The UT San Antonio Dramatic Arts Program will bring a piece of Broadway history to the Buena Vista Theater when it debuts its inaugural stage production: the cult-classic musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“Little Shop of Horrors” will run 10 performances with show times at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday from April 10–26.
“Little Shop of Horrors” follows Seymour, a nerdy florist who discovers a strange and unusual plant that brings him unexpected fame while demanding a gruesome price for its continued growth. This sci-fi musical comedy blends 1960s rock and roll with a dark story about the lengths one will go to achieve success.
This is the Dramatic Arts Program’s first production since it launched in the fall of 2025. It’s the city’s only public four-year degree program in dramatic arts and theater, which aims to meet the needs of Texas’ growing film industry by providing professional training of the highest quality.
“‘Little Shop’ is a show-stopping way to debut a phenomenal new program with top-notch facilities, leading faculty and incredibly talented student performers,” said Paul Ardoin, director of the Dramatic Arts Program and one of the show’s producers. “‘Little Shop of Horrors’ will give audiences a unique opportunity to experience American musical theater of the highest quality alongside the innovative approach of our forward-thinking program.”
The production will showcase the same Audrey II puppets built for the acclaimed 2003 Broadway production and subsequent national tours. Rented from Monkey Boys Productions, these massive, man-eating puppets defined the show’s iconic look on stage and in film. To prepare for “Little Shop of Horrors,” members of UT San Antonio’s production team took a cross-country road trip to retrieve the Audrey II puppets, three in total for the production.
“Little Shop of Horrors” will also feature a live orchestra. These theatrical elements combined with the Buena Vista Theater’s intimate 300-seat theater environment will put audiences closer than ever before to the trap-snapping action.
“Over the last several decades, we’ve seen so much change in the entertainment industry. One thing that has remained consistent is the joy and awe inspired by puppetry and live performance,” said Bradley Freeman Jr., UT San Antonio assistant professor of practice in Film and Media, who is directing the show. “It’s in our nature to personify and anthropomorphize the things around us, so bringing such beautifully designed puppets into a space for students, children and families to interact with and learn from is invaluable. I cannot wait for our community to feel that connection at our upcoming performances.”
Tickets can be purchased through the Buena Vista Theater.
Watch how the “Little Shop of Horrors” cast came together.
