Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Bradley Wyner
Choreography by Jailyn Sherell Harris
Stage Managed and Prop Design by Venchise Phillips
Costume Design by Luke Scattergood
Set and Light Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Audrey II Plant Design and Creation by Patrick Ciamacco and Noah Hrbek
Special Effects Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Sound Operation by Matthew Dolan
CAST/STAFF/BAND
*Denotes Member, Actors Equity Association
Brian Altman (Mr. Mushnik) enthusiastically returns to Blank Canvas Theatre after his Cain Park debut this summer in The 25th Annual...Spelling Bee (Vice Principal Doug Panch), also directed by Patrick Ciamacco. He's aflutter to kick off spooky season with this incredible cast! His favorite BCT credits include Bat Boy: The Musical (Dr. Parker), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Judge Turpin), Little Miss Sunshine (Uncle Frank), American Psycho (Detective Kimball), and, of course, Silence! The Musical (Dr. Hannibal Lecter). He thanks his partner, Brendan, their much loved cat, and very old turtle for all their love. He also thanks YOU for supporting live theater! Happy Halloween!
Masario Atkins (Puppeteer) is eager to dive into the belly of the beast for this unique and featured role. As a puppet enthusiast, he hopes he can fill the shoes (or should I say, stems) of Martin P. Robinson and the other talented artists who brought life to the plant. Most recently he performed at Broadview Heights Spotlights in Sense and Sensibility (Edward Ferrars). He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School and currently works as a track maintainer for Greater Cleveland RTA. In his free time, he enjoys language learning, making digital art, and playing little tunes on his alto sax. Last October, he made his theatre debut at Near West’s Historic Haunts (Big Jim Morton). And he is happy to have his first appearance at Blank Canvas Theatre be in another seasonal delight!
Allie Darragh (Audrey) is so excited to be performing as Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors. This is her second show with Blank Canvas Theatre, after performing in Groundhog Day as Nancy earlier in the season. Some of her previous roles include Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown: The Musical and The Narrator in Joseph… Dreamcoat. Allie recently graduated from college with a degree in neuroscience and theater. She is thrilled to be pursuing theater in Cleveland.
Amani Green (Ronnette) is so happy to return to Blank Canvas Theatre for her third production, in one of her bucket-list roles. Some recent credits include Groundhog Day (Doris) at BCT, Footloose (Vi Moore) at the Willoughby Fine Arts Association, and The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou) at Clague Playhouse. She grew up in Cairo, Egypt and graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Jailyn Sherell Harris (Choreographer/Trio Understudy) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where she received her B.A.C. in theatre, with a minor in dance. As a performer, she has had the opportunity to perform in film, festivals, arenas, and theaters across Northeast Ohio and beyond, with credits from Dobama Theatre, Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Theatre, Karamu House, Lakeland Civic Theatre, the Players Guild Theatre, and the A.R.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She enjoys working on and developing new works and had the opportunity to perform in the world premieres of Velveteen: A New Musical (Playhouse Square) and Heartbreakers in Hell by Joey Contreras and Benjamin Halstead (Rubber City Theatre). Jailyn has choreographed for theatres and organizations across the Northeast Ohio area and beyond, including the Sitar Arts Center in Washington D.C. Locally, she has choreographed productions at Near West Theatre (The Music Man, Bring it On: The Musical, Legally Blonde The Musical), Dobama Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Clague Playhouse, to name a few. Jailyn’s directing credits include Matilda The Musical (M.A.D Factory), The Marian Bianchi Young Playwright’s Festival at Dobama Theatre, a staged reading of the new musical Wishful Thinking by Jamie Maletz (Rubber City Theatre), and a virtual production of Ragtime (M.A.D. Factory). In addition to her directing and choreographing credits, she is also a 2023 Room in the House Fellow. Jailyn has a strong dance background and extensive experience in jazz, hip hop, step, and musical theatre. She is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).
