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Valley theater patrons will have a special treat awaiting them this summer as students from throughout the Maricopa District will present the musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Phoenix Theater, July 30 through August 8. The effort, spearheaded by Mesa Community College faculty members Gene Fazio and Sue Anne Lucius (and sponsored in part by MCLI/Fine Arts) will benefit both the Maricopa Community Colleges' Fine Arts scholarship program, and Maricopa Community Colleges Project Literacy outreach programs.
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"What is possible when all of the District's music and theater departments cooperate on a single project is beyond what we can imagine. I envision a future production being part of the 2009 Phoenix World's Fair."
-- Gene Fazio
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The Maricopa Community Colleges students chosen to participate in the performances (including actors and technical theater students) will have the rare opportunity to perform in a professional venue and work with a veritable "Dream Team" of professional theatre in the Phoenix area, including:
- Robert Harper: (Director/Choreographer) An artist in residence at Phoenix Theatre, Mr. Harper has won ten Zoni awards for directing and choreography.
- Alan Ruch: (Musical Director) A composer and lyricist, Mr. Ruch has written words and music for professional and nationally recognized productions of The Yellow Boat, A Christmas Carol, Embroidered Yarns, and Reluctant Dragon. He has also won ten Zoni awards for musical direction.
- Gregory Jaye: (Set Designer) Mr. Jaye has won seventeen Zoni awards for set designing and directing and has designed over 160 sets.
- Dave Temby: (Sound Designer) Mr. Temby has won ten Zoni awards for sound design.
- Mike Eddy: (Light Designer) Over the last eight years, Mr. Eddy has worked on over 100 productions and has won eleven Zoni awards for light design.
Students participating in Maricopa Community Colleges' Literacy-Outreach programs will be given free tickets to the event. These at-risk students will then participate in the "Stage to Page Program," by writing a reflection paper on the meaning for their lives that this musical has in expanding their literacy skills.
Mesa Community College English faculty Gene Fazio, who has produced two previous musicals for the Project Literacy cause (Rumors in 2002 and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2003) is enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand the scope of the project to include students from throughout the district. "What is possible when all of the District's music and theater departments cooperate on a single project is beyond what we can imagine. I envision a future production being part of the 2009 Phoenix World's Fair." Fazio also envisions future district-wide productions sponsored by the various colleges on a rotating basis. Mesa Community College Music Chair, Sue Anne Lucius, who has directed and produced 20-30 musicals and operas at the college, is excited to be a part of the project because "it will provide students with a professional opportunity while still in school. It is great that they get to work in a another venue with professional people."
The musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken chronicles the life of Seymour Krelbourn, an outcast working as a clerk in the Skid Row Florist Shop. Seymour is secretly in love with Audrey, a young woman from the neighborhood who is in an abusive relationship with a sadistic dentist. One day, during a total eclipse of the sun, Seymour finds a strange plant, which he names Audrey II in honor of his feelings for Audrey. As the plant grows, two interesting things happen: customers flock to the store to get a look at it, and Seymour discovers that the plant has a craving for human blood. As he and the plant gain more notoriety, Seymour is torn between his desire for fame and fortune (which he believes will impress Audrey) and the extreme lengths to which he must go to find blood for Audrey II. This somewhat macabre story is told primarily through an energetic Motown-like, R&B score, featuring the songs "Suddenly Seymour," "Skid Row," and "Feed Me."
For more information on the event contact Gene Fazio at (480) 461-7614 or by email
 Steve Meredith, D.M.A., mcli
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