Southeast Missouri State University announces the River Campus Summer Arts Festival’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” opening June 14 as part of its two-week extended season.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” one of the longest running Off-Broadway shows, is a deliciously dark sci-fi comedy musical with a stunning 1960s pop/rock score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. Meet Seymour, a meek and dejected floral shop employee who finds an unusual plant, which he adoringly names “Audrey II.” Surprises await as this strange and unusual plant develops a soulful voice, a sailor mouth and a taste for human blood.

Performances of “Little Shop of Horrors” are slated for 7:30 p.m. June 14, 19, 22, 23, 26 and 27; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 17, in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre at the Southeast River Campus.

The musical is a hilarious show that spoofs audiences’ favorite sci-fi and B-rated horror movies, said Director Michael McIntosh, assistant professor with Southeast’s Conservatory of Theatre and Dance.

“It’s a very funny show that everyone will love,” McIntosh said “We have a great cast and huge special effects. It’s going to be a first-class production that audiences won’t want to miss.”

The company consists of current Southeast Conservatory students and professional faculty and staff. For a listing of the full company, please see below.*

Tickets

Tickets are $20 and are on sale now. They may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling (573) 651-2265 or online at RiverCampus.org.

River Campus Summer Arts Festival:

The fifth annual community River Campus Summer Arts Festival on June 16 includes live music, dance, theatrical performances, magic, visual arts displays, hands-on family-friendly art expression activities, museum exhibitions, musical instruments and animal petting zoos, creative writing workshops, an arts walk, and other hands-on activities throughout the River Campus. The festival will offer an ambitious season of three shows. In addition to “Little Shop of Horrors,” visitors also may enjoy the whodunit meets spicy spy novel in the melodramatic comedy “The 39 Steps,” and the Broadway musical “Legally Blonde Jr.”

The community festival is free and open to all ages in the entire region. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is sponsored by Drury Hotels, US Bank, the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, Southeast Missouri State University, City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation, the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, Rust Communications, KGMO, Ameren Missouri, KBSI, River Radio, Pure Country C106.1, KRCU, Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, SoutheastHEALTH, Legends, Lemonade Grill, Cape Noon Optimist Club, Cape Rotary Club, the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum, Jimmy John’s, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Minglewood Brewery, Pepsi, and the University’s departments of Art, Music and The Conservatory of Theatre and Dance.  Partners include the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Old Town Cape and the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

For more information, visit http://rivercampus.org/event/summer-arts-festival/.

*Full List of Company:

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Michael McIntosh (Director), assistant professor of musical theatre, directing and acting

Jenna Lee Moore (Music Director), assistant professor of theatre – voice

Malachi Marrero (Choreographer), junior dance major of Memphis, Tennessee

Jeffrey Luetkenhaus (Scenic Designer), production manager for the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts

James M. Miller (Costume Designer), guest designer

Christopher Haug (Lighting Designer), technical director and lighting designer for The Conservatory of Theatre and Dance

Mick Keathley (Sound Designer), assistant manager for the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts

CAST:

Brianna Busse (Chiffon), sophomore musical theatre major of Florissant, Missouri

Alexia Buckner (Crystal), junior musical theatre major of Memphis, Tennessee

Diamon Lester (Ronnette), sophomore musical theatre major of Hazelwood, Missouri

Bart Williams (Mushnik), assistant professor of theatre

Abigail Becker (Audrey), junior musical theatre major of Independence, Missouri

Mason Ramsey (Seymour), junior musical theatre major of Festus, Missouri

Andrew Freeland (Orin, Bernstein, Snip, Derelicts, Everyone Else), sophomore musical theatre major of Pikeville, Kentucky

Ries Lundstrom (Audrey II – Puppeteer, Derelicts), sophomore musical theatre major of Granite City, Illinois

Nicholas Kuchem (Audrey II – Voice, Derelicts), junior musical theatre major of Washington, Missouri