LOOKOUT!

SHING-A-LING!

WHAT A CREEPY THING TO BE HAPPENIN’!

Little Shop of Horrors, one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time (and a recent hit on Broadway), came to Hershey Area Playhouse! Mark W. Arner directed this show, which is an affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi, Pulp-Fictionish “B” movies. Mark was seen in the Playhouse’s production of Nuncrackers, but is no stranger to theatre. He has over 20 years experience in just about all aspects of theatrical production from performer, director, choreographer, writer and producer. He was very excited to head this incredible production.  

According to Mark Arner, “Little Shop is one of my favorites and the most fun a person can have in a musical out there. What other show can boast a cast of odd but lovable characters, with a sweet yet outlandish plot and has a rockin’ musical score? The composer and Lyricist were Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. That’s right, before Beauty had her Beast or Ariel learned to sing, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken created an Off-Broadway hit with Little Shop and made a star out of a man-eating plant named Audrey Two from another world.”

For anyone unfamiliar with the show, Audrey II is anthropomorphic cross between a Venus Flytrap and an avocado. It has a huge nasty-looking pod, which gains a shark-like aspect when open and snapping at food. The creature is played by a series of four increasingly large puppets, manipulated by one Puppeteer. The first time we see The Plant, it is less than one foot tall. The last time we see it, it fills the stage. When asked about the challenges of the plant for the production Mark says, “ I can’t wait to have audiences just feet away from a large plant pod that keeps devouring its cast. We have a professional Puppet lined up and it looks great! This show is gonna be BIG!”  

A down-and-out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

Directed by Mark W. Arner

Produced by Susan Cort

July 10 - 13, 17 - 20, 2008

Meet the cast

Seymour                 

Eric Mansilla

Audrey                    

Lydia Graeff

Orin                         

Travis Stevens

Mushnik

Tony Pingitore

Audrey Two

Marc Farrell

Urchins

Martha Hershour

Ashley Kirchner

Katie Kokan
Abbigail Ricker

Denizens of Skid Row… and featured others:

Marrisa Livollen

John Mallonee

Colleen Mullikin

Megan Nazar

Erik Nupponen

Randy Stamm

Brian Valley

Marc E. Farrell (The Voice of Audrey Two)

Marc ironically played Audrey Two for Theatre Harrisburg once before when he had to step in to replace an actor who had a family emergency. Musical directing credits include: Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, Jekyll & Hyde, Bat Boy, Once on This Island, Big River, Anything Goes, Chicago and The Mystery of Edwin Drood for Theatre Harrisburg. Acting credits include: Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Prince Charming in Into the Woods, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha and many, many more. A retired music teacher, Marc has also directed productions at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, York Little Theatre, Harrisburg High, Harrisburg Arts Magnet School and West Chester University. As a composer, he was accepted into the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop in New York City. He lives in Harrisburg with his wife, local writer Diane McCormick, and three lively cats. He has two daughters, Bryden and Meaghan, and is thrilled his four-year-old granddaughter, Adria, visits every week.

Lydia Graeff(Audrey)

Lydia is thrilled to do her first show with Hershey Area Playhouse after moving back home to PA from North Carolina. She is a recent graduate of Elon University where she studied theatre and film. She has previously been a part of the Popcorn Hat Players, was the assistant stage manager for Harrisburg's Free Shakespeare in the Park in 2006, and has taught drama classes at the Nashville Children's Theatre in 2007. Lydia wants to thank this AMAZING cast and crew, her family and her loving boyfriend for all their graciousness and support. DON'T FEED THE PLANTS! Enjoy the show!

Martha Hershour (Ronnette)

Little Shop of Horrors is Martha’s first production with Hershey Area Playhouse, but she’s no stranger to the stage. Last summer, she attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts as an Acting Major and this coming fall she’ll be attending Point Park University as an Acting Major. Some of her favorite roles have been Nadine/God in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof and Olive Madison in The Odd Couple: Female Version.

AshleySimone Kirchner (Crystal)

AshleySimone is thrilled to be a part of Little Shop. A student at Marymount Manhattan College, she is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management. This is her first show with Hershey Area Playhouse, but has performed locally with Capitol Performing Arts Center’s main stage and youth theatre for 5 years. Favorite rolls include Ziegfeld’s Favorite (Will Rogers Follies), Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), and Sandy (Grease). She will also be appearing as Kim MacAfee in CPAC’s August production of Bye Bye Birdie. So much love to all the cast and production staff for this amazing experience!!!

Katie Kokan (Shirelle)

Thrilled to be making her debut with Hershey Area Playhouse, Katie adores every minute of working with such an amazingly talented and FUN cast and crew. A Pittsburgh native, she teaches tenth grade English at ELCO High School where she choreographs the musicals. Some of her favorite roles include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Catherine in Proof, and Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Classroom Technology. She thanks her family, friends, and hubster (Orin) for always loving on her. Break legs everyone!

Marissa Livollen (Blind Woman/Patrice Martin)

Marissa is a Senior Acting/Directing Major at DeSales University. She is happy to be a part of her first Hershey Area Playhouse production, and to be revisiting this wonderful play. She would like to thank thirtyaughtthree for housing throughout this process and Timothy for all his support. This year she will be finishing her degree and cannot wait to return to this area and become more involved with Hershey Area Playhouse. Thank you to John Bell, for his amazing coaching and teaching and thanks to her family who has believed in her every step of the way.

