Little Shop of Horrors
MAY 31 – JUN 25, 2016
BOOK AND LYRICS BY HOWARD ASHMAN
MUSIC BY ALAN MENKEN
BASED ON A FILM BY ROGER CORMAN
SCREENPLAY BY CHARLES GRIFFITH
DIRECTED BY DANIEL C. DENNIS
Just your typical comedy-horror-rock musical about a boy, a girl, and a carnivorous houseplant.
Poor, hapless Seymour only wants to impress the girl of his dreams. Perhaps cultivating a blood-thirsty plant will gain him the fame and fortune he needs? Just a few bodies later, and suddenly Seymour is standing in a flower shop on skid row battling a deadly threat to humanity’s very existence. Bring your green thumb and join us for this delightfully twisted cult-movie romp about love, murder, and the American Dream.
The Columbus Dispatch called our production Little Shop of Horrors “an impressive central Ohio debut,” said that it “delivers the goods— and the laughs,” and predicted (quite smartly, we think) that Tantrum would offer “more high quality entertainment to come.”
MEET THE COMPANY
Cast
COLIN CARDILLE
ENSEMBLE/FIGHT CAPTAIN
Colin Cardille is a fourth year BFA performance and BFA production technology and design major. He was most recently Officer Lockstock in Ohio University’s production of Urinetown. Next semester he also will be the lighting designer for The Library at Ohio University. He would like to wish the cast and crew to break legs for Tantrum’s inaugural year.
BASIL HARRIS
ORIN; ET AL
Basil Harris’s credits include Robin Hood (NewVictory Theater, NYC); The Hound of the Baskervilles (Seattle Repertory Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi, Go, Dog. Go!, Glittra’s Mission, The Gingerbread Man (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Cloud Nine (Strawberry Theatre Workshop); Valley of the Dolls, Vera Wilde (Empty Space Theatre); Jane Eyre (Actors Express, Atlanta); Film: Laggies, Safety Not Guaranteed, 21 and Over, Knights of Badassdom, My Effortless Brilliance; Television: Grimm (NBC), Leverage, (TNT), The Fugitive, The John Report with Bob (CBS). Web: Automata, Locally Grown, Cherub: The Vampire with Bunny Slippers, Rocketmen. Basil is honored to be part of Tantrum’s inaugural season. basilharris.com
JON HOCHE
AUDREY II LEAD PUPPETEER
Jon Hoche is honored and excited to be working with Tantrum Theater. An actor/puppeteer based out of New York City, Jon was a puppeteer and the puppet captain on the National Tour of WARHORSE, as well as performing in the show in Tokyo, Japan. He is the artistic associate of Vampire Cowboys Theater Company in New York, and recently participated in the 2015 Jim Henson Company Diversity Puppetry Workshop in Los Angeles. Off-Broadway/Regional credits include: Soul Samurai (Ma-yi Theater/Vampire Cowboys), The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-yi Theater/Vampire Cowboys), Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Two River Theater), The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go! (ARTS Emerson), Dracula (Premiere Stages), and Vietgone (South Coast Repertory) to name a few. Up next for Jon is the Off-Broadway production of Vietgone at Manhattan Theater Club. Jon sends love and appreciation to his family and Megan for their support. Find out more at JonHoche.com
JHARDON DISHON MILTON
SEYMOUR
Jhardon DiShon Milton is beyond thrilled to be a part of Tantrum Theater’s first production! Little Shop of Horrors has always been one his favorites and being able to be a part of it is truly a dream come true. A Houston, Texas native, Jhardon holds a BFA from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. He currently lives in Chicago where he was seen in At Last: A Tribute to Etta James (Black Ensemble Theatre), La Cage aux Folles (The Marriott Theatre), the Jeff nominated production of Men of Soul (Black Ensemble Theatre), and Bye Bye Birdie (Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook). Thanks to God, first, for the gifts and the opportunity to share them. To my sugah (mom) thank you for supporting me non-stop and letting me find my way. Love to my big brothers, dad, that baby niece of mine, L6, my Black Ensemble family, and thank you everyone at Tantrum for this incredible opportunity. I’m very thankful to embark on this journey with you! Hebrews 11:6.
