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Stages St. Louis presents Little Shop of Horrors

(St. Louis, MO) – Stages St. Louis will open its 2009 season with Little Shop of Horrors at The Robert G. Reim Theater in Kirkwood from May 29 – June 28.

The 3rd longest running Off-Broadway show of all time, Little Shop of Horrors became a cult classic when it premiered in 1982. The show also enjoyed a 372 show run on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre in 2003.

A down and out floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an ill-tempered, mean-spirited, R&B-singing carnivorous plant who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite.

Based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film, Little Shop features book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Appearing in the cast are Ben Nordstrom as Seymour, Maria Couch as Audrey, Darin De Paul as Mushnik, Todd Dubail as Orin, Valisia Lekae as Chiffon, Lisa M. Ramey as Ronnette, and Rashidra Scott as Crystal.

Also included in the cast are Geno Segers, Marc A. Petrosino, Shaun Sheley, and Monte J. Howell.

Direction and musical staging are by Michael Hamilton, with choreography by Stephen Bourneuf and musical direction by Lisa Campbell Albert. Completing the artistic team are scenic designer Richard Ellis, costume designer John Inchiostro, lighting designer Matthew McCarthy, and orchestral designer Stuart M. Elmore.

Little Shop of Horrors will run for a total of five weeks. Week one performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m.

The week two schedule is Wednesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Weeks three, four and five will have additional performances on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Wednesdays at 2 p.m. Week five will also have an additional Sunday night performance at 7:30 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets call 314-821-2407 or visit www.stagesstlouis.org.

Little Shop is sponsored by Edward Jones, Brown Shoe Company, and Judy & Jerry Kent. The 2009 Season is made possible with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Regional Arts Commission. Financial assistance has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council and Stages is also funded in part by the Arts & Education Council.

The 2009 season will also feature The Drowsy Chaperone (July 17 – August 16), Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (August 5 – 16), and Guys & Dolls (September 4 – October 4). Tickets are $48.00, with numerous special single ticket and subscription rates available. Stages performs in the intimate, 384-seat Robert G. Reim Theater at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road, 63122.

The recipient of the 2008 Excellence in Arts Award from the Arts & Education Council and 8 Kevin Kline Awards, including Best Musical, in 2008, Stages St. Louis was founded in 1987 and is dedicated to producing the indigenous American art form of musical theater. The mission of Stages is to become the leading company for musical theater performance and education in the Midwest.