John Mallonee (Customer #1, Audrey Two Pod Four)

Even though you won't really see him in the second act, John's going green in this upbeat, high energy show. He's happy to be part of his fifth Playhouse production and happy that you're here to enjoy it. After getting his theatrical start just two years ago, he's since been seen in the following Playhouse shows:  Cinderella (The Herald), A Christmas Story (Ralph), The Homecoming (The Sheriff) and The Other Woman (Messenger). Working with the Playhouse is one of his passions along with being a husband and partner to Kelly for almost 24 years, singing in his church choir, playing ice hockey and being a member of the Hershey Lions Club. He continues to thank the Lord, his wife, his family, the Playhouse and all of you patrons for supporting him and this and all other Hershey Area Playhouse shows. Feed me, Seymour!

Eric Mansilla (Seymour)

Little Shop is Eric's second show with the Playhouse. He recently graduated from Hershey High School and will be studying Music Education at Lebanon Valley College in the fall. Eric has performed in a number of school plays including The Crucible (Rev. Hale), The Outsiders (Darry Curtis), Beauty and the Beast (Maurice) and Romeo and Juliet (Friar Laurence). Off-stage at the high school, he played in the orchestra pit for West Side Story this past year. Most recently, Eric appeared in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (as Charlie Brown, for the second half of the run), and is excited to return as Seymour.

Colleen Mullikin (The Nun, Radio Announcer)

Colleen is a math/communication arts teacher at Hershey Middle School. She has participated in several Hershey Area Playhouse productions including The Other Woman, Cinderella, Oliver!, Little Women, The Odd Couple: Female Version, The Wizard of Oz and Nuncrackers where she got in the "habit" of working with Mark Arner. Thanks to all in the cast and crew for a blood-letting, bonding summer.

Megan Nazar (Expectant Housewife/Mrs. Luce)

Megan has been involved in theatre for the past eight years. She performed in all of the high school musicals at Lower Dauphin High School and was in many musical performances at West Chester University of Pennsylvania where she just finished nursing school. She is very excited to be back in the Hershey area and a part of the community theatre!

Erik Nupponen (Wino)

Erik has not been on-stage since he was in college over a dozen years ago, but he is proud to be making his debut performance with Hershey Area Playhouse in Little Shop of Horrors. He would like to thank Sharon, Mark, and especially his wife, Jessica, for encouraging him to participate.

A.J. (Tony) Pingitore (Mushnik)

Tony is thrilled to work with Mark Arner, his team and the superb cast in this production. Tony worked backstage in the performance of Nuncrackers, where Mark was one of the lead actors in that wonderful production. He has been an active supporter of Hershey Area Playhouse for the last three years and has also appeared in several productions at local community theatres such as Lebanon Community Theatre, Theatre Harrisburg and most recently at EphrataACT in the role of Mr. Huckelbee in the recent production of The Fantasticks. Tony appeared last at Hershey Area Playhouse in the inaugural production of Our Town in April 2007. As always, Tony wants to lovingly thank his "acting coach" and wife, Leah for her incredible support for his efforts in community theatre.

Abbie Ricker (Chiffon)

Abbie is thrilled to be making her debut as Chiffon with Hershey Area Playhouse.  Currently, she is a music major at Elizabethtown College hoping to minor or double major in theatre. Some of her favorite roles include previously playing Ronnette in Little Shop, "Toffee" in Zombie Prom and Madame Thenardier Les Miserables. Her hobbies include being silly, yelling things at people when she drives by, and making sweet music. She would like to thank the cast and crew for making this production so fabulous! Much love to everyone, especially the lovely urchin ladies!

Randy Stamm (Married Slob, Skip Snip)

This is Randy’s first show with Hershey Area Playhouse. Randy has appeared in shows with Theatre Harrisburg, Oyster Mill Playhouse and Twin Valley Players.  Some of his favorite characters include Chuck Cranston and Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose (two different productions) and Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His most recent role was a balding, toupee-wearing, wanna-be-stripper in The Full Monty. Randy would like to thank his family and friends for their support of him, theatrical and otherwise.

Travis Stevens (Orin)

Travis is "painfully" excited to be playing Orin in Little Shop of Horrors with such a talented group. Originally from Western New York, he is now a music teacher in the Central Dauphin School District (as well as a classically trained auto harpist). He is no stranger to the stage; in past roles he has worn a coat of many colors, sung longingly about being a rich man, and felt the cold steel of Bernardo's blade. Travis would like to thank the cast and crew for "being sweet," and his awesome beautiful wife, (Shirelle, the Urchin) for carpooling with him to each rehearsal (she drove most of the time…nice).

Brian Valley (Flasher, Audrey Two Pod 3, Mr. Bernstein)

Brian is thrilled to be returning to Hershey Area Playhouse, having performed previously as Bo Decker in Bus Stop. Favorite shows he has been involved in include The Wild Party (Phil), Grease (Eugene) and Pippin. Many blessings to the cast and crew for making this show such an enjoyable experience. Special thanks to Mark for all of his hard work and dedication.  He would also like to thank his family and especially “Marlene” for always being there.

Seymour (Eric Mansilla), Audrey (Lydia Graeff) and Mr. Mushnik (Tony Pingitore) with Audrey II.

Orin (Travis Stevens) gives Seymour (Eric Mansilla) a check-up.          Seymour (Eric Mansilla) with a blossoming Audrey II.

Photography by Michael Feldser