SARA REINECKE
AUDREY
Sara Reinecke feels so lucky to be working with Tantrum Theater on their very first season! She recently graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with a BFA in musical theatre. She has bopped around Chicago working with theatres such as Circle Theatre (35MM: A Musical Exhibition); The Little Theatre on the Square (Hairspray, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family, Pinkalicious, The Wizard of Oz); Bailiwick Chicago (Dessa Rose), and Three Cat Productions (Hang Your Hat at Mr. Kelly’s). Her favorite roles to date have been Sara Jane Moore in Assassins and Dog Mom to a spoiled pit bull. A lot of love to her very supportive posse back home and in Chicago!
KELSEY RODRIGUEZ
RONNETTE
Kelsey Rodriguez is currently a student at Ohio University working to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater performance. Within her college career she has played the roles of Helen Bazoo in Marathon 33’, Antinous in The Penelopiad, and Leigh in Really Really. During the fall semester of her senior year she will be playing the role of Detective Washburn in The Library. Prior to entering the program, she had the privilege of working with many talented professional artists such as Jelena Stupljanin, Geoffrey Cantor, Rob Clare, Crystal Skillman, Cecilia Copeland, and Carrie Louise Nutt. She is very excited to tackle this richly challenging musical with such an incredible cast and crew and cannot wait to see what the future holds for this new theater company.
SANA SELEMON
CHIFFON/DANCE CAPTAIN
Sana Selemon is a rising senior in the BFA acting program at Ohio University. While she has been at Ohio University, she has been seen on stage in bobrauschenbergamerica (Roller Girl), Rebecca VerNooy’s Elbows Off the Table (C), and Middletown (Female Doctor). This fall, she will be playing Elizabeth in The Library, a show about the aftermath of a school shooting and how the media narratives affect us all. It has been an honor to be cast in the inaugural season for Tantrum Theater and to be performing so close to where she first found her passion in theater. She would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support and for helping her make her dreams into reality!
BRANDON WHITEHEAD
MUSHNIK
Brandon Whitehead is thrilled to help bring the inaugural production of Tantrum Theater to fruition. Whitehead currently resides in Massachusetts where he just finished playing Mike Francisco in Breaking Legs with Ocean State Theater Company and Fool in King Lear with the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. His recent credits include Inspector Hubbard in Dial M for Murder also with Ocean State, Gordon in Neville’sIsland with Stoneham Theater, Val in Laughter on the 23rd Floor at New Century Theater, and Vic in Windowmen at Boston Playwrights Theater.
Before moving to Massachusetts, Whitehead spent nearly twenty years working professionally in Seattle performing with the ACT (A Christmas Carol, Joe Egg, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde); Seattle Repertory Theater (Twelfth Night, The Imaginary Invalid), Intiman (Paradise Lost); Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theater, Village Theater, and many others. Some of his recent film and television credits include A Bit Of Bad Luck, 21 And Over, and Leverage.
BYRON GLENN WILLIS
AUDREY II VOICE, SKID ROW RESIDENT
Byron Glenn Willis is excited to be making his debut with Tantrum Theater. Other credits include: Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, Treasure Island, and Finian’s Rainbow (Marriott Theatre); Hank Williams: Lost Highway (American Blues Theatre); Porgy & Bess, Caroline or Change (Court Theatre); Hair, Big River, Civil War (Barn Theatre); The Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre); Dreamgirls (Fulton Theatre, Maine State Theatre, Arkansas Rep, Alhambra Dinner Theatre); Congo Square’s Nativity (Goodman Theatre/Ruth Page Theatre); Dessa Rose (Apple Tree Theatre); Pullman Porter Blues, Purlie (Goodman Theatre/Pasadena Playhouse); Ragtime (Light Opera Works); The Jackie Wilson Story, Sensational Soulful 60’s, Doo Wop Shoo Bop (Black Ensemble Theatre); Five Guys Named Moe (Drury Lane Evergreen Park); Nefertiti (Athenaeum Theatre); Higher Ground (Human Race Theatre); European Tour of Hair (Scala Theatre Co). TV/Film: Barbershop 2, R. Kelly’s Trapped In The Closet, Detroit 1-8-7, Chicago Code, and Chicago P.D. He is a proud member of AEA. Thanks to the Creator, the creative team and Paonessa Talent.
