Little Shop of Horrors

The story of Little Shop of Horrors

Set in a struggling flower shop on Skid Row, Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour, a shy shop worker who discovers a strange and unusual plant he names Audrey II after his coworker crush. As the plant grows, so does its appetite, and Seymour finds himself pulled deeper into a comic, increasingly sinister bargain in exchange for fame and fortune.

The show is rooted in a scrappy, retro 1960s atmosphere, with its urban shop setting and doo wop influenced style giving it a distinctive, campy charm that separates it from more traditional book musicals.

The music and the makers

The stage musical, with a score by Alan Menken, adapts the beloved low budget film into a tight, character driven comedy with music rooted in early rock and roll and girl group sounds. Menken, who would go on to shape the sound of the modern Disney musical, brings a playful, hook filled sensibility to the score.

The songs balance genuine laughs with surprisingly catchy melodies, and a trio of narrator characters styled after 1960s girl groups provide much of the show's rhythmic energy and wit.

Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway

Little Shop of Horrors has enjoyed a long life on stage, including a notable Broadway revival that opened in 2003 and introduced the show to new generations of theatregoers. Its compact cast, inventive puppetry, and dark comic tone have made it a favorite for both major productions and smaller theatres alike.

Part of its enduring appeal is its tone: it manages to be genuinely funny and a little bit scary at the same time, wrapped around a score that audiences leave humming. That combination of horror comedy and irresistible music has kept it in steady rotation for decades.

Little Shop of Horrors: frequently asked questions