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Home > Archive > Jul 12, 2007

Teen Talent Takes the Stage in 'Little Shop of Horrors'
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
Some “horrific” entertainment is about to be served up at Tuacahn! Back for its third go-round, the Tuacahn Summer Theatre Institute will follow up last year's successful “Grease” run with “Little Shop of Horrors,” which will play, July 11 through Aug. 4, at Tuacahn's indoor Orval and Ruth Hafen Theater.
“It's a great affordable way to escape the heat,” Tuacahn associate producer Jeff Martin said. “Bring the family!”
Though it's part of Tuacahn's regular lineup of shows, “Little Shop of Horrors” features teenage talent in its starring roles.
Each year, Tuacahn scouts Utah for talented high-school students, holding auditions locally as well as in northern Utah to fill its Summer Theatre Institute slots.
Essentially a summer camp for aspiring actors, the Summer Theatre Institute includes workshops and classes for the participants throughout the seven weeks over which it takes place, with instruction in such showbiz skills as on-stage fencing, stage-makeup application and resume writing for actors. The culminating event of the Summer Theatre Institute is the end-of-summer musical production starring the teen actors, which this year is “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“These kids are really the cream of the crop from their high schools,” Martin said. “It's a great opportunity for them to come and work with other high school actors who are equally as talented.”
The young participants are selected for the institute through an audition process of singing and performing monologues for the Tuacahn scouts. Those whose abilities catch the eyes of the Tuacahn honchos are then called back for another round of tryouts. Kids selected for the institute spend almost two months honing their theater skills at Tuacahn.
An intensive experience not unlike that of a professional theater production, the Summer Theatre Institute's “Little Shop” has had students dancing, singing, rehearsing and even painting sets for 10 or more hours each day. It's a very effective, hands-on way for the students to get applicable experience and a real look into what it's like to be a professional actor, Martin said.
“It's a great training ground,” he said. “They really become more well-rounded performers and take a lot of great experience with them back to their high schools.”
Several local students will be taking the stage in “Little Shop,” along with many out-of-town teens. Living accommodations for those not from St. George have been arranged through Tuacahn during the Summer Theatre Institute.
“Little Shop of Horrors,” a musical with lyrics and script by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken (the musical minds behind such Disney films as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” and “Beauty and the Beast”), debuted off-Broadway in 1982 and was later made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. The story revolves around Seymour, an assistant in a New York florist shop, and a man-eating plant called “Audrey II,” named for Seymour's love interest in the show. The singing and talking carnivorous plant promises Seymour fame and fortune, but the catch is that the love-struck florist has to feed the plant's growing appetite with human cuisine in exchange.
Featuring the best high school talent from throughout the state, Tuacahn's “Little Shop” is a show sure to entertain, Martin said.
“It's very contemporary and fun and has interesting characters,” Martin said. “The music is great, and it's probably the best set design we've had on that stage.”
In collaboration with St. George Musical Theater, discounted tickets are available to “Little Shop of Horrors” for those who attend SGMT's currently playing production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Those attending “Little Shop” will similarly receive a discount to SGMT's “Joseph” and the upcoming “Scarlet Pimpernel.” For “Little Shop of Horrors” ticket information, contact Tuacahn's box office at 652-3300. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.tuacahn.com.

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