Grant Bryan, right, slowly comes to terms with what the carnivorous plant he has been raising actually wants in the San Pedro Playhouse production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Charlie Blalock/For the Express-News
The San Pedro Playhouse’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” has all the bloodshed, dark comedy and increasingly menacing puppetry that brings fans out in droves.
Director Chris Berry wanted to underscore another element as well: A little bit of tenderness.
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Grant Bryan plays Seymour Krelborn, a botanist who unwittingly takes in a carnivorous plant, in the San Pedro Playhouse’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Charlie Blalock/For the Express-News
The show’s big finale on Halloween is one of a slew of spooky options for San Antonio residents looking for ways to celebrate, including grown-up parties at clubs, movies, and all kinds of family-friendly options.
“Little Shop” is recommended for audiences ages 12 and up.
The musical is about a bloodthirsty plant dubbed Audrey II bent on global domination. It also includes a love story between coworkers in a Skid Row flower shop. Seymour (Grant Bryan) is a sad sack who unwittingly takes in the plant and makes it worryingly big and strong. He names it for Audrey (Nicole Rey Phoenix), an insecure coworker who has had terrible luck with men.
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Audrey fantasizes about the life she imagines the two of them could share far from Skid Row in “Somewhere That’s Green.” She sings of them raising children in a little house where they snuggle on the plastic-covered sofa while they watch television.
While she sings, dancers perform a romantic dream ballet.
“I wanted to show Audrey’s perfect vision of what the dream looks like in her head and so that’s really what the dancers represented,” Berry said. “And then when the stage is left empty with her alone on Skid Row, I felt like it was that much more impactful.”
Kevin Cox who plays Orin Scrivello, a sadistic dentist, in the San Pedro Playhouse production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Charlie Blalock/For the Express-News
Berry’s wife, Paige Blend Berry, choreographed the show, including the dream ballet. She is a gifted performer as well. Her credits include portraying Audrey in the Woodlawn Theatre’s 2017 production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
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Chris Berry is a talented actor, too, and he shared the stage with her in that production. He played Orin Scrivello, DDS, the sadistic dentist whom Audrey dates until he vanishes. He reprised the role a few months later at the Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham, Ala.
“It was really fun to be on the production side of it, having been in it on two different occasions,” Berry said.
This is the second time the musical has been staged in the city this year. The first was the debut offering by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s fledgling dramatic arts program. The Playhouse engaged two of the puppeteers who worked on that show – Sophia Ramirez and Paul Anthony Martinez – to bring the plant to life this time around, too. (Darcell Andre provides the voice.)
Puppeteer Bradley Freeman Jr., who directed the UTSA show and who also works on “Sesame Street,” served as a consultant.
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“We had really, really great staff and puppeteers around the implementation and use of these puppets,” Berry said. “It was cool.”
Final performances of “Little Shop” are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Russell Hill Rogers Theater of the playhouse, 800 W. Ashby. Tickets range from $35 to $65.
The big finale on Halloween will be followed by a post-show party. The VIP Faint of Heart package costs $25 and includes the party as well as early entry for trick-or-treating around the theater and access to the VIP bar line. The VIP Not Faint of heart package costs $50 and includes all of that as well as a post-show meet-and-greet with the puppets, access to VIP lounge areas and entry into a costume contest.
Tickets and info can be found at sanpedroplayhouse.org.
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Other Halloween-themed options this weekend include:
The Overtime Theater has revived “Doctor S Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies: The Movie: The Musical” as part of its 20th anniversary season.
Charlie Blalock/For the Express-News
Theater
“Dr. S Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies: The Movie: The Musical”: The Overtime Theater is reviving its first big hit as part of the company’s 20th anniversary season. Co-writers Bryan Ortiz, Evan Boston and James Hartz re-wrote the script, which is funnier and builds to a thrilling finale. The show tells the story of a mysterious doctor who attempts to save a small town beset by stoned zombies. Costumes are encouraged Friday, and Halloween is “dress like Dr. S” night. There also will be a free post-show party at 10:30 p.m. Halloween including karaoke, music and prizes. The company also will officially announce their 21st season that evening. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 14 – with additional shows at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 and 2 p.m. Nov. 8 – at the Overtime Theater, 4335 Vance Jackson, No. 103-104. $15 to $20; the Nov. 5 show is pay-what-you-wish. Tickets and info, theovertimetheater.org.
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RELATED: Overtime Theater reanimates ‘Dr. S’
“Dracula: A Comedy of Errors”: La Bête Productions follows its intense production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” with something Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen’s gender-bending spoof of Bram Stoker’s spooky tale. Five actors play dozens of characters in the show. There are just a few shows left in the run, including a late-night staging on Halloween including food and drink. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 30, 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov 1, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Oct. 31, Woodlawn Pointe, 702 Donaldson. $25 for most shows; $65 for the Halloween late show, which includes food and drink. Tickets and info, labeteproductions.com.
Bars and clubs
Tainted Love Halloween Party: Costumes are encouraged at this ’80s dance party with DJ The General and DJ El Gato spinning vinyl. 9 p.m. Friday, Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, thebangbangbartx.com.
