🚨 NOTE: MASKS AND PROOF OF VACCINATION (for guests 5 and over) REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. See our Covid Policy for updates and additional information. 🚨
March 11-20, 2022
Note: Little Shop of Horrors replaced the previously announced The Music Man. All tickets for The Music Man have been transferred to Little Shop of Horrors. Questions? Contact Kyle@FortSalem.com.
About the Show:
A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop Of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theater goers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. The show features meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn, who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names Audrey II after his coworker crush. This sassy, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it! Seymour is faced with the tough decision of giving into Audrey II’s vile demands and continuing down the path to success, or returning back to his simple life. The show contains hit songs like “Suddenly Seymour,” “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Dentist,” “Feed Me,” and “Don’t Feed The Plants.”
Book & Lyrics by:
Howard Ashman
Music by:
Alan Menken
Directed & Choreographed by:
Harry Turpin
Music Directed & Technical Direction by:
John Norine Jr.
Cast & Creative Team:
Francesco Carlo Archina (he/him)
Seymour
Francesco is thrilled to be making his Fort Salem Theater debut! He returns to his Upstate NY roots from Denver Colorado, to play this dream role. Favorite roles include; Tom Collins (Rent), Benny (In The Heights), Mister Black (Wild Party), Edna (Hairspray), Melchior (Spring Awakening), & Gabe (Next To Normal). He would like to thank the production team for this opportunity, the cast, his family, and all of his friends for the endless support. Special shout out to Mom for always cheering me on, love you Mama!
Iris Rogers (she/her)
Audrey
Iris is a graduate of Purchase College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music with a focus in Operatic Studies and vocal performance. In addition to The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou) at and There’s No Business Like Snow Business (soloist) FST earlier this season, she has appeared onstage in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Hänsel und Gretl (Hänsel), The Crucible (Rebecca Nurse), and doubled in L’Iincoronazione di Poppea as Arnalta and Nutrice. Iris also owns a local business in Hebron, (Homestead Hemp 1787) and recently hit a viral wave when she started sharing stories about her family farm on Tiktok.
Samuel Barnes Jaffe (he/him)
Orin Scrivello DDS, et al
Samuel Barnes Jaffe is very excited to be making his Fort Salem debut! Jaffe is a NYC based actor and singer. He graduated from SUNY Purchase about five years ago. Since then, he has performed all around NYC, at venues such as; Ars Nova, the Green Room 42 and most recently, the White Horse Tavern. He wouldn’t be here his flower, his homies and his covid silver lining. Visit him at samuelbarnesjaffe.com
Dan Costello
Mr. Mushnik
Dan is a performer, musician, educator and small-business owner living in Cambridge, NY. He is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Yo Re Mi, a NYC-based musical yoga program for children (www.yoremikids.com) Yo Re Mi's combination of original songs, creative movement and mindfulness practices has been lauded by educators, families and children around the world. As a songwriter, Dan has released twelve albums of original music, (listen here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QpEn5WvBxzQNoyk2MpBrE). "Little Shop" marks Dan's return to the live theatrical stage, having spent his youth playing many roles at Capital Rep, NYS Theatre Institute, and Park Playhouse. He earned his BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, where debuted his own theatrical song cycle, "Songs For Now..." starring Jessie Mueller. Last year, Dan created the New York Times-recommended play "The Forest of Feelings," a collaboration between Yo Re Mi and New York City Children's Theater. He is a teacher for the Caffé Lena School of Music, providing guitar and ukulele classes at Hubbard Hall. Dan is currently rehabbing a house from the 1700's and learning a lot. Love to Rachel, Eitan, Robin, and Debe for supporting his return to the stage. IG: @tincanshaker
Maureen Cossey (she/her)
Audrey II (Voice)/
Derelict
Maureen attended The Crane School of Music and SUNY Albany, majoring in music. She has been in numerous local productions, including those at Hubbard Hall Opera Theater.
Current engagements include music ministry director at 3 local churches, resident Stage Manager at Hubbard Hall, and vocal coach.
Jedidiah Shortte (she/her)
Ronnette
Jedidiah is currently attending the College of Saint Rose as a music industry major and continues to run track and field as a Golden Knight. A graduate of South Glens Falls Senior High School where she competed internationally in an a cappella group for 3 years. Jedidiah was born and raised in Killeen, Texas then moved to upstate New York Saratoga where she took voice lessons for 2 years and performed in cabaret shows. As a southern belle she sung in the church choir and continued to sing in the Praise & Worship Team along with interpretative dance. This will be Jedidiah’s first musical theater debut and can’t wait for others to enjoy the show.
