Aloha Performing Arts Company

Aloha Performing Arts Company will be auditioning for volunteer performers for the first mainstage production of its 2007/2008 season, "Little Shop of Horrors," on Monday, August 20, at 6:30 p.m (at the loft). Four major male roles, four major female roles, and seven minor roles will be cast. "Little Shop" is a delightfully zany musical comedy by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, based on the 60's cult film by Roger Corman. APAC's production will be directed by Jerry Tracy, with musical direction by Dale Ross, and choreography by Lee Vinson.

Major roles available are: Seymour, the unlikely hero, a florist's clerk; Audrey, a sweet, vulnerable bimbo, the heroine; Mr. Mushnik, their boss, cynical and slightly Yiddish; Orin, a tall, dark, handsome, sadistic dentist; the Voice of the Plant, a cross between Otis Redding, Barry White, and Wolfman Jack; and Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon, a trio of young, hip street urchins who participate in the action as well as serve as a Greek Chorus outside it. Minor roles include a pair of winos, a customer, Mr. Bernstein, Mrs. Luce, Skip Snip, and Patrick Martin. The directors are looking for adults or mature teens. No children's roles are available.

Those auditioning will be seen in order of arrival and will be asked to sing, read from the script, and learn a snippet of choregraphy from the song "Don't Feed the Plants," the finale of the show. Choices for the singing portion of the audition are "The Star Spangled Banner," or one of three numbers from the show: "Be a Dentist," "Suddenly Seymour," or "Suppertime." Auditionees will be asked to sing only a few bars of whichever song they choose. Scripts and music are available for onsite perusal at the APAC office Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A limited number of scripts and scores are available for checkout, for a $10.00 deposit. Those under the age of 18 may audition only with parental permission. Permission forms are available on the APAC website, www.apachawaii.org.

The APAC loft, site of the auditions, is located in Kainaliu, on the second floor of the building directly across the street from Lavender Moon Gallery. Access is via the lane just south of the building. The entrance is above and behind Loke's Island Memories. Parking is limited, so those attending are encouraged to park on the street or in the public lot just north of the building. Experience is not required, and newcomers are welcome.

The "Little Shop of Horrors" cast will meet for an initial readthrough immediately after casting is complete, and regular rehearsal will begin in early September. Practices will generally take place on four weekday evenings, and one weekend afternoon per week. Performances are October 19 through November 10 at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.