Skye Ozga waits for stage crew to find a pot in which he will stand as Audrey II. (David PIerini/staff photographer)
Jonathan Wells plays the sadistic dentist, Orin. His assistants, Josie Sinn, left, and Zoe Jacquat dance behind him. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Jackson Hajer plays Seymour the genius behind the growth of the Audrey II plant. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Four Doo-wop girls, Maggie Greenlees, front, Kiera Notz, Cheryl Longo and Bailey Jo Hastings stand on stage with attitude. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Some of the 35 actors, including Isabel Hughes, foreground, rehearse an opening song-and-dance number. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Director David Mason shows Jeanene Splitt what to do with her hands during a scene. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Stage manager Destiny Mathis “throws” lines to actors who forget a part of the script. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Maggie Greenlees, left, helps fellow Doo-wop girl, Kiera Notz with her wireless microphone. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Jeanene Splitt studies her lines off stage. She plays Audrey. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Skye Ozga, left, provides the movements for Audrey II while Seymour, played by Jackson Hajer, tempts the plant with his finger during a rehearsal of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Hauser Junior High School. Seymour discovers the plant thrives on blood. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Hauser Junior High School, 65 Woodside Road in Riverside, will stage Little Shop of Horrors this week, with a talking plant that will grow right before the eyes of the audience and cry out, “Feed me!”
But no blood will be shed in the making of this spring musical. Director David Mason, music director Laura Lynch and 35 talented young actors will bring the story and “Audrey II” to life in a clean, family-friendly manner that only references the food the plant so craves.
Show times are Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the Hauser auditorium. The shows are open to the public and admission is free.