Michaela Torres (she/her)
Crystal,
Voice of Audrey II Understudy
Michaela is a newcomer to Fort Salem Theater and is thrilled about her first time back on stage since the pandemic. Michaela graduated from UAlbany in 2015 and has since been involved in community theater in the capital region. Past shows include Heathers (Veronica), Spring Awakening (Martha), Hair (Chrissy), In the Heights (Ensemble), You’ve Got Hate Mail (Peg), The Laramie Project (various roles) and the Good Body (various roles). Michaela has also dabbled with other aspects of theater such as lights, sound, props, set build, stage management (Songs for a New World), directing (Legally Blonde, Footloose), and producing (Spring Awakening). Over the pandemic, Michaela started to experiment in the world of film making by creating short films with Sweet Dreams Studios. Michaela hopes to produce and appear in more short films this year and keep performing on stage now that theater is making its way back to normal. Michaela would like to thank the production staff for this wonderful opportunity and amazing experience!
Alina Jennings (she/her)
Chiffon,
Audrey Understudy,
Dance Captain
Alina is a graduate of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, where she studied musical theater and various forms of dance. For her work, Alina has twice been named “All Star Performer” at the celebrated Junior Theater Festival and was also featured in the Junior Theater Academy’s All Star America group where she had the opportunity to travel and train in Europe. Alina was also selected among thousands of dancers to film iTheatrics Choreography DVDs (Roxie in Chicago and Katherine in Newsies, among others) where she traveled to New York and performed with iTheatrics. Her recent choreography credits include Titanic, and Buddy: The Buddy Holy Story. She has been seen onstage in West Side Story (Consuela), Hairspray (Dynamite), Starlight Express (Buffy), Bye Bye Birdie (Penelope), Matilda the Musical, Tuck Everlasting, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Little Mermaid.
Anna Threet (she/her)
Audrey II (Manipulation)/Derelict
Anna attended The University of Arkansas as an acting performance major. She has appeared in Little Women the Musical as a Hag/Ballroom dancer. She has performed in two ten-minute plays at the University of Arkansas titled After the Video and Out of Tune. She helped on deck crew for Top Dog, went on to Assistant Direct In the Book of and did a stage reading of We are all soldiers in a Strange World. She played John Wesley Powell in Men on Boats and recently played an Officer in Diary of Anne Frank at Fort Salem Theater.
Ethan Drinkwine (he/him)
Stage Manager,
Seymour, Mushnik, Orin, Puppeteer understudy
A Salem native, Ethan has spent his life surrounded in the arts, music and theatre. His third show overall at Fort Salem Theater, his fourth time stage managing and second time participating in Little Shop of Horrors, his first time as a senior in high school. In his free time, Ethan writes his own films and plays, some of which he has even sold on Blacklist. He wishes to one day make a career out of his own productions in both cinema and on the stage. His latest stage-work is a noire mystery filled with gangs, guns and jazz music set in a grimy suburban high school. Ethan is also a member of the world famous rock band, "Goat Pit" along with his friends. Ethan has been in shows around Upstate New York since he was 12, most notably; Roger+Hammerstein's Cinderella (stage manager), The Wizard of Oz (stage manager), Annie (Rooster), Shrek: The Musical (Lord Farquaad), Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik), and Lil' Abner, with The Huntington Beach Academy For Performing Arts (stage manager) and several cabaret shows in the area. This is Ethan's first show at Fort Salem Theater since high school, and he hopes to continue working here for a long time after.
Harry Turpin (he/him)
Director,
Choreographer
Harry’s directing work includes productions of Little Shop of Horrors (Winner: Gregory Award (People’s Choice) Outstanding Director, Outstanding Production Musical). Other works include The Who’s Tommy (Bway World Winner: Best Director/Best Choreographer), Sweet Charity (Bway World nom: Best Director, Best Choreography), Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls (Bway World nom: Best Choreography), and Becoming More Less Crazy (Winner: Best of the Fest, Seattle Fringe). Other credits include Fly By Night (Bway World nom: Best Director. Bway world winner: Best Ensemble),White Christmas, and Beehive. Once On This Island, Cinderella: Enchanted Edition, The Pajama Game, All Shook Up, Beauty and the Beast, Hello, Dolly!, Legally Blonde, The Music Man, City of Angels, multiple productions of Bye, Bye, Birdie!, as well as productions of Grease, West Side Story, and The Gifts of the Magi. Harry is a resident of Seattle, WA, and is incredibly grateful for this wonderful opportunity to work at Fort Salem Theatre. Thanks to Kyle and Jared! For more information, visit harryturpin.com.
