Andrew Linden
Porchlight Music Theatre Presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Review - Again, Don’t Feed The Plants!
TLDR: The energy that the cast and company bring to Porchlight’s production of Little Shop of Horrors radiates throughout the theatre space and in the show itself. The cast is packed with all-star talent that deliver the show everyone has come to know and love while also throwing in some creative changes for die-hard fans to pick up on and dissect.
Steve McDonagh and Andrew Linden
Please Welcome to the Stage, Porchlight!
The energy at the Biograph Theatre is electric as the crowd gathers for the opening of Porchlight’s Little Shop of Horrors. There’s a step and repeat photo op with tentacles popping up from the ground. And as soon as the lights dim and a tiny spaceship drops down from the ceiling, the audience is already clapping and cheering for the supernatural plant introduction.
The curtain rises and we’re looking at the front of Mr. Mushnik’s flower shop. There’s a neon sign announcing we’re in Skid Row and all the buildings around definitely match the atmosphere. Trash cans and garbage bags are piled in the corners of the stage. The windows look faded and like they could use a wash. And when the front wall of the flower shop slides away, Mr. Mushnik’s shop also has the same rundown feel with dull walls with peeling paint and flowers that have seen better days. So when Audrey II first makes its appearance, its brightly colored green leaves pop and draws everyone’s attention.
Then we’re off on a plant adventure as our well-known characters deal with the sudden boom in popularity at the shop with phones ringing off the hook and Seymour tries to contain this new, strange, and alien plant’s thirst for blood as it grows at an uncontrollable rate!
Steve McDonagh, Andrew Linden, Alina Taber, and Adam Fane
The All-Star Cast Line-Up
Little Shop is Porchlight’s inaugural show at their new theatre home. And with it, they came out swinging and hit a home run.
They’ve got Steve McDonagh, who's on a Chicago Theatre hot streak right now, as Mr. Mushnik. He plays up more of the silliness of the character both physically and hitting the punchlines while still hitting those curmudgeonly notes.
Andrew Linden goes from awkward and helpless to awkward and wielding a machete as Seymour. He maintains his nerdy personality throughout the show, but shows up with more confidence by the end motivated by his love for Audrey.
Alina Taber captures the essence of Audrey with signature large blonde hair, vague East Coast/New York accent, and can go from the Audrey voice to belting on a dime.
Adam Fane does a fantastic job of not only playing all the side characters trying to cash in on Seymour’s fame, but creates a persona for Orin Scrivello, DDS. Inspired by Elvis’ bad boy, leather persona he gyrates across the stage with hip thrusts and a wide, toothy smile.
The trio of Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronnette bring the energy from the very opening lines of “Little Shop of Horrors” and continue as they pop up sporadically around the set from windows to peering through doorframes.
And of course the star of the show, Audrey II (designed by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn) is a sight to behold. We get the three iterations of Audrey II from just a potted sprout of a plant, to a larger presence on a rolling cart, to finally the version that takes over the entire store. The textures on the puppet itself are bursting with neon greens, scaly patches, and vines trailing over every available surface in the shop. The body and voice of Audrey II are handled by puppeteer Tyler Ehrenberg and tenor Juwon Tyrel Perry. Ehrenberg gives us the most expression out of Audrey II when he’s fully in the plant and able to shake the vines and purse its lips at Seymour to get exactly what it wants. And Perry brings the house down during the final curtain call song donning a green sequined blazer and belting out “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space.”
They all come together and play-up the campiness that Little Shop is known for and create a show full of laughs and cheers from the audience.
The After Party Thoughts
We had two different camps from The After Party attend this performance of Little Shop of Horrors. A few of my fellow after party members are well-versed in the show and thought the production could have been even more campy. On the other hand, I’ve only seen one other production that I thought played down the campiness. So for me, this production hit all the marks it was supposed to and I got the campiness I wanted.
A lot of the original elements and feelings about this show are still here, so Porchlight’s production hits the marks for long-time lovers of the show and also those who have not seen it before. But not to fear, die-hard fans will still find there are stylistic choices that will stick out to you and give you something new to dissect and enjoy. Little Shop of Horrors is a fun and campy show and Porchlight’s production captures all that you love about the musical!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Alina Taber
When
Now through December 13, 2026
Where
Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Runtime: 2hrs, including an intermission
Tickets
$28+
Tickets can be purchased through by calling the box office 773-777-9884 or through the Porchlight Musical Theatre website
Photos
Kyle Flubacker
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Adam Fane
CAST
Kiana Beverly (Chiffon)
Donnalesly Fondjo (Crystal)
Aneesah Jemei (Ronnette)
Andrew Linden (Seymour Krelborn)
Steve McDonagh (Mr. Mushnik)
Alina Taber (Audrey)
Juwon Tyrel Perry (Audrey II – Voice)
Josh Bernaski (Audrey II – Puppeteer)
Adam Fane (Orin Scrivello, DDS, and Everybody Else)
Stand-by Understudies:
Daryn Alexus (Chiffon, Ronnette, and Crystal)
Erline Dorcy (Chiffon, Ronnette, and Crystal)
Tyler Ehrenberg (Audrey II – Puppeteer)
Niki-Charisse Franco (Audrey II – Voice)
Sam Hook (Seymour Krelborn)
Grace Reidenauer (Audrey)
Andrew Linden
CREATIVE
Michael Weber (Director)
Nataki Rennie (Choreographer)
David Fiorello (Music Director)
Rachel West (Production Manager)
Jonathan Berg-Einhorn (Scenic and Properties Designer)
Gregory Graham (Costume Designer)
Max Maxin IV (Lighting Designer)
Matthew Chase (Sound Designer/Sound Supervisor)
Kevin Barthel (Wig Designer)
Bill Walters (Stage Manager)
Katie Nowak (Assistant Stage Manager)
Nick Peebles (Scenic Supervisor)
Kristi Martens (Costume Supervisor)
Riley Woods (Lighting Supervisor)
Cecelia Chan (Assistant Properties Designer)
Tristin Hall (Intimacy/Violence Designer)
Linda Madonia (Company Manager)