Man-Eating Plant Takes the Stage in Latest Village Players Performance

Inspired by the science fiction tale first brought to life by Roger Corman, the Birmingham Village Players are bringing one of the most popular — and funniest — musicals to the Birmingham stage this winter: Little Shop of Horrors.

The show opens at 8 p.m. March 1 and is set for a three-weekend run at the Birmingham theater on Woodward.

As one of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time, Little Shop of Horrors stars a carnivorous, man-eating plant nurtured by the timid florist, Seymour Krelborn.

The Village Players production is directed by Novi resident Kevin Branshaw, who promises audiences that the Village Players' production contains plenty of little "tweaks" that set this show apart from the various other stage iterations of Little Shop of Horrors.

The show's love triangle — made up of Seymour, the girl he loves and a sadistic dentist — is played by actors from Troy and Franklin. Troy's Jude Purcell plays Seymour while his love interest, Audrey, is played by Lindsey Brenz, also a Troy resident.

Rounding out the cast is Franklin's Jason Dilly, who plays the dentist Orin Scrivello while the flower shop owner is played by Clawson resident Dave Genette. Even more importantly: the voice of the man-eating plant, Audrey II, is sung by Royal Oak's Dez Walker.

With Little Shop of Horrors, Birmingham's Village Players approaches the tail end of their 90th season. The last show of the year, Camelot, will open in early May.

If you go:

• Where: Village Players Playhouse, 34660 Woodward Ave.
• When: The curtain opens at 8 p.m. March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 and at 2 p.m. March 10 and 17.
• Cost: Tickets are $19 each, though there's a $1 processing fee for each ticket order. To order tickets by phone, call 248-644-2075 or visit the Village Players website.