Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu.Photo:Credit: Avery Brunkus
Credit: Avery Brunkus
Constance Wuis days away from making her debut as Audrey in Off-Broadway’s hit revival of the beloved musicalLittle Shop of Horrors. But rehearsing for the show has been anything but a horror show.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Wu, 41, tells PEOPLE of preparing for the production before she takes the stage at theWestside Theatrein New York City. “It feels good to be back on stage, working with theater folks. It’s like coming home.”
TheCrazy Rich Asiansactress has long loved the horror-comedy rock musical — which features a score from from Alan Menken (music) and the late Howard Ashman (lyrics), the team behindThe Little Mermaid,Beauty and the BeastandAladdin.
Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu.Credit: Avery Brunkus
Wu will star in the musical alongsideHigh School MusicalvetCorbin Bleuas Seymour, Audrey’s love interest.
PEOPLE is exclusively premiering two photos showing the two on the show’s set.
Asked what it’s like working with Bleu, Wu praised her costar as “wonderfully talented.” She added: “I just really like working with him because we are both huge lovers of theater.”
And while Wu gets to sing show tune staples like “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour” in the musical, it’s the Act II opener “Call Back in the Morning” that has been her favorite to work on. “It was the most challenging, choreography-wise,” she tells PEOPLE. “I love a challenge!”
Little Shop of Horrorsis based on the 1960 movie of the same name. Both tell the story a down-on-his luck florist named Seymour who helps turn his boss’ plant shop around when he discovers a rare (and voracious) plant. He names the mysterious greenery Audrey II, after his co-worker and longtime crush, Audrey.
Ashman — who died in March 1991 at the age of 40 from his HIV/AIDS positive diagnosis — adapted the film for the stage, penning the show’s book. The musical originally premiered in New York City in 1982, before it transferred to Off-Broadway’s Orpheum Theatre, where it ran for five years.
A Broadway production finally came in 2003, starring Kerry Butler and Hunter Foster. It closed nearly a year later, after 40 previews and 372 performances.
The current Off-Broadway revival debuted in 2019, with Tammy Blanchard and Jonathan Groff in the lead roles of Audrey and Seymour. Since then, Lena Hall, Maude Apatow and Joy Woods have all replaced in the role of Audrey, while the role of Seymour has seen a number of stars take their turn, including Gideon Glick, Jeremy Jordan, Conrad Ricamora, Skylar Astin, Rob McClure, and Matt Doyle.
Wu and Bleu, 34, will begin their performances on Sept. 26. PEOPLE was first to announce their casting last month.
“The music is so wonderful & I love Audrey,” Wu said at the time. “I relate to her scrappiness and finding beauty in the simple things. I am so excited to be in this production, singing and performing alongside the brilliant Corbin Bleu, and enjoying the thrill of live & alive theater with the audience.”
Constance Wu.Credit: Avery Brunkus
Bleu, like Wu, said he has long “been a fan ofLittle Shopsince childhood,” when he watchedLittle Shopmovie “on repeat.”
“I am really looking forward to performing with Constance and finding our Seymour & Audrey dynamic,” added the Broadway alum. “We both love and crave live theater – our mutual excitement is kinetic.”
Corbin Bleu.Credit: Avery Brunkus
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Tickets forLittle Shop of Horrorsare available now atlittleshopnyc.com.
source: people.com
