Cult Classic Little Shop of Horrors Opens in July

The Sandbox Collective is set to open the second show of their 10th anniversary season with the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors: A Bloodthirsty Musical Comedy, directed by Toff de Venecia. The decision to stage this production by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman showcases a different side of theater, blending horror, whimsy, and absurdity.

In a press conference, De Venecia said that staging Little Shop of Horrors is "a long time coming." It has always been in their pipeline in 2020, but the pandemic happened. "I'm happy that it's finally happening."

Little Shop of Horrors is set to run on weekends from July 6 to 28 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, in BGC.

The Sandbox Collective

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Cast of Little Shop of Horrors

The cast features an impressive lineup of talent, with Reb Atadero and Nyoy Volante alternating in the role of the lovelorn Seymour. Atadero, recently seen as Mark Cohen in Rent and Michael in Tick, Tick...Boom!, brings a wealth of experience as an actor, singer, host, voice actor, director, and content creator. Volante is a multi-awarded singer-songwriter and actor, known for his critically acclaimed performance as Lola in Kinky Boots.

Sharing the role of Audrey, the unlucky-in-love heroine, are Sue Ramirez and Karylle Tatlonghari. Ramirez, making her theatrical debut, is known for her versatile performances in film and TV, including Ang Babaeng Allergic sa Wi-Fi and The Broken Marriage Vow. Tatlonghari, a multi-awarded singer and actress, has an extensive theater background with roles in The Sound of Music, Cinderella, and Carousel.

The villainous dentist Orin will be portrayed by Markki Stroem and David Ezra. Stroem, a singer, actor, and radio DJ, has an extensive theater resume including roles in Next To Normal and Mula Sa Buwan. Ezra, making his theatrical comeback, has been recognized for his performances in Aurelio Sedisyoso and Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical.

The role of Mr. Mushnik, the flower shop’s proprietor, will be played by Audie Gemora, a multi-awarded theater luminary and current president of Philstage. Gemora has appeared in over 40 plays and won numerous awards.

Stepping into the role of the bloodthirsty plant Audrey II is singer and actor OJ Mariano, known for his work with The Company and performance in Ang Huling El Bimbo. Julia Serad, who plays one of the street urchins, will also play Audrey II in select performances.

The Street Urchins will be played by Julia Serad, Abi Sulit, Paula Paguio, and Mikee Baskiñas. Serad was most recently seen in Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical. Sulit has just appeared in Rent. Paguio has performed in Pingkian: Isang Musikal. Baskiñas has joined productions like Guadalupe The Musical and Mabining Mandirigma: A Steampunk Musical.

Originally staged in 1982 off-off-Broadway and turned into a musical film in 1986, Little Shop of Horrors is based on the film by Roger Corman, with a screenplay by Charles Griffith.

The Creative Team and Making a "Different" Little Shop of Horrors

The production team includes Ejay Yatco as musical director, Mio Infante as scenographer, Kayla Teodoro as puppet designer, Stephen Viñas as choreographer, Joseph Matheu as lighting designer, Joee Mejias as video designer, Philleep Masaquel as technical director, Elliza Aurelio as FOH, hair and makeup head, JV Rabano and Lorenzo Corro as photographers.

Interestingly, De Venecia—alongside Yatco and Sulit—has already worked on Little Shop of Horrors in 2011 for the Ateneo Blue Repertory.

"It's very special to me because while I was sort of familiar with it, I didn't realize just how beautiful this musical was. I guess it was also there that I discovered my love for working with Ejay. It's really special to me because of the people that I worked with in 2011, but also, perhaps it was in that show that I discovered my voice as a theater director. I have an affinity towards absurdist works," he said.

Infante, who did the set of Repertory Philippines' 1989 staging of Little Shop of Horrors, promised that "it's a totally different take." He narrated that when De Venecia invited him to join the creative team of Sandbox' staging, he immediately said yes. "Why not? I kind of knew Little Shop of Horrors. So I started designing it already, but then Tof gave me a curveball and said, 'We kind of want something different.' So you'll get to see something different for this one. And working with Tof has been very interesting, challenging, and refreshing."

Again harking back to his previous production, De Venecia revealed "Before, we had to do it with minus ones, budget constraints, but now we're gonna do it with a live band."

"Toff and I have been dreaming about this for a day. So one big thing also is Toff and I have grown together. We've known each other for a long time, but as a director and as a musical director, we've both grown in the past 10 years. So I think our life experiences has prepared us more for this version of Little Shop of Horrors," Yatco added.

Executive producer Anna Santamaria, marketing and PR director Sab Jose-Gregorio, design director Maine Manalansan-Veneracion, production manager Charyl De Guzman, marketing & PR manager Loreta Arroyo, marketing and PR associates Salve Van Schoonhoven, Myka Cue, and Mariella Laurel, social media associate Marielle Filoteo, and stage manager Pachot Festejo round out the team.

Little Shop of Horrors runs from July 6 to 28 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Bonifacio Global City. Shows are at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 8 p.m. on Fridays. Tickets, with prices ranging from P2,200++ to P4,000++, are available through Ticketworld.