Noah Hrbek (Orin and others/Puppet Designer) is beyond excited to be involved in this production, and to be working/performing alongside such an incredible group of people! He also loves being able to help create the lovely and grotesque Audrey II puppets with Patrick Ciamacco. He was last seen on stage as the lead monkey in The Wizard of Oz at Near West Theatre in 2023. He also does production art for NWT, makes children’s book illustrations, plays guitar for the rock musical project Future Perfect, moves vinyl at Blue Arrow Records, and hangs out with his amazing daughter, Lydia. Huge thanks to everyone coming out to support live theatre! Enjoy the show!
Reed Randall Kruger (Seymour and Orin Understudy) is so excited to be a part of this incredible show with such a stellar cast, and thanks everyone who knew he could get this far. You may have seen him recently on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Groundhog Day (Ned Ryerson), Zombie Prom (Jake), Leap of Faith (Ensemble), or American Psycho (Craig McDermott). Some of his other favorite credits include Joseph … Dreamcoat (Issachar/Butler) at the Beck Center for the Arts, Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet) for Chagrin Arts, and The Learned Ladies (Ariste) for the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. In his spare time, he can be found reading Stephen King, playing with his cat, Junie, or feeding the plants. Wait. No! Whatever you do, don't feed the plants!!!
* Darryl Lewis (Audrey II) is delighted to make his Blank Canvas Theatre debut. Darryl's stage presence has graced audiences in various productions, notably portraying the endearing Mr. Fezziwig in the annual Great Lakes Theater production of A Christmas Carol at the Ohio Theater in Playhouse Square. His talents have also been showcased in esteemed local theaters such as Karamu House, Dobama Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Cain Park, Geauga Lyric Theater, Rabbit Run Theater, Cassidy Theatre, Willoughby Fine Arts, Oberlin Summer Festival, and many others. He has most recently been seen as a featured soloist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. He is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association, and he loves his position as an educator of all things music and theater at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio.
Maria Maldonado (Chiffon) is extremely excited to be working with Blank Canvas Theatre in this production of Little Shop of Horrors as Chiffon. Her most recent stage appearances have been in productions of Once Upon a Mattress (Jester), The Little Mermaid (Adella), and Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl).
Zach Palumbo (Seymour Krelborn) could not be more jazzed to return to Blank Canvas Theatre for this Strange and Interesting™ show! Recent credits here include Zombie Prom (Josh) and The SpongeBob Musical (SpongeBob SquarePants). Favorite credits elsewhere include Broadway Bound (Eugene) at Beck Center for the Arts and Twelfth Night (Feste) at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. He has also performed with Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, none too fragile, convergence-continuum, Rubber City Theatre, Lakeland Civic Theatre, French Creek Theatre, Near West Theatre, and Western Reserve Playhouse, as well as music directing at Clague Playhouse and the CWRU Department of Theatre. He composes and plays keys for Future Perfect, a band / theatre piece next performing at Wizbang on November 9! Love always to his family, friends, and Nicole. zachpalumbo.com
Mikaela Ray (Audrey Understudy) finds herself suddenly back at Blank Canvas Theatre and she couldn’t be happier! Her recent credits include The Prom (Alyssa Greene) at Near West Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing (Hero) at French Creek Theatre, Zombie Prom (Toffee) and Of Mice and Men (Curley’s Wife) here at BCT, and School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins) at Cain Park, as well as White Christmas (Judy Haynes) and Matilda The Musical (Miss Honey) at Rubber City Theatre. And while Audrey, Seymour, and the whole gang can be found down on Skid Row you can find Mikaela on Instagram (@heymikaelaray) and her website mikaelaray.com.
Luke Scattergood (Mr. Mushnik Understudy/Costume Design) is ecstatic to be returning to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage. He has been active at BCT since its inception, both on and off stage. His favorite past roles at BCT include Avenue Q (Brian), Bathroom Humor (Arthur), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Jonas Fogg), and Of Mice and Men (Carlson). His costume designs here include Hair, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, American Psycho, We Will Rock You, and MANY more. He also works throughout the Cleveland area as an actor, costume designer, and director, and is the theater director at Bay Village High School. He would like to thank Patrick, as well as the rest of the cast and production team, for the opportunity. Thanks to his wife, Laura, and three terrific kiddos for all their love and support. Thank you for supporting live theater, and enjoy the show!!
