Aloha Performing Arts Company

Casting is complete and rehearsal has begun for the musical comedy "Little Shop of Horrors," the next production by the Aloha Performing Arts Company. This quirky show, by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, was born off Broadway in 1982, and had a successful Broadway run in 2003. APAC's production features a live professional band and a cast of 12 volunteer performers. An ever present, "Greek Chorus" style trio of street urchin "doo wop" girls escorts the audience through the show. Trio members are: Crystal, played by Elana Salzman, an attorney for the Public Defenders Office; Ronette, played by Chamika Fujioka, an 11th grade home schooler; and Chiffon, played by Lee Vinson, a former Las Vegas entertainer who is also the choreographer of the production.

Tommy "Kahikina" Ching, a favorite local KAPA FM announcer, will be featured via recording, as the Voice Not Unlike God's and the Radio Interviewer. Seymour Krelborn, a shy florist's clerk and the unlikely hero, is played by APAC office coordinator Sam Valenti, who recently portrayed Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Audrey, Seymour's co-worker and the secret love of his life, is a sweet and vulnerable bleached blonde. She will be played by Molly McGivern, a skills trainer for The Institute for Family Enrichment who appeared as Maria in APAC's "The Sound of Music." The role of Mr. Mushnik, the Yiddish owner of the florist shop, is performed by John Powell, a deputy attorney general for the State of Hawaii. Local carpenter Keo Bloss, last seen as the Narrator in "The Rocky Horror Show," plays the role of Orin Scrivello, DDS, a sadistic dentist who is Audrey's abusive boyfriend.

Audrey Two, a voracious plant which may have come from outer space, is played by a series of puppets designed, built, and operated by Gerald Lucena, a local artist and teacher affiliated with Donkey Mill Art Center. The voice of Audrey Two will be supplied by Michael Montez, an accountant at Hualalai Resort who has sung with Opera San Jose and various other companies on the mainland. Vince Mott, owner of Big Island Beauty College, plays a wino and the entrepreneur Patrick Martin. Local masseuse Janemarie Singer plays a customer and Mrs. Luce, "the editor's wife." Jerry Tracy is director; Dale Ross, music director; Kelly Ann Miles, choral director; and Lee Vinson, choreographer. Producers are Ken Ross and Kestrel Bishop. Toni Reynolds is assistant director, and designers include Arron Biber, set; Jill Collier, costumes; Lisa Week, properties; Jing Jing Tsong, graphics; Jeffrey Werle, hair and makeup; and Michael Montez and Sam Valenti, lighting.

"Little Shop of Horrors" opens October 19 at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, and plays through November 10, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The final day, Saturday, November 10, features a "double header," with a 2:30 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. evening show. Tickets, which are $15 and $18, can be purchased online at www.apachawaii.org, by phone at 322-1648, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to performance time. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.