The musical, by composer Alan Menken and late lyricist-librettist Howard Ashman, was based on the 1960 black comedy film "The Little Shop of Horrors," directed by Roger Corman. The film followed a down-on-his luck florist named Seymour who encounters a new species of plant that feeds on human flesh and lures him into a world of fame, greed and murder.
Little Shop features music in the style of early 1960s rock-and-roll and doo-wop as well as more traditional Broadway ballads like "Somewhere That's Green." The original production opened Off-Broadway in 1982, starring Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene, and ran for five years, closing Nov. 1, 1987. Frank Oz directed a 1986 film adaptation, starring Rick Moranis and Greene, who reprised her acclaimed performance as the lovably ditzy Audrey, and the 2003 Broadway production, starring Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler, opened Oct. 2, 2003.
Click through to see some clips of Little Shop of Horrors.
Original Commercial for the Off-Broadway Production
Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler Sing "Suddenly Seymour"
Ellen Greene Sings "Somewhere That's Green/Suddenly Seymour"
"Little Shop of Horrors" Film Original Ending
The original ending of the movie showed Seymour and Audrey being killed by Audrey II, which went on to take over the planet. However, test audiences found the ending to be too upsetting, and the ending was re-written. The original ending was released on a 2012 Blu-Ray edition of the film.
Ellen Greene Sings "Suddenly Seymour"
Hunter Foster and Michael-Leon Wooley Sing "Feed Me"
Extended/Deleted Scene - "The Meek Shall Inherit"
Kerry Butler Sings "Somewhere That's Green"
Adam Pascal and Mandy Moore Sing "Suddenly Seymour"
Steve Martin Sings "Dentist"
Steve Martin played Audrey's boyfriend, a villainous dentist, in the film.
Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene Sing "We'll Have Tomorrow"
This song, which was cut from the musical, was recorded for Howard Ashman's memorial. Alan Menken accompanies Wilkof and Greene on the piano.
Commercial for the 1986 Film Release