Gwangju Performance Project Gears Up for Theatre Production in December!
The second floor of the Gwangju International Center buzzes with musical energy every Sunday as the Gwangju Performance Project (GPP) prepares for their December performance of Little Shop of Horrors.
Little Shop of Horrors is a 1986 American horror comedy rock musical set in a neighborhood called Skid Row. It tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a florist at Mushnik’s Flower Shop who is tormented by a vicious, human blood-eating plant.
This will be the GPP’s second full-length musical production since its establishment in December 2010. The previous musical production was The Last Five Years in 2013. Over this 6-year period, the GPP has produced various theatre productions, a few of which are William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, David Auburn’s Proof, and Neil Simon’s Rumors. The GPP has also hosted projects for the broader public, such as the 2016 Pen and Ten competition for playwrights and English-speaking kid’s drama camps, successfully implementing their aim to promote the arts to communities in Gwangju.
Little Shop of Horrors is directed by Anissa Ghali and will include acting, singing and dancing. “We brought a variety of talent to this show,” says Ghali, who has been involved in the theatre world since the age of six. “The show will include a live band on stage, and our cast consists of a range of performers, experienced and new to the world of theater,” said Ghali. “We have a choreographer and musical director with whom the cast is also rehearsing with every weekend. We have a great venue and we are very excited to bring this show to the audience.”
Choreographer Thando Mlambo shared about rehearsals. “I am really enjoying working with the cast. Rehearsals have been going great. Taking on this role has been a daunting task because I do not have a background in musical theater, but I was willing to take the challenge.” Mlambo further shared the process being “a hectic trial-and-error phase, [as I try] to bring to life what happens in my head and make sure it looks good. Everything just needs to run its course. Everyone is working really hard and we cannot wait to put on the show!”
Cast member Monique Dean-Onyema invites all to the show. “Little Shop of Horrors is guaranteed to be a good time,” she said. “Our cast consists of both Koreans and foreigners. The show combines all forms of art and is a mix of different decades and promises to be comical and entertaining!”
Little Shop of Horrors’ performances will be on Saturday, December 10 (3p.m. and 7p.m.) and Sunday, December 11 (1p.m. and 5p.m.) at the theater located next to the GFN Radio Station in Sajik Park (Address: 광주남구사동 177-39, 광주콘텐츠산업지원센터, 구KBS방송국). Tickets cost between 10,000 – 12,000 won and can be reserved online by filling out the Google Form at: http://www.gwangjutheatre.com/little-shop-of-horrors.html
For more information, visit GPP’s Facebook page: “Gwangju Performance Project,”on Instagram@gwangjuperformanceproject, or e-mail gpptickets@gmail.com.