Gyllenhaal to make musical theatre debut in Little Shop

New York City Center's 'Encores! Off-Center' series, under the artistic direction of Jeanine Tesori, has announced that Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhall will make his musical theatre debut as Seymour in Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors at the New York City Center.

Due to popular demand, an extra matinee performance has been added. The show will now play on 1 July 2015 at 7:30pm and on 2 July 2015 at 2pm and 7:30pm.

Additional casting includes Ellen Green reprising her role as Audrey, alongside Tracy Nicole Chapman (Chiffon), Chuck Cooper (Voice of Audrey II), Marva Hicks (Crystal), Ramona Keller (Ronnette), and Taran Killam (who is also making his musical theatre debut as Orin Scrivello).

Featuring book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, the production will be directed by Dick Scanlan and choreographed by Patricia Wilcox.

Synopsis: "Little Shop of Horrors is a sci-fi musical about Seymour Krelborn (Jake Gyllenhaal), a hapless florist shop worker who pursues a doomed romance with his ditzy, lovable co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene) by acquiring an R&B-singing plant (Chuck Cooper) that feeds on human blood. It is based on Roger Corman's 1960 black comedy film by the same name."

The 2015 Encores! Off-Center season features sets by Donyale Werle, costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Mark Barton and sound design by Leon Rothenberg. Chris Fenwick serves as musical director.

Jake Gyllenhall recently made his Broadway debut in MTC's production of 'Constellations' at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. He is an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee whose film credits include 'Brokeback Mountain', 'End of Watch', 'Donnie Darko' and Ed Zwick's 'Love and Other Drugs'. He made his New York stage debut in 2012 starring in 'If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet', for the Roundabout Theatre Company and starred in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of 'This is Our Youth' on London's West End, for which he won an Evening Standard Theater Award for Outstanding Newcomer.

- by Tom Millward