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Boo Fest ’26: Live, local music, costumes and vendors are the treats at this spot. The lineup includes Collective Dreams, Ri¢h, CNMN, Donella Drive and Scripts. Doors 8 p.m. Friday, Hi-Tones, 621 Dewey Place, Instagram: @hitones_sa.
Blade Rave: It’s a dance party with fangs. 9 p.m. Friday, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com.
Scream Fest: Lynwood King and the Revival (formerly the Heroine) headline this hard-rocking Halloween weekend concert. 8 p.m. Friday, Fitzgerald’s, 437 McCarty Road, fitzrockssa.com.
Murder on the Dancefloor: The Bang Bang Bar takes another stab at Halloween with music by DJ Doomdance. 10 p.m. Saturday, Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, thebangbangbartx.com.
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Zombie Prom: Here’s where to find out if zombies are fast dancers or slow dancers. Music by DJ The General. 8 p.m. Saturday, Gimme Gimme, 803 S. St. Mary’s St., Instagram: @bargimmegimme.
The San Antonio Zoo has made some changes for Halloween and Zoo Boo.
Courtesy San Antonio Zoo
Family fun
Zoo Boo: The San Antonio Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration includes seasonal treats as well as trick-or-treating at 4 p.m. daily through Nov. 1. A new addition this year is Fiesta de los Muertos, a Day of the Dead celebration including culturally inspired art, face painting and Ofrenda de Animales, which honors animals who have made an impact. On Halloween, the zoo will be open until 9 p.m. and special activities will take place throughout the day and after dark. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 1, San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary’s. Included with zoo admission, which costs $8 Saturday. Regular admission ranges from $31 to $40 and is free for children under 3. Info and tickets, sazoo.org.
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Trick-or-Treat at the DoSeum: The children’s museum’s Halloween celebration includes trick-or-treating as well as all sorts of other activities, including one in which little ones can build their own treat bags. There will be a DJ, bubble foam and a dance party, too. 5:30 p.m. Saturday Doseum, 2800 Broadway. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $15 for adults and $20 for children, thedoseum.org.
Halloween Book Party: Author Carmen Tafolla and illustrator Thelma Ortiz Muraida will give a dramatic reading of their book “The Donkey Lady,” which explores the urban legend. The party also includes a costume contest and a Donkey Lady pizza party. The reading is aimed at children ages 9 and up; younger children for whom it might be too intense will be able to take part in a picture book read-along. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Latino Book Store, 1300 Guadalupe. Free. Info, guadalupeculturalarts.org.
Halloween Artfest: The Contemporary’s kid-friendly celebration includes art activities, a photo booth, lots of candy and a dog costume contest. 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Contemporary at Blue Star, 116 Blue Star. Free. Info, contemporarysa.org.
Parties
Cumbiaween: Disco Alfresco’s Halloween party will feature psychedelic cumbia by Gio Chamba, a lowrider trunk-or-treat and a market. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St. $14.98 in advance, $25.70 day of party, Instagram: @disco.alfresco.
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MORE SCARES: Guide to haunted houses, theme parks and other attractions with Halloween bashes
Halloween Dance Party: This spooky celebration will have music, a costume contest and tarot card readers. 6-9 p.m. Friday, Japanese Tea Garden, 3853 N. St. Mary’s St. Free; RSVP at saparks.org.
Halloween Spooktacular: Kids can dress up and collect candy at this Halloween party at the Spurs’ North Side campus. The party also will feature a DJ, Halloween crafts and a spooky petting zoo. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, The Rock at La Cantera, 1 Spurs Way. Free; RSVP at therockatlacantera.com.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is among the movies being screened for Halloween at San Antonio theaters.
20th Century Fox
Movies
Screenings are Saturday unless noted:
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“Hocus Pocus” double feature: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Namimy star in the 1993 Disney comedy about reincarnated witches and its 2022 sequel. 7 p.m. Friday, The Rock at La Cantera, 1 Spurs Way. Free, therockatlacantera.com.
“Scream”: It’s been 30 years since the Ghostface Killer came to Woodsboro and launched the meta-horror franchise starring Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox. In theaters across the city.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”: Tim Curry stars in the camp classic horror musical about a young couple’s encounter with Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Alamo Drafthouse Park North, Alamo Drafthouse Stone Oak, Flix Brewhouse San Antonio.
“Halloween”: Michael Myers is unleased in John Carpenter’s classic 1978 slasher film starring Jamie Lee Curtis. In theaters across the city.
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“Trick ‘r Treat”: The cast of this 2007 horror anthology includes Brian Cox, Anna Paquin and Dylan Baker. Regal Alamo Quarry, Regal Live Oak.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”: Halloween’s become routine, so Jack Skellington sets his sights on Christmas and Santa Clause in the stop-motion animation classic. In theaters across the city.
“Terrifier 3”: The third entry in the horror franchise featuring Art the Clown is back in theaters for a quick, bloody run. In theaters across the city.
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“Hell House LLC”: In this found-footage horror film from 2015, a documentary crew investigates a deadly incident at a haunted house. Regal Alamo Quarry, Regal Cielo Vista, Regal Live Oak.
“Practical Magic”: Slab Cinem is screening the 1998 movie about sisters (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) with magical abilities and a family curse that wreaks havoc on their love lives. Dusk Friday, Legacy Park, 103 W. Houston. Free, westonurban.com/legacy-park.