The Shop Behind ‘Little Shop’: A Backstage Tour of the Virginia Theatre Festival

The Virginia Theatre Festival’s 50th season has kicked off, and this week it’ll bring you a production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The classic musical tells the tale of a lovestruck flower shop employee, Seymour, and his ill-fated attempt to earn the affection of his coworker, Audrey, with a man-eating succulent. 

Performances of “Little Shop” begin July 11, but even before actors arrived in Charlottesville, a backstage crew was hard at work building sets and training to operate the show’s central character: the ravenous alien plant Audrey II, represented by a puppet. 

UVA Today went backstage at the University of Virginia’s Culbreth Theatre to learn what goes into producing musical magic. We were able to see a side of theater that audiences typically don’t – and now you have a backstage pass, too.

Tickets for “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by Jeffrey Meanza, are on sale now. Performances run from Thursday through July 21.