Regional NewsMichael James Leslie Replaces James Monroe Iglehart in Kennedy Center Little Shop of HorrorsLeslie steps into the role of Audrey II for the Washington, D.C. performances.
By
Andrew Gans
October 22, 2018
Michael James Leslie
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Michael James Leslie, who originated the role of the Voice of the Plant in the Los Angeles, London, and Broadway productions of Little Shop of Horrors, will again voice Audrey II in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ upcoming presentation of the popular musical.
James Monroe Iglehart
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Leslie replaces previously announced Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart, who has departed the company due to unforeseen circumstances unrelated to the production, according to a Kennedy Center spokesperson.
Leslie, last seen as Judge Turpin in the Barrow Street Theatre production of Sweeney Todd, joins a cast that includes How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor, seen on Broadway in The Graduate and Disgraced, as down-on-his-luck plant-shop worker Seymour, Tony nominee Megan Hilty (Wicked, Smash, Noises Off) as Audrey, Tony nominee Lee Wilkof (who originated the role of Seymour in the original Off-Broadway production) as Mr. Mushnik, Tony nominee Nick Cordero (A Bronx Tale, Bullets over Broadway) as Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., Amber Iman (Shuffle Along, the national tour of Hamilton) as Crystal, Amma Osei (Rock of Ages) as Ronnette, and Allison Semmes (Motown ) as Chiffon.
Mark Brokaw (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) will direct the musical, which will play the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Eisenhower Theater October 24–28. Emmy nominee Spencer Liff (So You Think You Can Dance, Head Over Heels, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) will choreograph.
The limited engagement will also feature musical direction by Joey Chancey, set design by Tony winner Donyale Werle, lighting design by Cory Pattak, costume design by Jennifer Caprio, sound design by Tony winner Kai Harada, and projection design by Alex Basco Koch.
Conceived and executive-produced by Jeffrey Finn, the Broadway Center Stage series launched last season with semi-staged productions of Chess,In the Heights, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In addition to Little Shop, this season will feature Meredith Willson’s The Music Man (starring Tony nominee Norm Lewis) and The Who’s Tommy.
The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success.
