Instantly Little Store of Horrors has their new Audrey and Seymour — and the casting appears like a match made in TV heaven.
Victorious and Dynasty alum Liz Gillies and Zombies and Faculty Spirits star Milo Manheim made their debuts within the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s musical on February 25, and each stars instructed Us Weekly that the pairing felt fated.
“I really feel just like the universe aligned completely and made this occur,” Manheim, 24, instructed Us following a Wednesday, March 5, efficiency of Little Store. “I really feel just like the luckiest man on the planet. Once I discovered that I used to be doing it with Liz I used to be over the moon.”
Gillies, 31, added of taking part in Audrey: “I couldn’t have picked a greater Seymour and we’re having a lot enjoyable each night time. I’m very grateful. … I’m so glad to be right here. It feels proper.”
The horror comedy rock musical follows plant store employee Seymour as he raises a blood-lusting plant and pines over his coworker Audrey. The present Off-Broadway revival opened on the Westside Theatre in October 2019.
Milo Manheim in “Little Store of Horrors.” Emilio Madrid
As for Gillies and Manheim’s respective Nickelodeon and Disney Channel histories, there’s no cross-channel stress between the celebrities, solely love and camaraderie.
“We each look again on that chapter fondly and we’re in a brand new chapter now,” Manheim instructed Us of their backgrounds on youngsters TV. “It’s slightly quirky factor and I believe it’s actually thrilling for the followers.”
The casts of their respective exhibits got here to help them for his or her debuts, together with Gillies’ Victorious castmates Avan Jogia and Daniella Monet.
“It’s surreal,” Gillies instructed Us of their help. “It’s the melding of worlds. It’s superb.”
Liz Gillies, Avan Jogia, and Daniella Monet. Emilio Madrid
Gillies made her Broadway debut at 15 years previous within the musical 13 alongside her future Victorious castmate Ariana Grande — and simply as Grande, 31, returned to her theatrical roots by portraying Glinda in final yr’s Depraved, Gillies’ return to the stage appears like a homecoming.
“It’s not misplaced on both of us how a lot theater means to us and the way essential this return has been for us in very alternative ways,” Gillies mentioned of her and Grande’s musical theater renaissance. “We’re going again to the factor that began all of it and our old flame. It’s very significant and it’s very particular and we now have linked on it.”
Liz Gillies in “Little Store of Horrors.” Emilio Madrid
As for Manheim, the rising star was noticed by Little Store director Michael Mayer throughout his efficiency within the Deaf West manufacturing of American Fool final yr — and the remaining is historical past. The Zombies alum brings a notable physicality to the position of Seymour, accentuating the dorky character’s comedy and coronary heart.
“Everyone does [Seymour] so otherwise and I made a decision that I’d lean on a extra bodily quirky Seymour,” Manheim instructed Us. “That was one of many strengths that I wished to deliver to this one.”
One can’t assist however surprise if his Dancing With the Stars coaching — Manheim completed in second place on season 27 of the fact competitors present alongside accomplice Witney Carson — helped him in Little Store.
Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies might have performed buddies on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, however the duo really first met on Broadway in 2008. Grande and Gillies starred in 13: The Musical earlier than reuniting in 2010 as Cat Valentine and Jade West, respectively, in Victorious. On the time, Grande gushed about her shut reference to Gillies, telling Teen […]
“I really feel prefer it was extra so the work ethic that I realized on Dancing With the Stars that helped probably the most,” Manheim mentioned when Us requested him that actual query. “I assume on [the song] ‘Mushnik and Son’ we perform a little ballroom-esque sort factor, however truthfully my body is out the window in that dance. … However Dancing With the Stars actually taught me easy methods to focus and sit down and actually lock in.”
On the finish of the day, Manheim mentioned regardless of how fantastical the content material of the present is, he hopes audiences take away the reality at its coronary heart.
“That is such an absurd, virtually farcical present, however beneath all of it is true emotion and issues that we expertise,” he mentioned. “Whereas the scenario is totally absurd, I hope individuals can take away the reality of it. And likewise to handle the setting.”