KADIJAH L. WINGO
ENSEMBLE
Kadijah L. Wingo is a student in the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University, with a degree expected in 2018. Growing up in the city of Cleveland, Ohio Kadijah has always been on the stage. She was involved in Dobama Emerging Actors Program (DEAP) playing the role of Jocasta in Oedipus, the King. She contributed her talents in all facets for the Festival of New Works for three years in a row. Kadijah has also been able to write and direct an original play, which was produced her third year with the Festival of New Works.
KRISTIN YATES
CRYSTAL
Kristin Yates is very excited to be a part of Tantrum’s inaugural season. She will be a junior BFA candidate at Ohio University in the fall. She played Soupy Sue in Urinetown at OHIO last year and looks forward to playing Theresa in What Every Girl Should Know this fall. She thanks her family for being so loving and encouraging and God for providing her such great opportunities. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Creative
DANIEL C. DENNIS
DIRECTOR
Daniel C. Dennis is an actor, director, music-maker, and teacher. He has acted in plays, musicals, and operas for Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, UMO Ensemble, and many other companies.
He has directed music and created sound scores for dozens of productions including works by Shakespeare, Brecht, multimedia and interdisciplinary work, and many world premieres. Directing credits include Urinetown the Musical, bobrauschenbergamerica, Into the Woods, Oliver!, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, and others. As a voice, dialect, and singing coach he has maintained a private practice for nearly twenty years. With the show STARBALL, an interactive, improvised music theater event for the planetarium, he has performed in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, and Valencia, Spain.
A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, he is currently on the performance faculty in the Division of Theater at Ohio University, where he teaches Suzuki, Viewpoints, speaking, singing, and theater composition.
HOWARD ASHMAN
BOOK & LYRICS
Howard Ashman is best known as a pivotal creative mind behind the renaissance of Disney animation and his work on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast (which is dedicated to, “Our friend, Howard Ashman, who gave a Mermaid her voice and a Beast his soul…”) Ashman’s first love was theater. Ashman was a founder of off off Broadway’s renowned WPA Theater, where he conceived, wrote and directed God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, as well as the classic musical, Little Shop of Horrors (both music by Alan Menken). In 1986, he wrote and directed the Broadway musical Smile (music by Marvin Hamlisch). Lamented as a lost treasure of the 1980’s theater scene, Smile remains popular on High School and College campuses throughout the country. Howard Ashman died in 1991 from complications of AIDS. For more information, please visit howardashman.com.
MICHAEL LINCOLN
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Michael Lincoln has had a professional lighting design career which numbers well over 300 productions in theatre, opera and dance. He has designed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally for more than 30 years.
Michael Lincoln (cont’d) Highlights: the Broadway and national tours of Copenhagen, the Playwrights Horizons production of The Bubbly Black Girl and the Cleveland Play House production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Michael’s extensive regional credits include long associations with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alley Theatre in Houston, and the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He has consulted on renovations for both Indiana Rep and Studio, where he designed lighting systems for two new theatres and all support spaces in the three building complex. Michael has multi-year associations with Los Angeles Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and Santa Fe Opera. His multiple Broadway credits as an Associate Designer include hit revivals of Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes and original productions of City of Angels, Six Degrees of Separation, and Lend Me a Tenor. Michael taught for fourteen years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and for two years at the University of Southern California. Michael’s full time teaching career began at the Ohio University in 2003, as a result of designing lighting for the (then named) School of Theater as a guest artist four times from 1989–1992. He served as Head of the Production Design and Technology Program from 2007–2012, and since then has served as Artistic Director/Division Head of the Theater Division. Michael has worked for three and a half years on the effort to launch what has become Tantrum Theater and is honored to design the first production.
