Yelm-based SRO Theater returns with 11 showings of ‘Little Shop of Horrors

Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater, a community staple in Yelm, will return with 11 performances of “Little Shop of Horrors” this fall inside of Yelm High School’s (YHS) Performing Arts Center (PAC) in its first “full-fledged” musical in seven years — when the group performed showings of “Mamma Mia!”

Steve Harshfield, “Little Shop of Horrors” producer and President of SRO Theater, said the group has a variety of spectacular talent both on and off the stage as showings of the musical draw closer.

You can catch the group’s performances at YHS at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11; 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16; 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18; 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23; 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.
SRO Theater held its first weekend of performances on Friday, Oct. 2, Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4.

Harshfield told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Oct. 5, nearly 200 attendees turned out for the first weekend of shows. He noted there won’t be a showing of “Little Shop of Horrors” on Saturday, Oct. 10, due to the YHS homecoming dance.

“We will have plenty of space available for anyone who wants to attend Friday night or Sunday afternoon,” Harshfield said, of Friday, Oct 9, and Sunday, Oct. 11.

You can purchase tickets online for the remaining shows at www.SROtheater.org.

“This show represents a new level of partnership between SRO, Yelm Community Schools (YCS) and the YHS Performing Arts Booster Club,” Harshfield said. “This is a great opportunity to showcase a major jewel in our community — the Performing Arts Center at Yelm High School, a state-of-the-art facility that rivals many ‘professional’ theaters around the United States. Unfortunately, this beautiful venue has been criminally underutilized over the last few years as YCS has been forced to cut positions and programs to close a major budget gap after multiple levy failures.”

Charles Phillips, director of “Little Shop of Horrors,” told the Nisqually Valley News that these upcoming productions will be the classic story of “be careful what you wish for, because you may get more than you bargained for.”

“This performance is a great musical with amazing actors and singers and amazing lighting effects,” Phillips said. “Our puppets for ‘Audrey 2’ have been used for over 20 years in the Pacific Northwest, and will be passed to the next theater after we are done with them.”

Both Phillips and Harshfield mentioned how thankful they are for the new-formed partnership with YCS in allowing the upcoming performances to occur in the YHS PAC.

Phillips noted if the upcoming showings of “Little Shop of Horrors” are successful inside YHS PAC that SRO Theater would love to bring more theater opportunities to the students of Yelm.

“Through various iterations over the years, SRO Theater has been a mainstay in Yelm for nearly thirty years, bringing entertaining and thought-provoking programs to the community,” Harshfield added. “We believe in giving everyone a voice and a place to use that voice. By working with businesses like Gordon’s Garden Center — the premier sponsor of this show — the City of Yelm and the community at large, our shows and educational outreach programs help keep theater alive in Yelm and the surrounding areas.”

Members of the cast include Amanda Troyer, playing Mrs. Luce; Brian Kahn, playing Mr. Mushnik; Brook Upton, playing Crystal — with the exception of Oct. 9 and Oct. 11, where they will play Audrey; Gregory Conn, who will be voicing Audrey 2; Savannah Creamer, who will play Chiffon; Travis Martinez, playing Seymour Krelbourne; Victoria Fontana, playing Skip Snip; and Cass Manalastas, playing Ronnette.

Troyer, who said “remember, don’t feed the plants,” when asked about the upcoming showings of “Little Shop of Horrors,” said this is her first time performing with SRO Theater. She described the group as amazing, friendly and welcoming.

“Not only would you be supporting the local theater group but you might find it’s something you want to try. It’s a great night out and will be an awesome time. Come see us!,” Troyer wrote, when asked why the community should check out the upcoming performances.
Kahn described his character, Mr. Mushnik, as a gruff and cheap individual and stated his resting face “is an ulcer.”

“But underneath it all, he loves those kids. Like a father. A dysfunctional father who gives hugs by screaming,” Kahn said. “This is my musical theatre debut. They were looking for a grumpy old Jewish man for the role, so I channeled a few relatives and got the part. I’d like to thank DNA for making this all possible.”

He added that by supporting SRO Theater, you are also supporting local artists and helping keep a place where community members from around the greater-Yelm region can sing, dance, build, paint and play “in a gigantic, creative sandbox.”

Upton said that audience members can come to the showings of “Little Shop of Horrors” expecting to be entertaining by singing, dancing, lots of silliness and mostly heart.

“I can’t think of the last time a giant flytrap came and interrupted my life … until this show. Come willing to suspend reality, play along, and escape for a few hours. You’ll have so much fun you’ll wanna come back every weekend to see all the different understudies in their roles,” Upton said. “Get ready Puget Sound, SRO is one to be looking out for.”

Conn told the Nisqually Valley News that attendees of “Little Shop of Horrors” can expect a total eclipse of the sun. He described the production as an incredible show, produced by incredible people.

“SRO is a leader in their community,” Conn said. “They provide wonderful avenues for local Yelm residents to make friends, make art, and make joy.”

Savannah Creamer, cast member and SRO Theater board member, said audiences are in store for “shenanigans of all shapes and sizes, stand out performances from cast and crew, and a very charismatic plant.”

“SRO theater provides a safe place for members of our community to try new things and push boundaries they may never have allowed themselves the chance to do yet,” Creamer said. “Because we are community-based, we love to see the public interacting with us, coming to our shows, assisting with productions or simply just getting the word out there on our behalf. Theater is one of the best mediums to share stories and to place yourself in the mindset of a character you may love or may hate. It brings out the best in people and pushes us both as audience members and stage actors to make literal magic.”

She added that the cast and crew of “Little Shop of Horrors” are driven to make the show both humorous and serious — with heartfelt performances slated across the board.

“This is one of the most passionate and dedicated groups I have ever had the pleasure to work with and I’m beyond grateful to share the stage with them,” Creamer added.

Martinez said that attendees are in store for a fun, high energy show that’s filled with a cast built on great chemistry and vocals.

“SRO theater has been doing shows for years and continues to try to grow their company in ways to deliver great and amazing productions for audiences,” Martinez said. “This version of the show is unlike any other versions they have seen. This is through unique performances by all of the performers bringing the story to them in a new way.”

Fontana, working as both cast and crew in the productions, said attendees should expect enjoyable tunes, goosebump-producing harmonies, shock and awe and lots of laughs.

“(SRO Theater is an) amazing group of talented, passionate humans, with a collected heart for the arts in school and community,” Fontana said.

Manalastas said that SRO Theater has “so much heart and love” for the community of Yelm and added it’s a great place to laugh, have fun and share the love of theater with other community members.

“(Attendees should expect) a scary exciting good time with amazing vocals, a ton of humor, and an amazing, strange, unidentified plant,” Manalastas said.