60 Fun Facts About Little Shop of Horrors

Who composed the music for the Little Shop of Horrors musical?

He and his lyricist went on to write The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin for Disney.

Who wrote the lyrics and book of the musical, and directed the original production?

He wrote that the show satirises science fiction, B movies, musical comedy itself and even the Faust legend.

The score is written in the style of which musical era?

The three street-urchin narrators are named after girl groups of the period.

In which year did the musical premiere?

It opened off-off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in May and moved to the Orpheum in July.

At which off-Broadway venue in the East Village did the musical run for five years?

When it closed in 1987 it was the third-longest-running and highest-grossing show in off-Broadway history.

How many performances did the original off-Broadway production give before closing in 1987?

Author Howard Ashman felt the show belonged off-Broadway and turned down a Broadway transfer.

Why was the original 1982 production ineligible for the Tony Awards?

It did win the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award instead.

The musical is loosely based on a 1960 low-budget film directed by whom?

His screenwriter Charles B. Griffith later sued when the 1986 movie was in development.

Roughly what did the 1960 film cost to make?

By comparison the 1986 movie musical cost about $25 million.

The 1960 film's interior scenes were shot in how many days?

The director had temporary use of sets left standing from his previous film, A Bucket of Blood, before they were torn down.

Which future star appears in the 1960 film as a pain-loving patient, heavily promoted on later video releases?

He had appeared in just two films at that point and said the audience laughed so hard he could barely hear the dialogue.

What is the plant called in the 1960 film?

Seymour names it to flatter his co-worker Audrey Fulquard, and Mushnick soon tells him to call him 'Dad'.

Why is the 1960 film in the public domain?

The director did not think it had any prospects after its first run, so he did not bother.

Under what working title was the 1960 film produced?

Screenwriter Charles B. Griffith had first pitched a vampire music critic story called Cardula, then one about a cannibal salad chef.

In the 1960 film, where does Seymour say he got the seeds for his plant?

In the 1986 film the story changes to a Chinese flower shop during a solar eclipse.

On its October 1960 release, the film was paired on a double bill with which other Filmgroup title?

It later found its cult audience as the B picture beneath Mario Bava's Black Sunday.

Which of these is one of the three street-urchin narrators in the musical?

Her companions are Crystal and Ronnette; the trio act as a doo-wop Greek chorus.

In which song does Audrey dream of a tract house, frozen dinners and plastic on the furniture?

It is reprised as she dies and asks Seymour to feed her to the plant so they can be together.

In which duet do the florist and Audrey finally admit their feelings for each other?

It comes just after Audrey confesses she feels guilty about Orin's disappearance because she secretly wished for it.

What is the profession of Audrey's sadistic boyfriend, Orin Scrivello?

His signature number lets him boast about how much he enjoys inflicting pain.

How does Orin die in the musical?

Seymour goes to kill him but loses his nerve; the gas mask jams in the on position and Seymour simply lets him die.

How does Seymour lure Mr. Mushnik into the plant's jaws?

Mushnik had just confronted him about Orin's death and wanted him to talk to the police.

In the musical's finale, the plant is revealed to be planning what?

A salesman from World Botanical Enterprises wants to sell leaf cuttings in florists across America.

Who directed the 1986 film adaptation?

He was finishing The Muppets Take Manhattan when producer David Geffen offered him the job.

Who plays Seymour Krelborn in the 1986 film?

He was already a Ghostbusters and SCTV favourite, and had to lip-sync in slow motion for many plant scenes.

Who plays Orin Scrivello in the 1986 film?

His character is described as nitrous-oxide-addicted, and Bill Murray turns up as his most enthusiastic patient.

Which Motown lead singer voiced Audrey II in the 1986 film?

The Four Tops frontman also has a quick on-camera cameo as a citizen singing in the 'Skid Row' number.

Which comedian improvised all his dialogue as masochistic patient Arthur Denton?

The character had been cut from the stage show but was restored for the film, renamed from Corman's Wilbur Force.

Which comedian plays radio DJ Wink Wilkinson in the 1986 film?

His WSKID show 'Wink Wilkinson's Weird World' makes Seymour a local celebrity.

Which actress played Audrey both in the original 1982 production and in the 1986 film?

She reprised the part yet again in London in 1983 and opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in a 2015 concert staging.

Which pop star did the studio want for Audrey before she turned the film down?