BRIAN EVANS
FIGHT DIRECTOR
Brian Evans teaches voice & speech, stage combat, and acting. As an actor he has worked for the Human Race Theatre; the Colorado, Illinois and Oxford Shakespeare Festivals; South Coast Repertory; Porthouse Theatre; and CATCO. Television credits include Chapelle’s Show and Judging Amy. His voice-over work includes the audio book of The Virginian. He produced and directed award-winning theatre while working in Los Angeles, at venues including the Raven Playhouse, Metropole Theatre Works, and Elephant Stageworks. Directing credits also include Romeo and Juliet at Monomoy Theatre and Henry IV, Part One at Oxford Shakespeare Festival. Brian works professionally as a voice and dialect coach and as a fight choreographer. He is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. At Ohio University he has directed productions such as Dutchman, Lysistrata, Savage/Love and Brecht’s Man Equals Man. Brian received his MFA in acting from the University of California, Irvine. He is a member of SAG and Actors’ Equity Association.
JOHN GODBOUT
STAGE MANAGER
John Godbout is thrilled to be a part of the inaugural season of Tantrum Theater. He also serves as resident stage manager at Cleveland Play House. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare and Company and Seaside Music Theatre.
STEVEN HUANG
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Steven Huang has conducted orchestras and operas across the country and throughout the world. On faculty at Ohio University since 2004, Steven is an Associate Professor of Music. As Director of Orchestral Activities, Steven’s theatrical engagements as music director and conductor include The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Lowell House Opera); L’Histoire du soldat and Le Renard (Attergauer Kultursommer); opera scenes at the Astoria Music Festival; and numerous collegiate and community productions at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Ohio University, including The Marriage of Figaro, Gianni Schicchi, Hansel and Gretel, The Pirates of Penzance, and Urinetown. Continuing engagements include leading summer conducting workshops in Romania, where he has conducted La Traviata and Eugene Onegin, and guest conducting L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Ste. Trinité, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Steven received his degrees from Harvard, the University of Michigan, and the National Conservatory of Music in Bucharest, Romania, where he studied as a Fulbright student.
ALAN MENKEN
COMPOSER
Alan Menken’s theater work includes: God Bless You, Mr Rosewater, Little Shop Of Horrors, Real Life Funnies, Atina: Evil Queen Of The Galaxy, Kicks, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz, Beauty And The Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, Der GlÃckner Von Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap Of Faith, Aladdin and Newsies.
His work for film includes: Little Shop Of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, Newsies, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, Life With Mikey, Lincoln, Home On The Range, Noel, Enchanted, Shaggy Dog, Tangled and Mirror Mirror. His songs have been featured in Rocky V, Home Alone 2 and Captain America.
His awards include: 8 Oscars (19 nominations), 11 Grammy’s (including Song of the Year) , 7 Golden Globes, Tony’s® (plus 4 nominations), Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics, Olivier and London Evening Standard Award, Drama League.
