THEATER:’Little Shop of Horrors’ coming to town

The word “legendary” is tossed around all too frequently these days, but when used in connection with the director of the Huntington Beach Playhouse’s upcoming production, perhaps the term is quite fitting.

Kent Johnson first appeared on the Orange County theater scene in 1965, staging the first local production of Anthony Newley’s “Stop the World — I Want to Get Off” up the road a bit in Anaheim. Since then, he’s become virtually synonymous with musical theater on the local level.

He’s taken “Stop the World” to several local community theaters and has helmed some memorable productions from the works of top composers, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Gilbert and Sullivan. His outdoor rendition of “The Sound of Music” featured famed “ghost singer” Marni Nixon.

Johnson is directing the campy musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” for the Huntington Beach Playhouse, with opening night set for Jan. 12 in the Library Theater of the main city library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach.

The “horrors” in the title refer to an innocent looking plant that begins growing like, well, a weed.

When it shouts “Feed me,” the cast is about to be decimated by one.

“Little Shop” has its genesis in an old Roger Corman movie of the 1960s and is set in a Skid Row flower shop where Seymour, a geeky young employee, raises the leafy monstrosity. Paul Hanegan will play Seymour in the Huntington Beach production, with Carina Morales as his lady love, Audrey.

Veteran musical theater actor Bradley Miller takes the role of Mushnik, the florist, with Stephen Hulsey scheduled to rip up the stage as the sadistic dentist, Orin.

The show features a trio of backup singers — Crystal, Chiffon and Ronnette (named for Motown singing groups of the 1960s) — who’ll be played by Erica Tirado, Brittany Beaudry and Jennifer Del Mar, respectively.

Others in the Huntington Beach cast are Kristy Takacs, Johnathan Gopen, Jessica Ho, Garrett Chandler, Emily Walker, Ryan Francis, Taylor Woodley, Richard Loop, Elaine Bachman, Jessica Porter and Larry Shaughnessy (whose function is operating the gigantic plant).

Musical director Mike Walker also will supply the booming bass voice of “Audrey Two,” the hungry plant. Edward Bangasser is the choreographer and Carol Karian and Chris Grisey are the show’s producers.

“Little Shop of Horrors” will be on stage for three weekends, through Jan. 28, with performances Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m.

Call (714) 375-0696 for reservations and further information.

Golden West College will hold auditions for its first show of 2007, Martin McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theater on the GWC campus. Tom Amen is directing.

All roles are open for five men from 16 to 65 and four women from 17 to 75. Scripts are available for reading in the GWC Library.

“The Cripple of Inishmaan” will run from March 3-18. Contact the college at (714) 892-7711, ext. 55237, or visit www.gwctheater.com for additional information.