From Feb. 25 to March 6, the DU Department of Theatre is putting on the horror comedy musical “Little Shop of Horrors” in the Byron Theatre, part of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

“Little Shop of Horrors” started as an Off-Broadway production in 1982, scored by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and later moved to Broadway. In 1986, it was made into the cult film of the same name starring Rick Moranis (“Brother Bear 2”), Ellen Greene (“The Young and the Restless”) and Levi Stubbs (“Captain N: The Game Master”).

The ‘60s pop-rock musical follows Seymour (Thomas Lynch, Littleton, Colorado, senior, theatre major), a timid orphan who works in Mr. Mushnik’s (Anthony Adu, Accra, Ghana, sophomore, theatre major) flower shop on Skid Row with fellow shop worker Audrey (Nicole Seefried, Denver, junior, theatre major). Seymour tends to a strange new plant (voiced by Samuel Pierce III, Aurora, Colorado, freshman, theatre major), which he names the Audrey II because of the crush he has on his co-worker. However, Seymour soon discovers that this exotic plant can talk, is very manipulative and thirsts for human blood. As it grows bigger and stronger, the Audrey II promises Seymour fame and fortune and he only realizes how dangerous it is once it’s too late.

The casting for “Little Shop” was spot-on. Lynch and Seefried shone as the two leads, playing off of each other with charm and hilarity. Both had wonderful voices that fit the genre well and embodied the awkward appeal of the characters throughout every musical number. Tristan Anderson (Denver, sophomore, theater major), who played Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, Orin, was also a highlight of the show. He was just off-the-rails enough to delight the audience while still nasty enough to be hated—a perfect balance required for the comedically sadistic role that’s hard to achieve. Adu brought lots of laughs as the grouchy, selfish Mr. Mushnik, playing the character’s over-the-top self pity with wonderful humor. Pierce, decked out in a suit at a mic on the balcony, dazzled the audience with his soulfully sly R&B Audrey II voice.

The Byron Theatre was the perfect stage for this musical, providing an intimate setting with the audience close enough for the cast to interact. Actors utilized all the theater had to offer, racing up stairs among the audience and spilling out into the wrap-around balcony. Jazzy ‘60s tunes cranked out from the modest pit orchestra that was nestled on the balcony by the stage. The musical mostly played out on a single whimsical set, the flower shop on Skid Row, with only a few changes throughout.

“Little Shop of Horrors” truly proves what small theater productions have to offer, and the DU Department of Theatre is doing a great job of producing fun, modern shows that draw in students. “Little Shop” is still running this coming weekend from Wednesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 6. Tickets are available through the Newman Center website.