Music by ALAN MENKEN
Book and Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
Musical Direction by JENNIFER LIN
Choreography by CLARICE ORDAZ
Direction by MICHAEL MATTHEWS
“EVERYBODY BETTER BEWARE” BEGINNING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
AT LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS!
“On the twenty-first day of the month of September, in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do, in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places…” LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to announce full casting for the first show of its 2026/2027 season, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, music by Alan Menken, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, choreography by Clarice Ordaz, and direction by Michael Matthews. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will preview on Friday, September 18 at 8 pm and Saturday, September 19 at 2 pm, have its official Press Opening on Saturday, September 19 at 8 pm, and run through Sunday, October 11 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.
A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS has devoured the hearts of theatregoers for over 40 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. A down-and-out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite.
The Cast of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will feature: Grace Stockdale as “Audrey,” Thomas Hobson as “Seymour Krelborn,” Jay Brian Winnick as “Mr. Mushnik,” Travis Joe Dixon as “Orin Scrivello, DDS,” Joslynn Cortes as “Crystal,” Janaya Mahealani Jones as “Ronnette,” Marisa Moenho as “Chiffon,” Wilkie Ferguson III as “The Voice of Audrey II,” and “The Puppeteer” is Betsy Zajko. The Understudies are (in alphabetical order): Nick Lunetta, Erich Schroeder, Matthew Taylor Smith, and Rianny Vasquez.
MICHAEL MATTHEWS (Direction) is an award-winning director and recipient of two Ovation Awards (with nine additional nominations), two NAACP Theatre Awards, a Stage Raw Award, an LA Weekly Theatre Award, and the 2015 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Career Achievement in Direction. His work has been seen at major regional theatres including Rogue Machine Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Celebration Theatre, and 3-D Theatricals, with productions presented at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Recent credits include Cabaret at 5-Star Theatricals, the West Coast premiere of Bacon, and the world premiere of June Carryl’s BLUE at Rogue Machine Theatre, which was subsequently presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and London’s Seven Dials Playhouse. His directing career spans acclaimed productions including Matilda, Failure: A Love Story, The Seafarer, 12 Angry Men, The Graduate, Funny Girl, Sons of the Prophet, The Color Purple, and numerous Los Angeles, West Coast, and world premiere productions.
CLARICE ORDAZ (Choreography) is a Los Angeles-based choreographer, dancer, and educator with 15 years of experience in theatre, television, film, and live entertainment. Her choreography credits include “One Day at a Time,” (Netflix), Hairspray, Cabaret, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and associate choreographer for The Best of Broadway: Opening Night at the Bowl in June. As a performer, she appeared on Taylor Swift’s RED Tour and in the acclaimed films La La Land and Babylon.
JENNIFER LIN (Musical Direction/Conductor) is thrilled to be back at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts after joining Anastasia as Associate Conductor/Keys 2 and musical direction on Waitress. Other productions include Here Lies Love (Center Theatre Group), On This Side of the World (East West Players), Matilda (5-Star Theatricals, LMT), The Last Five Years (After Hours Theatre), LIZZIE (Color and Light Theatre Ensemble), and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Celebration Theatre). Jennifer also teaches at LACHSA, LMU, and USC.
HOWARD ASHMAN (Book & Lyrics) Best known as a pivotal creative mind behind the renaissance of Disney animation and his work on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast (which is dedicated to “Our friend, Howard Ashman, who gave a Mermaid her voice and a Beast his soul…”). Ashman’s first love was theater. Ashman was a founder of off-off-Broadway’s renowned WPA Theater, where he conceived, wrote and directed God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, as well as the classic musical, Little Shop of Horrors (both music by Alan Menken). In 1986, he wrote and directed the Broadway musical Smile (music by Marvin Hamlisch). Lamented as a lost treasure of the 1980’s theater scene, Smile remains popular on high school and college campuses throughout the country. Howard Ashman died in 1991 from complications of AIDS. For more information, please visit howardashman.com.
ALAN MENKEN (Music) Theater includes God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, Little Shop of Horrors, Real Life Funnies,Atina: Evil Queen of the Galaxy, Kicks, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap of Faith,Aladdin, and Newsies. Film: Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, Newsies, Aladdin,Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Life With Mikey, Lincoln, Home on the Range, Noel,Enchanted, Shaggy Dog, Tangled, and Mirror Mirror. His songs are featured in: Rocky V, Home Alone 2 and Captain America. Awards include: 8 Oscars (19 nominations), 11 Grammys (including Song of the Year), 7 Golden Globes, Tony® (plus 4 nominations), Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics, Olivier and London’s Evening Standard Award, Drama League. His honors include: Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Doctorates from New York University and University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
The Design Team for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is as follows: Lighting Design by Steven Young; Sound Design by Josh Bessom; Costume Coordinator is Adam Ramirez; Hair/Wig Design by Melissa Dupont; Properties Supervisor is Kevin Williams. The Casting Director is Michael Donovan Casting; Michael Donovan, CSA & Richie Ferris, CSA. The Production Stage Manager is Julian Olive.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will preview on Friday, September 18 at 8 pm and Saturday, September 19 at 2 pm, have its official Press Opening on Saturday, September 19 at 8 pm, and run through Sunday, October 11, 2026, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.
Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm & 8 pm; and Sundays at 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm. There is no performance on Sunday, September 20 at 6:30 pm.
There will be an Open-captioned performance on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 pm.
Talkbacks with the cast and creative team will be on Thursday, September 24 at 7:30pm and Thursday, October 8 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets range from $28 – $115 (prices subject to change) and can be purchased on La Mirada Theatre’s website www.LaMiradaTheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Group, student, La Mirada residents, and military discounts are available.
Recommended for ages 7 and up. Children under 3 will not be admitted into the theatre.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is FREE.
The Tony-nominated LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California.” This beautiful state-of-the-art theatre has been presenting quality productions since 1977. The theatre has produced several national tours and is the recipient of numerous accolades, including Tony, Emmy, and Ovation Award nominations and the L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award for “Best Season of the Year.” The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, California, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue. Parking is theatre-adjacent and free. For further information call (562) 944-9801 or visit
Celebrating its 33rd season at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (MRE) is one of the world’s premier theatrical production companies and continues to be grateful to share a wildly successful collaboration with the City of La Mirada. Headed by Executive Producers Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby, MRE has produced over one hundred musicals, plays, and concerts featuring some of the biggest stars in the industry today and garnering many Emmy Awards, Tony nominations, and LA Ovation Awards.
In addition, MRE has launched several Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Broadway, international, and national touring productions including: ASIA; Dreamgirls (Japan), Miss Saigon (China), Peter Pan (China), SAUDI ARABIA – Peter Pan (the first Broadway musical ever to play in Saudi Arabia), USA; Seussical the Musical, and Annie Get Your Gun, starring Cathy Rigby; Jesus Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson and Sebastian Bach, Camelot starring Michael York and Lou Diamond Phillips, Happy Days written by Gary Marshall and Paul Williams, BROADWAY; Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde starring Grammy Award nominee Deborah Cox and “American Idol” and Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis, and The Little Mermaid, the Musical. Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, has made four stops on Broadway and received four Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical.
The A&E TV network premiere of “Peter Pan” received one Emmy Award and four Emmy Award nominations. La Mirada Theatre productions of A Night with Janis Joplin starring Mary Bridget Davies and Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby are now streaming on Broadway HD.