Barbra Streisand was also rumoured to have been offered the part.

Which director was originally attached to the film adaptation, wanting to shoot it in 3D?

Steven Spielberg was to executive produce, but a lawsuit from the 1960 film's screenwriter stalled the project.

At which studio was the entire 1986 film shot?

A full 'downtown' set with an overhead train track was built on the Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage.

Which new song was written for the 1986 film and earned an Oscar nomination?

It was the first Oscar-nominated song sung by a villain, and the film's other nomination was for Best Visual Effects.

The film's Oscar-nominated song was the first nominee to contain what?

It was also the first Best Song nominee to be sung by the villain.

Roughly how many puppeteers were needed to operate the plant in its largest form?

Many had worked with the director on The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Return of the Jedi.

The plant scenes were shot at a slower frame rate and sped up; what did the actors have to do to match?

Filming ran at 12 or 16 frames per second and was then played back at the normal 24.

Who designed the Audrey II puppets for the 1986 film?

He had worked with the director on The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal and The Great Muppet Caper.

Why was the 1986 film's original 23-minute ending replaced?

In the original, based on the stage ending, the plant eats Seymour and Audrey and goes on to devour New York.

In which year was the original ending fully restored for a director's cut?

Until then it survived only as black-and-white workprint footage.

What was the 1986 film's production budget?

It took about $54 million worldwide and slowly built a cult following.

Which record mogul produced the 1986 film through his own company?

He had also been one of the producers of the original off-Broadway show.

In the 1986 film, Seymour says he bought the plant from a Chinese flower shop during what event?

He explains it in the song 'Da-Doo' to the shop's very first customer, played by Christopher Guest.

Which of these actresses played one of the girl-group narrators in the 1986 film?

She played Chiffon alongside Tichina Arnold and Michelle Weeks; she and Arnold later co-starred in the sitcom Martin.

In which year did the musical finally make its Broadway debut?

It opened at the Virginia Theatre and, oddly, competed as a 'revival' at the Tonys because of its long history elsewhere.

Who played Seymour in the 2003 Broadway production, earning a Tony nomination?

Kerry Butler was his Audrey and Billy Porter had voiced the plant in the show's Florida tryout.

Which film star played Seymour in a 2015 City Center concert staging opposite the original Audrey?

Taran Killam was Orin, and Ben Brantley called the three-performance run 'a major event'.

Who played Seymour in the 2019 off-Broadway revival at the Westside Theatre?

Tammy Blanchard was Audrey and Christian Borle played Orin.

The 1983 London production, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, opened at which West End house?

It ran for 813 performances and won the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.

Who designed and puppeteered the plant in the original 1982 production?

He is best known as Sesame Street's Mr. Snuffleupagus and Telly Monster.

The musical's writer said the show satirises B movies, musical comedy and which legend?

Seymour's bargain with the plant - blood in exchange for fame and Audrey's love - is the deal with the devil.

The musical premiered off-off-Broadway in May 1982 at which venue before moving to the Orpheum?

It played the Workshop of the Players Art Foundation from May 6 to June 6, 1982.

Who originated the role of Seymour in the 1982 production?

He later played Mr. Mushnik in the 2015 Encores! concert staging.

Which former NSYNC member played Seymour in the closing cast of the 2003-04 Broadway run?

Hunter Foster had opened the production at the Virginia Theatre in October 2003.

Which veteran director took over the 2003 Broadway production, firing the whole cast except Hunter Foster?

He replaced Connie Grappo, who had been Howard Ashman's assistant on the original production.

Who directed the 2019 off-Broadway revival that opened with Jonathan Groff as Seymour?

Later Seymours in the long-running revival have included Jeremy Jordan, Darren Criss and Corbin Bleu.

Who played Audrey in the 2007 West End revival that transferred from the Menier Chocolate Factory?

Paul Keating was Seymour and Alistair McGowan played Orin.

Roughly how much did the 1986 film gross worldwide, which Warner Bros. considered an underperformance?

It became a smash on home video in 1987.

Which Four Seasons member adapted and produced the musical's songs for the 1986 film?

Howard Ashman began writing the screenplay in late 1982.

Who plays Patrick Martin, the marketing executive who wants to sell Audrey IIs worldwide, in the 1986 film?

Belushi replaced Paul Dooley, who was unavailable for the reshoot of the happier ending.