Description
Book SynopsisHow many hit musicals are based on films that were shot in two days at a budget of $30,000? The answer is one:
Little Shop of Horrors. Roger Corman''s monster movie opened in 1960, played the midnight circuit, and then disappeared from view. Two decades later,
Little Shop of Horrors opened Off-Broadway and became a surprise success.
Attack of the Monster Musical: A Cultural History of Little Shop of Horrors chronicles this unlikely phenomenon. The Faustian tale of Seymour and his man-eating plant transcended its humble origins to become a global phenomenon, launching a popular film adaptation and productions all around the world. This timely and authoritative book looks at the creation of the musical and its place in the contemporary musical theatre canon. Examining its afterlives and wider cultural context, the book asks the question why this unlikely combination of blood, annihilation, and catchy tunes has resonated with audiences from the 1980s to the present. A
Trade ReviewMeticulously researched … really gets to the heart of what made this production tick. * Broadway World UK *
Adam Abraham writes in breathtaking detail about the making of
Little Shop of Horrors, the enduring and beloved musical that launched the careers of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken – two immortals who lit up the skies. * Albert Poland, Author of STAGES – A Theater Memoir *
It's a must-read for any fan of musical theater, horror, or horticulture. * Town & Country *
Insightful, detailed, and just a purely fantastic read. * Everything Theatre *
"Full of wonderful details, little-known facts, and great storytelling, this is the amazing history of the little film that became the musical that ate the world! It brought back so many memories of the show that changed my life." * Lee Wilkof, star of the original cast of Little Shop of Horrors *
Table of Contents1 Skid Row: From Roger Corman’s Hollywood to Off-Off-Broadway 2 Adaptation: How to Make a Nightmare Sing 3 Opening the Shop: Designers, Auditions, Rehearsals 4 A Monster Hit: The Off-Broadway Production 5 It Conquered the World: New York to London and Beyond 6 Audrey III: Cinematic Dreams and Disillusionment 7 We’ll Have Tomorrow: The Curious Afterlives of a Man-Eating Musical
