The Stage is Set at North | First Musical in 20 years

 It’s been 20 years since North staged its last musical production. The primary reasons for the lengthy pause were twofold – lack of funding and interest.

Now, the money is there. More importantly, there’s immeasurable enthusiasm behind its long-awaited production of a “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The stage production has all the elements of popular flicks targeting teens. It’s a rock musical, horror and comedy.  It’s about a nerdy florist who discovers a man-eating plant from outer space.

“I got a resounding yes, when I asked students in the Drama Club if they would be interested. They were very excited,” said the drama coach, Rae Burton.  “The theater program has gone under the radar for a while, so getting kids involved in anything can be difficult. 

“It’s a big commitment. They have family obligations, or want to participate in sports or might have a job after school. I don’t want them to have to choose between a sport and theater.  They can coexist.  I try my best to work with their schedules.”

Amaiya Davis, a 15-year-old  freshman, plays Ronnette, one of the three Urchins who narrates the musical. She also plays softball and said it’s sometimes hard to do both, but she enjoys both extracurricular activities. 

The three Urchins are named Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon.  They are named after three popular girl groups of the 60s (The Ronettes, The Crystals and The Chiffons). The characters are students who skip school and hangout near a flower shop, Mushnick’s Florist Shop. 

There are 12 students in the musical, 11 actors and one working backstage. All grade levels are represented. The students have been practicing four days a week from 3:30 to 5 pm for the past three months. Opening night is this Thursday, March 12.

“This is my dream part. I’ve seen this musical 100 times,” said Eriden Rose, 18, a senior, who plays the primary villain, Audrey II. “I really wanted the part so I made a slide show presentation to show why I should get the part. 

“My mother was in it too. It started out as a joke. I don’t know if it had anything to do with it, but I landed the job.”

Burton said the slide presentation shows Eriden is a natural for the role. Eriden also has a sense of humor that’s perfectly suited for the role, according to Burton.

Sophomore Josiah Su plays several roles: puppeteer who makes the plant come alive, a hobo, a DJ and a business man. This is his second performance at the school.

“We ended strong with last year’s play,” Josiah said. “Acting gives us a chance to express ourselves, use our acting skills and develop confidence.”

Last year's play,  “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” by William Shakespeare, was reportedly the biggest audience the school has had in years.

The main character, Seymour, the meek floral shop assistant, is played by sophomore 16-year-old Avery Cole, who has performed in stage productions since sixth grade at Jennings CLC. 

“Acting is a way to let yourself go,”  Avery said. “It’s a special talent. I love to entertain people.”

The drama coach said musicals can be expensive to put on because of costumes, licensing fees and script fees.

 “This one cost nearly $3,000 for permission to perform it,” Burton said. “You don’t spend that kind of money unless the interest is there. The money was in the budget and the kids were excited.”

Burton had to find the licensor, Music Theater International (MTI), which is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies. The agency works directly with the composers, lyricists and writers to provide official scripts and musical materials. It makes sure no one else is performing the musical in the area at the same time so there’s no conflict of interest.

APS has an account with MTI. Since one else is doing the musical in this area the school was able to get a contract. 

“I’m making a big jump in what we normally do,” Burton said. “Last year, they didn’t need licensing rights because I wrote the show.  It was a rewrite of the Shakespearean play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“I took the plot and rewrote it in modern English and changed some of it to modern day situations so the students didn’t get bogged down by the language.  The students said it was easier for them to relate to the characters because they understood what they were saying.” 

Burton is directing the show, working on the set and the props, choreographing the show and responsible for the costumes. Because the musical was written in the ‘80s some of the students have been able to pull clothing out of their parents' closet and Burton said shopping at thrift stores has saved money too, not to mention a special family connection.

“I used to live in New York, I’ve been involved with theater for 15 years doing high school plays and community shows; nothing professional, just amateur shows,” said Burton, in her second year as the drama coach at North.

“My family is very involved with theater. They do it as passion projects. My parents actually own a theater company (Rogue Elephant Productions in Coshocton, Ohio), and are going to provide portable microphones and lights because they have an outdoor venue.”

Burton, in her fifth year as the school’s art instructor, is designing and drawing the plant. You can see a long stream of vines and leaves throughout her homeroom. “Students have described the scenery as a jungle growing in my classroom. I have to remind them that it’s stage presence for the upcoming musical.”

Burton credits North’s choir teacher, Kara Hunter, for helping out. She is the music director for the musical. She is responsible for all the production’s music. 

There have been some hiccups during practices such as  recasting students who had to drop out for various reasons. Additionally, a leak in the auditorium, scheduling conflict and technical difficulties with the sound system and lighting.

However, the students shrugged off those inconveniences with Eriden Rose repeating a familiar saying from the drama coach, "The show must go wrong, then the show must go on.”

Little Shop of Horrors 

Where: North High School, 985 Gorge Blvd, Akron

When: at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 12th, and Friday, March 13th and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14th.

Tickets: Cash only, adults $15, $10 students.