing the same role, though, Speck will have plenty of work to do relearning the show. After all, he has a brand-new body this time: GCST has cast Eric Zuber, of Bradley University, as the puppeteer.
Under the direction of Judy Myers, “Little Shop of Horrors,” follows Seymour, a down-and out skid row floral assistant as he becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant, which he names Audrey II, with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon Audrey II grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore that offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite. Audrey II finally reveals itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination. Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, this musical is based on the film by Roger Corman and screenplay by Charles Griffith. Anthony Freeman will serve as the musical director.
The professional actors of Gilmore Creek will present “The Foreigner” and “Little Shop of Horrors” in repertory with the children’s story “The Mouse Expedition” July 10 through Aug. 3. “The Foreigner” and “Little Shop of Horrors” will be staged at Saint Mary’s Page Theatre, and audiences can catch “The Mouse Expedition” at the Valéncia Academy Theatre, located at 1164 W. 10th St.
Tickets are available for any of the Gilmore Creek shows from the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, during summer office hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or online anytime at www.pagetheater.org. Tickets to “The Foreigner” and “Little Shop of Horrors” are $20; $18 for seniors or $12 for youth ages 12-18. Family and group packages are available. Tickets to “The Mouse Expedition” are $8.