Africa Turner (Crystal) is excited to be making her debut performance with Blank Canvas Theatre! Her recent credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (L’il Eva), Beehive: The 60’s Musical (Jasmine), and All Shook Up (Lorraine). She thanks the production team for this wonderful opportunity to get to perform in a dream role! She hopes that everyone enjoys the show, and gives a special shout out to her parents, and to her right-hand girl.
Patrick Ciamacco (Director, Lighting, Puppet, and Set Design) is so excited to be directing this show on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage and working with people he loves and respects! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of BCT. He dedicates this show to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
Venchise Phillips (Stage Manager) is excited to be return to the Stage Manager’s booth at Blank Canvas Theatre, where she has previous served as the Stage Manager for The 39 Steps, Glengarry Glen Ross, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Fissures of Men, Of Mice and Men, and The Laughter League shows. Venchise has also been involved offstage at BCT as the Assistant Stage Manager for The Texas Chainsaw Musical!, Sound Operator for The Wild Party and Cabaret, Prop Designer for One Man, Two Guvnors, and Costume Designer for The Last Starfighter. Additionally, Venchise has served as Prop Designer for Velveteen: A New Musical at Playhouse Square and for Near West Theatre’s recent productions of Legally Blonde, The Wizard of Oz, and Head Over Heels. Recent on-stage credits include The Crucible (Tituba), Zombie Prom (Ramona), and comma (Nurse) at BCT, Escapegoat (Isabella) at Cleveland Play House, The Music Man (Mrs. Squires) at Near West Theatre, and Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (Megan Jones) at Broadview Heights Spotlights Theater. Endless thanks to Patrick for always providing a stage to call hom22e. Love to Aaron, now and for always. Enjoy the show!
Michael Simile (Guitar) is happy to be back at it at Blank Canvas Theatre. He has previously played Little Shop of Horrors at Playhouse Square's Hanna Theatre and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. His 2024 credits include Ride the Cyclone (Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace), The Prom (Near West Theatre), and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Beck Center for the Arts). Outside of music theater, Michael has appeared on the same ticket as several notable heavy metal acts, including All That Remains, Like Moths to Flames, and two-time Grammy nominee Lacey Sturm. He works as a music therapist and guitar instructor at Beck Center for the Arts, and has recently been appointed the bass section leader for the choir at Lakewood Congregational Church after working at Dover Congregational UCC for eight years. Despite his affinity for death metal, Michael is a mama's boy who writes poetry every day, cries at the sight of roadkill, reads any book he can get his hands on, and travels to foreign countries regularly.
Jason Stebelton (Bass) is very excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre playing his favorite killer plant musical! Recent BCT bass credits include Zombie Prom, The Last Starfighter, and The SpongeBob Musical. Thanks to Patrick for providing a space to perform, to Bradley for the chance to collaborate, and to all of the musicians for their inspiration. Enjoy the show!
Rachel Woods (Associate Music Director/Keyboard) has worked on over 50 musical theater productions in Greater Cleveland since 2012. Her credits include productions at Cleveland Play House (The 25th Annual… Spelling Bee), Dobama Theatre (Land of Oz, Ella Enchanted), Cain Park (The 25th Annual… Spelling Bee, Fun Home, Leading Ladies concert, Ragtime, Memphis, The Toxic Avenger), Lakeland Civic Theatre (A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Violet), Near West Theatre ( Xanadu, Assassins, and many others), and Blank Canvas Theatre (Cabaret. The Toxic Avenger, and many others). Rachel is also a staff accompanist in the Music Theatre program at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts. Original music at soundcloud.com/riowoods
Bradley Wyner (Music Director/Piano) counts Little Shop of Horrors as one of his original favorite shows, and is delighted to help bring it to life at Blank Canvas Theatre. Favorite past adventures at BCT include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, One Man, Two Guvnors, and The Rocky Horror Show. Recent adventures at other theaters include School of Rock and Rent at Cain Park, Brooklyn at Near West Theatre, Cabaret at Case Western Reserve University. Bradley is proud of his many years as a teaching artist; past students have gone on to careers as teachers, non-profit leaders, journalists, artists, musicians, and actors on stages from Broadway to BCT. We have the power to end the cycle of plant violence, if we just have the courage to listen to what is growing inside our hearts.