His honors include: Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Doctorates from New York University and University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
CHET MILLER
SOUND DESIGNER, SOUND MIXER
Chet Miller is a freelance projection and sound engineer specializing in new works and noise. Originally from New Mexico, he is now based out of NYC. civdesigns.com
CHRISTI CAMPER MOORE
CHOREOGRAPHER
Christi Camper Moore holds a PhD., MA, MEd, and BFA in dance performance and choreography from Ohio University as well as a Graduate Certificate in women’s and gender studies. She is a professional dance educator, choreographer, and arts administrator. Her work has been presented throughout Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and includes being selected to Independent Dance Makers (NC) and the American College Dance Festival (FL). She was most recently published in the Journal of Dance Education (2014) and currently serves on the journal’s review board. Christi has worked as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Coker College in Hartsville, SC and served as the Arts Coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Education. She has been the choreographer for numerous productions including: Urinetown, bobrauschenbergamerica, Fame, Annie, Guys and Dolls, Crazy For You, Runaways, Oklahoma, Grease, The Music Man, Little Shop of Horrors, South Pacific, Anything Goes, and Bye, Bye Birdie. Christi is currently an adjunct faculty member at Ohio University and the Executive Director/Artistic Coordinator for the Ohio Valley Summer Theater
C. DAVID RUSSELL
SCENIC DESIGNER
C. David Russell has had a varied career that includes costume and scenic design, costume and property crafts, event design, project management, and teaching. He is currently Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at Ohio University’s Division of Theater, where he formerly served as Head of the Costume Crafts Technology Program and an instructor of Costume Design.
Professor Russell has designed numerous productions with the Resident Ensemble Players and Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. Set designs include: The Patsy, Macbeth, Angels in America, Hayfever, Travesties, Ah Wilderness, and The Mousetrap for which he also designed the costumes. Costume designs include: The Importance of Being Earnest and Tartuffe. Prof. Russell has been Production Designer for Enchantment Theatre Company for 13 years and has been responsible for the costumes, puppets and scenic designs for numerous productions.Most recently Prof. Russell is designed Peter Rabbit Tales in collaboration with Penguin Publishing and the Beatrix Potter Estate to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday. Additional credits include costume designs for The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, The Pittsburg Public Theater, and Theater Works in Hartford Connecticut. Event design and project management for LIV Design and Design ETC in New York City for the International Toy Fair. In addition to his design work, Prof. Russell has been on staff at The Santa Fe Opera for 18 years where he has served as the Master Craftsperson in the prop shop. Prof. Russell received his BFA Ohio University School of Theater and MFA from New York University TISCH School for the Arts. Website: cdavidrusselldesign.com
ANNA LIVIA SCHAUDER
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE
Anna Livia Schauder is an exchange graduate student thanks to the partnership between Leipzig University (Master Theater – und Tanzwissenschaft, Germany) and Ohio University. At OHIO, she was involved in Occupation: Dad (Costume Designer/ASM), Intimate Apparel (Assistant Director) and The Penelopiad (Dramaturgy). Her previous productions include Leipzig Opera’s Othello (Dramaturgy) and Garnier Opera’s Orpheus and Eurydice (dance critic). During her undergraduate career in the humanities and art history in Paris (France), she was also involved with the C2RMF-Louvre and the Musee Rodin. She worked as an assistant, first in the Art History department at the University of Vienna (Austria) and then in theatre and dance research at the University of Leipzig. She would like to thank Michael, Dan, and Rachel for this exciting opportunity. Finally, she gives a very special thanks to her family for supporting her international experiences.
HELENE SIEBRITS
COSTUME DESIGNER
Helene Siebrits is delighted to join the creative team for Tantrum Theater’s inaugural production of Little Shop of Horrors. She has worked professionally in film, theatre, opera, and dance and has designed and draped costumes for prominent companies including Shakespeare Santa Cruz, California Shakespeare at Berkley, American Musical Theatre in San Jose, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, West Virginia Public Theatre, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and Festival Antigonish in Canada. Creative work with director Peter Sellars and his artistic team include Griselda (SFO), Nixon in China (MET), Oedipus Rex and the Symphony of Psalms both at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Sydney Opera House, Australia, the international tour of The Gospel According to the Other Mary composed by John Adams, and Iolanta/Persephone at Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain and Grand Théâtre in Aix en Provence, France.
This summer Helene is co-designing Oedipus Rex and the Symphony of Psalms that opens mid-July at the Grand Théâtre in Aix en Provence, France, and at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England in late September. Helene is active in designing costumes for productions at Ohio University’s School of Dance, Film, and Theater where she heads the Costume Program. Helene received her MFA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television in Los Angeles, CA. She is an active a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.