Not Easy Being Green: MLT Brings ‘Horrors’ to Life

Popular musical based on campy B-movie springs to life this weekend

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams
The Tube City Almanac
May 08, 2025
Posted in: Entertainment

Audrey II sure has grown! Johnny Terreri as Seymour Krelborn and Carina Iannarelli as Audrey discuss Seymour’s success raising the mysterious plant. (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

When Jeff Boles found out McKeesport Little Theater was looking for a director for “Little Shop of Horrors,” he let them know he definitely was interested.

“I love it,” he said prior to a recent rehearsal. “It’s one of those Top 5 musicals.”

This is the first time Boles has directed at MLT, with the show opening Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. “The theater is great and it has been a lot of fun,” Boles said.

“This show has been a lifelong favorite for me,” producer Jennifer Vertullo said. “I grew up watching the movie. It’s a very popular show — the whole (MLT) board was very excited to include it in this season.

“We had a lot of talented people come out to audition,” she said. “It’s a testament to how much fun this show can be.”

When auditions came around, Boles found his leads for Seymour Krelborn and Audrey in Johnny Terreri and Carina Iannarelli.

Although Boles has been an actor for more than three decades and knew Terreri and Iannarelli, he said he had not worked with them before.

“They are phenomenal, very talented,” the director said. I was very happily surprised.”

The chorus of street urchins includes Lauren Wolbert as Ronette, Ashley Thompson as Crystal and Michelle Roque Alvarez as Chiffon. (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

Based on a campy 1960 horror movie that was rebooted as a Broadway musical in 1982, “Little Shop of Horrors” is a period piece that begins in a rundown florist shop operated by Mr. Mushnik (Frank Corrado), who took in Seymour as an orphan and gave him a job. Audrey also works in the shop, and is Seymour’s love interest.

Initially, Audrey has other ideas about Seymour, since she’s in a relationship with a sadistic dentist named Orin Scrivello (Gavin Calgaro).

Three street urchins — Ashley Thompson as Crystal, Michelle Roque Alvarez as Chiffon, and Lauren Wolbert as Ronette — sing and dance in perfect harmony as they narrate the tale of what happens after Seymour discovers a highly unusual plant and brings it to the store.

The plant, which Seymour names Audrey II, plays a key part in any “Little Shop” production, and even has an actor assigned to the part. MLT veteran Sean Butler is the voice.

Johnny Terreri as Seymour realizes what type of “food” is needed to make Audrey II thrive. (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

Audrey II is a puppet, portrayed in various growth stages from a hand-held version to a giant contraption as the show progresses.

Vertullo said MLT was fortunate to connect with Josh and Mamie Baker of South Park High School, where students recently built their own Audrey II puppets for their drama club production.

Josh Baker is the club’s adviser, while Mamie Baker assists with production design, Vertullo said. “It is student-centered work, but they facilitate,” Vertullo explained.

In anticipation of borrowing the Audreys, some MLT cast members and production staff visited the drama club to observe them in action. Terreri was among the visitors, since he has the most interaction with Audrey II.

“I saw the movie, went to see the musical on Broadway, and played the part of the dentist in a CLO Academy production,” he said.

“I was interested in the dentist, sure, but to get to play Seymour to her Audrey …” that was a role he couldn’t turn down.

“We met when doing a comedy at South Park Theatre,” Terreri said. He said interpreting Seymour through his transition from a meek, insecure character to one capable of almost anything is a challenge.

Audrey (Carina Iannarelli) encourages Seymour (Johnny Terreri) to show off his interesting new plant to his boss, Mr. Mushnik (Frank Corrado). (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

Iannarelli said “Little Shop of Horrors” is one of her favorite shows, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and story by Howard Ashman.

“Johnny and I consider ourselves to be actors before singers,” she said, so she concentrated on how she would portray Audrey, once she got the role.

“For Audrey, I came up with a higher, chipmunky voice,” she said. “Because I get to play off him (Terreri), I think I bring a lot more comedy to her. I feel very comfortable with it now.”

Boles said coordinating work with puppeteers for the pods that are Audrey II and building consistency so everyone is on the same level have been challenging, and they just got the final pod on April 21.

With such a technical show, Amy Majewski said she got involved as a second producer.

“I actually didn’t decide until ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ was already underway,” she said. “We had a production manager that had to pull out of the show, and I didn’t want Jen to be overwhelmed trying to do such a big musical on her own … so I volunteered to help.”

The two have worked on other productions over the years.

“This is the first main stage production I have produced,” Majewski said. “I am used to working with the Juniors, so seeing how the adult shows come together has been pretty interesting.”

With two producers, Majewski said she and Vertullo had a sit-down session early and discussed each one’s strengths.

“She’s more artistic and I’m more organized,” Majewski said. “Sometimes I have to rein in her big ideas to stay on budget, and sometimes she has to get me to take a chance. We balance each other out perfectly.”

“Amy and I are like peanut butter and jelly,” Vertullo said. “You could say we go together perfectly ... or she’s sweet and I’m crunchy!”

“Budget is always a challenge,” Majewski said.  “MLT doesn’t have the money to pay for the usual positions bigger companies have. Jen and I volunteer our time to produce, but we are also the set painters, set decorators, prop master, costumers, box office! The list goes on and on…

“But I wouldn’t say that’s terribly challenging because we’re used to it,” she added. “We were lucky to find an amazing stage manager (Erin McNamara) and she jumps in to find props, too. Some of the actors help out by bringing in clothes they have at home that would be a good fit for their character. I would say it’s a group effort.”

Bonnijean Cooney Adams is a freelance contributor. She can be reached at adamsclick@aol.com.

“Little Shop of Horrors”

Cast and Production

Johnny Terreri as Seymour Krelborn
Carina Iannarelli as Audrey
Frank Corrado as Mr. Mushnik
Gavin Calgaro as Orin Scrivello
Ashley Thompson as Crystal
Michelle Roque Alvarez as Chiffon
Lauren Wolbert as Ronette
Sean Butler as the Voice of Audrey II

Ensemble – Derek Fredrickson, Henry Nightingale, Rebecca Hurlbert, Ellie Valentine, Laura Tessier, Suzanne Eggert, and Katie Kronz

Crew

Director Jeff Boles
Producers Amy Majewski and Jennifer Vertullo
Music Director Sean Thornton
Choreographer Erin Felicity
Stage Manager Erin McNamara

Originally published May 08, 2025.

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