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| Little Shop of Horrors | |
|---|---|
| Name | Little Shop of Horrors |
| Caption | Poster artwork |
| Premiered | 1960 |
| Creators | Roger Corman; Howard Ashman; Alan Menken |
| Genre | Horror comedy; Musical; Black comedy |
Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy property originating from a 1960 film directed by Roger Corman and later adapted into a stage musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, spawning a 1986 film adaptation directed by Frank Oz and various international productions. The work connects to figures such as Roger Corman, Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, Frank Oz, and institutions including Off-Broadway, Broadway, MCA Records, Warner Bros., and New Line Cinema, reflecting intersections with American Film Institute, Tony Awards, Academy Awards, and touring companies.
The story follows Seymour Krelborn, a downtrodden florist in a skid row neighborhood inspired by locations like Skid Row (Los Angeles), who cultivates a mysterious carnivorous plant that brings fame and fortune while demanding human blood. The narrative explores themes found in works associated with Gremlins (film), The Twilight Zone, The Addams Family (comic strip), Little Shop of Horrors (1960 film), and Little Shop of Horrors (musical), as Seymour negotiates relationships with Audrey, Mr. Mushnik, and other characters reminiscent of archetypes from Sweeney Todd, Jekyll and Hyde, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (novel). The plant—often called Audrey II in stage and screen variations—escalates demands, prompting moral dilemmas similar to those in Faust, Macbeth, and Don Giovanni.
The original 1960 production was produced and directed by Roger Corman and written by Charles B. Griffith, shot rapidly as part of the American International Pictures era alongside titles like The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). The 1982 stage musical emerged through collaboration between Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, developed in Los Angeles and premiered Off-Broadway at Ellen Stewart's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club-adjacent venues and later produced by companies linked to New York Theatre Workshop and Eighth Street Playhouse. Financing, rights, and distribution involved entities such as MCA Records, Broadway League, Roundabout Theatre Company, and licensing bodies like Samuel French, Inc. and Music Theatre International. Workshops and developmental productions featured performers tied to Off-Broadway ensembles and directors connected to Stephen Sondheim-influenced musical theatre practice.
The stage adaptation features a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, first opened Off-Broadway in 1982 and later transferred to various regional theatres including Ahmanson Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and Paper Mill Playhouse. Productions incorporated puppetry techniques associated with artisans from Jim Henson's workshop, puppeteers akin to those in The Muppets and directors informed by staging practices from Bob Fosse and Gower Champion. Casts have included performers who also worked with Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Jerome Robbins-linked companies. Licensing for amateur and professional productions has been managed by agencies such as Music Theatre International and Samuel French, Inc..
The 1960 black comedy film directed by Roger Corman and starring Jonathan Haze, Jack Nicholson, and Mel Welles was produced during the era of American International Pictures and screened in double features alongside titles from AIP's catalog. The 1986 film adaptation directed by Frank Oz starred Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and featured the music of Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman; it was distributed by Warner Bros. and involved producers connected to Carolco Pictures and music executives from MCA Records. Additional adaptations and televised stagings have been produced by companies such as BBC Television, PBS, and regional film festivals associated with Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.
Principal roles include Seymour Krelborn, Audrey, Mr. Mushnik, and the carnivorous plant (Audrey II), with portrayals by actors such as Jonathan Haze, Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Jack Nicholson (early career), Steve Martin, and Bill Murray in film versions. Stage productions have starred performers connected to Off-Broadway and Broadway like Lea Salonga-adjacent singers, and casting directors often draw from talent pools affiliated with Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and conservatories such as Juilliard School and Carnegie Mellon University. Puppetry and voice work for the plant have involved artists tied to Jim Henson's company and puppeteers who collaborated on The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
The score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman blends doo-wop, Motown-inspired rhythms, and musical comedy forms related to works by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Stephen Sondheim. Songs such as "Sudden Change of Heart," "Somewhere That's Green," and "Feed Me (Git It)" showcase influences shared with The Little Mermaid (musical), Beauty and the Beast (1991 film), and later Disney Renaissance collaborations. Recordings and cast albums have been released by labels including MCA Records, Rhino Entertainment, and remastered by archives akin to The Library of Congress and Smithsonian Folkways for preservation.
The property has achieved cult status, recognized by institutions like the American Film Institute and celebrated in retrospectives at venues such as Museum of Modern Art, Paley Center for Media, and The Paley Center. Critical response ranges from praise for its satirical tone and score—often compared to works by Sondheim, Gershwin, and Bernstein—to debates about adaptations and endings analyzed in scholarship appearing in journals associated with Columbia University, New York University, and University of California, Los Angeles. The musical has influenced twentieth- and twenty-first-century theatre creators tied to Off-Broadway movements, inspired film directors in the vein of Tim Burton and John Waters, and sustained an international performance history through companies connected to West End, Touring Broadway, and community theatres affiliated with National Endowment for the Arts.
Category:American musicals Category:Adaptations of films into plays