A Telecharge mailing lists Aug. 29 as the date of the first performance of the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman musical, which will feature direction by Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks. The musical will officially open Oct. 2. Tickets will go on sale to the general public July 9 by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.

Little Shop of Horrors has had a somewhat tumultuous road to Broadway following a recent pre-Broadway engagement at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, FL. That production, which starred Alice Ripley as Audrey and Hunter Foster as Seymour, had been scheduled to arrive at Broadway’s Virginia Theatre July 16 prior to an Aug. 14 opening. During the out-of-town run, however, those dates were canceled, and a new director — Zaks — was hired to replace Connie Grappo.

In a statement, producer Marc Routh said at the time, “We feel an obligation to everyone involved with Little Shop, and to the ticket-buying public, to insure that the work we present on Broadway represents the best work we can do. In spite of the great number of talented people involved, the elements of this production did not come together in the way we would have liked.”

To date no official casting announcements have been made, although Kerry Butler has been offered the role of Audrey and Rob Bartlett the role of Mr. Mushnik.

The Virginia Theatre is located at 245 West 52nd Street.