AUS students put on successful production of Little Shop of Horrors

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) Performing Arts Program presented Little Shop of Horrors, a famous musical comedy, from April 12-15 and April 17-20, 2016, at the university. The play run drew a full house almost every night of the performance. Members of the campus community as well as the public attended the shows.

Set in the late 1950s, the lively musical theatre production tells the story of Seymour and his new species of plant. Unbeknownst to Seymour, the plant actually turns out to be man-eater, and presents the hero with some intense moral dilemmas as he attempts to help the plant thrive. A rousing musical-comedy, this piece was originally played on Broadway in 1982.

Directed by Anthony Tassa, Professor and Coordinator of the university's Performing Arts Program, Little Shop of Horrors is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Dr. Cari Earnhart, Assistant Professor in the Visual and Performing Arts Program, served as Musical Director and Conductor.

Students Majed Radwan and Vivi Semaan, cast as Seymour Krelborn and Audrey respectively, entertained the audience with their fantastic performances, along with the rest of the talented student-based cast and crew.

The play was based on a 1960 film by the same name directed by Roger Corman. The successful musical ends its run tomorrow, April 20.

The play is the latest in a series of productions staged by the AUS Performing Arts Program, which is one of the rare programs of its kind available in the region. It offers students unique opportunities to study the exciting fields of music and theatre and to showcase their talent by performing in concerts and theatrical productions. Courses in theatre and music provide a unique opportunity for students to supplement any course of study at AUS and also gain valuable hands-on experience by participating in the technical and backstage components of music and theatre productions.