Portland Center Stage Kicks Off Season with Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors stars Gina Milo (Audrey) and Nick Cearley (Seymour)

Portland, OR. There were big smiles at the Portland Center Stage opening night party from stars Gina Milo, who plays Audrey, and Nick Cearley, who plays Seymour. Portland Center Stage kicked off its 2016-2017 season at The Armory with the rockin’ sci-fi musical, Little Shop of Horrors which runs through October 16th.

With a score that is part rock ’n’ roll, part doo-wop and part Motown, Little Shop of Horrors is the story of the shy and love-struck florist’s assistant, Seymour, who finds fame, fortune and a whole lot more when he nurtures a strange little plant with a strong — and scary — thirst.

Based on the darkly comic 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken created this unique musical in 1982. In 1986, it was made into a film directed by Frank Oz.

Lead Props Artisan and Puppet fabricator, Rachel Peterson Schmerge and Portland Center Stage Artistic Director, Chris Coleman celebrated the opening night of the PCS 10th anniversary season.

Members of the creative crew included Ava Steingrueber-Fagan, Alex Wren Meadows, Paula Buchert, Kathleen Geldard and Barbara Casement.

Musical Supervisor Rick Lewis and Choreographer Kent Zimmerman

Stan Foote is the Artistic Director of Oregon Children’s Theatre and Claudie Jean Fisher handles public relations for Portland Center Stage.

Here’s more information about the upcoming season:

Portland Center Stage’s 2016-2017 season marks the launch of the company’s Northwest Stories series and a season-long celebration for the 10th anniversary in the Gerding Theater at the Armory (and the 29th season in Portland). The Northwest Stories series – highlighting the history, culture and artists rooted in our own region – includes two world premieres: Astoria, based on the best-selling novel by Peter Stark and adapted by PCS Artistic Director Chris Coleman; and Wild and Reckless, a new musical event from local folk rockers, Blitzen Trapper. The Oregon Trail and Hold These Truths round out this season’s Northwest Stories offerings.

Kicking off the 2016-2017 season is the The Little Shop of Horrors. Other musical treats include Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Lauren Weedman’s debut on the U.S. Bank Main Stage – backed by a rocking band – in Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and His Eye is on the Sparrow, a musical biography of Ethel Waters.

Two love stories close the season: Mary’s Wedding celebrates the resiliency of the heart in the Ellyn Bye Studio, and Constellations raises questions between choice and destiny – featuring Silas Weir Mitchell and Bree Turner (Monroe and Rosalee on NBC’s Grimm). Rounding out the season is a special engagement of The Santaland Diaries during the holiday season.

To purchase season tickets, call 503-445-3700 or visit www.pcs.org.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.