This past January, with the help of the Lyons Lab, Colby College put on a musical for the first time in over 10 years. Little Shop of Horrors, a horror comedy, follows Seymour Krelborn, a florist working on Skid Row, who raises an “exotic” plant that thrives off of human flesh and blood. The plant, Audrey II, provides Krelborn with fame, fortune, and love in return for human sacrifice.
Getting this student-run show up and running was not an easy feat. Maura McGraw `26, the producer and actress who played Audrey in the show, had to jump through many hoops before this show became a reality. While it was a difficult process, McGraw was proud of the end product and the effort and commitment that each student showed throughout the process.
The arduous process of planning a musical production began taking shape in February of 2025, when McGraw talked about the possibility of working together with Elizabeth (Liz) Echt `28, an experienced director who has spent many summers on theatre productions. When McGraw sought the mentorship of Annie Kloppenberg, a professor of Performance, Theater & Dance at Colby, solid plans began taking form.
Before this show, the only musicals that were put on at Colby were done by clubs like Powder and Wig and Broadway Musical Revue (BMR). However, as part of an Independent Study, Little Shop of Horrors came to life. After landing on JanPlan and receiving funding from the Lyons Lab, Little Shop of Horrors was ready for production.
It usually takes about six to eight weeks of intense rehearsing before musicals are ready for premiere. This JanPlan however, over 40 students came together to put this show together in under four weeks. Echt worked many hours in the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, blocking scenes and working with students on songs. Additionally, Gabby Vogel `26, who worked as the choreographer for the show, put together intricate and beautiful choreography performed by five featured dancers. The actors and dancers in the show rehearsed three to four hours a day after their JanPlan classes, and many students stayed after hours creating extravagant set pieces and finding costume pieces for the performance.
Both McGraw and Echt were extremely happy with how the show turned out and were thankful for the opportunity to put on such a grand performance in such little time. The musical was sold out for all three shows, and many students raved about the amazing performance. Students like Penelope Arredondo `29 who watched the performance stated: “I would’ve guessed it’d take a whole semester to put [Little Shop of Horrors] on! This whipped-up show speaks volumes about the Colby community. So much passion, so much teamwork and time, and so much love.”
McGraw and Echt believe, just like the audience, that this musical was an amazing way to showcase the talent, ability, and drive that our Colby community has to put on performances like this. As Colby continues to grow its performing arts with the new Gordon Center, students are optimistic about the future of musical theatrics on campus. Little Shop of Horrors might just be the turning point Colby needed to begin funding even more shows as a department.
~ Catherine Galvez `29
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