WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- The classic musical "Little Shop of Horrors" is coming to Watkins Glen High School from Friday, March 21st through Sunday, March 23rd. The Broadway classic is being put on by the Watkins Glen Senior Class. Cast members said they are ready for opening night.

"It's awesome and we put in a lot of work and I feel like people don't understand how much goes into a show but it's a lot of work," said Natalie Vanskiver, a sophomore playing the role of Audrey.

"We put in the work," said Kaylin Smith, a junior who is playing the voice of the plant, Audrey ||. Adding, "It's a Broadway-level show, we're high school students, and we're putting in the work to just make it the best show we've had."

Senior Nick Brusso, playing the role of Seymour, said this show is special to him because it is his senior year. Brusso is the only senior in this year's production.

The show follows Seymour Krelborn, a young florist trying to impress his coworker, Audrey, and gain recognition from his boss, Mr. Mushnick. The ensemble is faced with a problem when an alien plant comes to life with a thirst for human blood.

This year's musical is directed by husband and wife duo Kelsey and Alex Gill. The couple is no stranger to the theater, being involved both on and off stage for most of their lives, they say.

“We’ve done a lot of shows with the Lake Country Players before, but this is our first show in a high school environment on this side of it," said Technical Director Alex Gill. "We both did shows in high school. It’s been a really interesting learning experience, from trying to grow a program at a school, you know, where theater’s not as cool as it was when we were in school, and it's trying to grow the program and really give these kids the show they deserve," he added.

Alex and Kelsey are taking the director role over from another husband and wife duo, Tim and Michelle Benjamin. The Benjamins directed the senior musical at WGHS for 20 years. Their tenure included shows such as "Grease," "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying," and "Once Upon a Mattress."

Alex and Kelsey said although this is only their first year in the director's roles, they look forward to the future and getting more kids involved in high school theater.

"A lot of the kids keep saying we want to do this show we want to do that show and I'm like well you guys have to have more cast members in order to do those fun shows with big ensembles so I'm hoping that we can continue to grow the program and get more kids interested in theater," said Director Kelsey Gill.

"Little Shop of Horrors" opens Friday, March 21st at 7:00 P.M., followed by shows on Saturday, March 22nd at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday, March 23rd at 2:30 P.M.

Tickets are available at the door and the prices are as follows,

  • $12 for adults
  • $10 for students and seniors
  • $5 for kids ages 5-10
  • Free for kids under 5 years old

The directors say "Little Shop of Horrors" includes adult references that equal to a PG-13 rating.