Paige and Shepperd Talk Shop

by Les Spindle

The mock-horror musical Little Shop of Horrors is always good for a few thrills, plenty of laughs and boffo rock songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. Long Beach's venerable Musical Theatre West is bringing this audience favorite back in a production helmed by Ovation-winning director Steve Glaudini. Among the seasoned cast members are popular stage and screen actor Peter Paige as the demented biker dentist, and Michael A. Shepperd, artistic director of the Celebration Theatre, repeating the role of the monster Audrey, which he played in the 2003 Broadway revival.

The classically trained Paige is making a rare foray into musicals, but the broadly comic role sounds ideally suited for him. “I'm not an accomplished singer, but I'm a decent singer,” he said. “I usually get jobs because I'm funny. You know what I mean? I did, however, play in Little Shop in high school, but in the role of Mr. Mushkin [the plant shop proprietor]. My friend Danny Gurwin, who is playing Seymour, is a big fan of Musical Theatre West and I'm really excited about doing this, though I'm terrified trying to figure out how all those quick changes will work.”

Paige developed an enthusiastic following in the gay community for his terrific work in Queer As Folk and his quirky independent film Say Uncle, which he directed, wrote, and starred in, as well as his other television, film, and Southland stage appearances. He remarked, “I've been doing a lot of writing lately. I have a writing partner. We sold a TV movie and had a movie optioned by the producers of Being John Malkovich. It looks like that's to go sometime next year. And I have directed a second feature called Leaving Barstow.” He said he enjoys the diversity of his endeavors: “I'm a Gemini, so that really suits my nature.”

Shepperd, originally from Illinois, has resided and worked in L.A. for nine years. His repertoire includes directing, writing, acting and producing, though he considers acting his “number one thing.” His role in Little Shop is the offstage voice of the hideous growing plant. He said he's relishing the opportunity to reprise this fun character.

Shepperd has several acting nominations and awards under his belt, for such shows as Raisin, Steel: John Henry and the Shaker and Master Harold and the Boys. Celebration audiences will recall his roles in The Bacchae and Four, and his adaptation of Coffee Will Make You Black. Taking over the leadership role at the theater two-and-a-half years ago, Shepperd is high on the theater's possibilities: “I love the community it creates—an amazing, loving, giving, sharing community. I had never dreamed I would one day be artistic director of a gay theater during the worst of economic times. I call it my midlife crisis. Some people go out and buy a convertible, but I did this.”

Here's hoping this mean green monster from outer space and the sadistic orthodontist will bring new legions of fans to Long Beach to savor fine performers in a durable musical-comedy classic.

the details

Little Shop of Horrors
Musical Theatre West
July 11-26
6200 Atherton St., Long Beach
musical.org