John Norine, Jr (he/him)
Music Director,
Technical Director, Lighting Designer
John has been active as a music director and conductor since 2005, working at the community, educational, and regional theatre level in both Upstate New York and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. John most recently worked as the Music and Technical Director for the Fort Salem Theater productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Next to Normal, as well as the lighting and sound technician for The Diary of Anne Frank. Originally from Utica, NY - John has a Bachelors of Music from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied music theory and history. He then continued his graduate studies at the University of North Texas, where he graduated with Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Performance, studying Orchestral Conducting under Anshel Brusilow and Clay Couturiaux.
Charles J. I. Krawczyk
Scenic Designer
Charles is a well-rounded artist who dabbles in creative writing, HDR photography, graphic design, improvisational piano, original song composition, building fun things and scenic design for theater. While attending Southern Vermont College 2001-2005 he worked summers at Old Castle Theater in Bennington, VT (2000 to 2005) where he learned, by observation, volumes on the art of stagecraft and theatrical techniques and best practices. As a stage director, Charles directed Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in 2004 at his then-former High School, and The Glass Menagerie at Southern Vermont College in 2009. Charles has over eight years of experience designing set, artistic/stage directing, assistant directing and serving as a theatrical creative-solutions consultant (for a local high school drama club). Shows he has designed include The Diary of Anne Frank (now twice 2007 and 2021) Once Upon a Mattress, Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Twelve Angry Jurors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, And Then There Were None, The Sound of Music, Noises Off, Shrek the Musical, and The Mousetrap. He feels truly thankful and honored to design for Fort Salem Theater after taking some time away from theatrical design and is looking forward to contributing more in the near future.
Janelle Farias Sando (she/her)
Costume Designer
Hailed by American Theater Magazine as one of “20 Theater Workers You Should Know,” and recipient of the Sammons Center Cabaret Artist of the Year, Dallas Voice Actress of the Year, and DFW Theater Critics Forum Award, New York City-based Janelle Farias Sando’s powerhouse vocals and astute storytelling skills have taken her across the country, starring in intimate cabarets, large-scale musicals, and world-premiere works like Broadway Backwards (Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids, New Amsterdam Theatre, NY), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), End of The Rainbow (Judy Garland), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), The Boy From Oz (Judy Garland), The Cuban and the Redhead (Carole Lombard), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), Light In The Piazza (Clara), The Last Five Years (Cathy), South Pacific (Nellie Forbush), Lady in the Dark (Liza Elliot) and Nine (Claudia). A member of Actors Equity Association, Ms. Sando is represented by The Ann Steele Agency, New York.
In the costume industry, Janelle is currently working on behind-the-scenes of Suffs at NYC’s The Public Theater, and has designed many mainstage musicals and plays across the country.
Cameron McEachern
Audrey II Puppet Designer
Cameron is a Boston - based scenic artist, designer, costumer and specialty prop and puppet fabricator.
Former employers and colleagues have described him as a “Jack of all trades” designer - proficient in many theatrical disciplines including scenic painting techniques, scenic design, costuming, sculpture, mold making / casting, foam fabrication, puppet design and construction, theatrical and special effects makeup … to name a few.
Currently, Cameron is the Scenic Charge Artist for Wooden Kiwi Productions.
Visit www.cameronmceachern.com or follow @cameronmceachern on Instagram for rental inquiries.
Courtnie Harrington (she/her)
Hair & Makeup Designer
Assistant Stage Manager
Courtnie is a Greenwich Central School alumni who recently completed training at a NYC conservatory. Most recently, Courtnie performed in Fort Salem Theater’s There’s No Business Like Snow Business and The Diary of Anne Frank (Edith Frank), and has been seen in NYC with Hudson Classical Theater in Sense and Sensibility (Charlotte Palmer/Hair Design), Antony and Cleopatra (Iras), and Pride and Prejudice (Lydia Bennett/Hair). Before that she was seen in the Capital District as Ariel in The Little Mermaid with Family Players of Northeastern NY as well as Ensemble/Hope Cladwell understudy in Urinetown and a featured dancer in The Producers at Schenectady Light Opera Company. You can find Courtnie on Instagram (@cjharrington55) or TikTok (@coscourt)!
Robert Healey
Sound Designer
Bio coming soon!
Michael Gallagher
Pianist
Bio coming soon!
The Little Shop of Horrors Band
Piano: Michael Gallagher
Guitar: Thomas Anthony
Bass: Gabriel Gallagher
Drums: Rich LaPlante
Kyle West (he/him)
Producer
Properties Designer
Kyle has three decades of creating award-winning theatre under his belt, working as a producer, director, choreographer, designer, and performer. His work has been seen all across the US, from Cape Cod, to Boston, Arizona and Dallas, to New York and has been recognized by the AriZoni Awards of Excellence, BroadwayWorld Awards, Column Awards, Annie Award, MET Awards, and MHSDG Awards, among others.
Kyle is humbled to be the executive and artistic director of Fort Salem Theater as well as the president of the Salem NY Area Chamber of Commerce.