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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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“Little Shop of Horrors” opens

Mackenzie Dahlberg

The Little Shop opens for business Thursday night at Chadron State.

Jarret Buchholz, front, 21, junior of Arnold, as Orin the dentist, crawls across the stage while Levi O’Dell, 20, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, as Seymour Krelborn, watches from behind during Monday’s “Little Shop of Horrors” dress rehearsal at the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

CSC Theatre Department returns to the stage without any COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in over a year to perform the musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”

“I’m most excited for everyone to see it and get to experience this show we have all put so much time into,” Zackary Wellnitz, 20, junior of Rushville, who’s performing as Mushnik in the musical, said. “Turn-out wise, I’m hoping to get a very good size crowd since Little Shop of Horrors is a pretty well-known musical and I’m hoping this will attract a larger crowd.”

Zackary Wellnitz, right, 20, junior of Rushville, as Mushnik yells at Seymour Krelborn, played by Levi O’Dell, 20, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, during Monday evening’s dress rehearsal of “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

Even though the theatre department was able to perform previous productions, only a limited amount of people was able to watch the show in-person, while most had to watch on live stream.

“I’m excited to perform for a larger audience again,” Levi O’Dell, 20, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, portraying Seymour Krelborn, said. “With last year’s restrictions, we could only have a limited amount of people come watch, so I’m excited to be able to have more people watch us live.”

O’Dell is joined on stage with his co-star Aubrey Garrett, 19, sophomore of Alliance, as Audrey.

The small Audrey II puppet rests on top of a table during Monday’s musical dress rehearsal in the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

“I am most excited for the chance to perform in a musical where everyone has had the same passion since day one,” Garrett said. “The cast is amazing, the director is so talented and fun, we have an awesome band and crew. It’s just going to be an awesome show

Cheyenne Bacon, 20, junior of Lewellen, who’s performing as Audrey II, said they felt the cast was ready for the fun show, having put so much work into it.

Cheyenne Bacon, 20, junior of Lewellen, as Audrey II, smiles at co-stars during Monday’s “Little Shop of Horrors” dress rehearsal at the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

“Musical theatre is hard work but when you have fun with it, it makes it so much better.”

The cast features Jarret Buchholz, 21, junior of Arnold, as a range of characters, but largely portraying Orin the dentist. Erin Hayhurst, 19, sophomore of Scottsbluff; Ashley Jackson, 21, senior of Mitchell; and Rayne Charging Thunder, 18, freshman of Gordan, will also be on stage as the Urchins: Crystal, Chiffon and Ronnette respectively.

Ashley Jackson, front, 21, senior of Michell, as Chiffon; Rayne Charging Thunder, middle, 18, freshman of Gordan, as Ronnette; and Erin Hayhurst, 19, sophomore of Scottsbluff, as Crystal, sit on the stairs during Monday evening’s “Little Shop of Horrors” dress rehearsal at the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

“It’ll be nice to have a break and have more time for homework and myself and it will help alleviate some stress, but we all participate in shows because we love doing it,” O’Dell said. “It’ll be sad not getting to rehearse every day and perform, but it’ll be a well-deserved break.”

The “Little Shop of Horrors” shows at 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m., Sunday for a matinee in the Memorial Hall Auditorium.

Levi O’Dell, left, 20, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, as Seymour Krelborn holds onto Audrey’s hand, played by Aubrey Garret, 19, sophomore of Alliance, during “Little Shop of Horrors” dress rehearsal Monday at the Memorial Hall Auditorium.