Greensburg native Melessie Clark recalls seeing a Stage Right production of “Little Shop of Horrors” as a child and finding it so exciting.
“It was a show I always wanted to do,” she says.
Clark, 26, now living in Pittsburgh, is part of the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of the musical running through Feb. 23 at the O’Reilly Theater.
She plays Ronette, part of a trio making up The Urchins singing group.
“The cool thing about the Urchins is they are very similar to a Greek chorus. They know what’s coming, and are still along for the ride very step of the way,” Clark says.
“Little Shop of Horrors” is based on Roger Corman’s sci-fi 1960 movie “The Little Shop of Horrors,” with Howard Ashman and Alan Menken adding lyrics and music in the styles of rhythm and blues, rock and the early ’60s girl groups.
The story follows the efforts of Mr. Mushnik (Marc Moritz) to keep his struggling Skid Row flower shop open. His nerdy clerk Seymour (Philippe Arroyo) brings in an odd horticultural find, naming it after his co-worker (and crush) Audrey (Lauren Marcus).
Audrey is in love with sadistic dentist Orin (Patrick Cannon), so Seymour contents himself with nurturing little Audrey II.
Turns out Audrey II can talk, sing, and dance and requires fresh human blood in order to thrive.
Marya Sea Kaminski, artistic director, sees more than a hilariously harrowing plot to the show.
“’Little Shop’ resonates with the bigger question of what it’s like to be hungry and tells the story of the monstrous lengths we’ll go to in order to get what we most crave,” she says.
She’s hoping the popularity of science fiction, including the Netflix show “Stranger Things,” will encourage more young people to see “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“I would love for more people of my age and generation to come out and fill those seats,” Clark says.
Singing along with Clark are fellow Urchins Crystal (Tavia Riveé) and Chiffon (Abigail Stephenson).
Getting to Ronette
A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School, Clark holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Point Park University.
She has modeled and competed in pageants, both of which put her in front of audiences at a young age.
Clark made her Pittsburgh Public Theater debut earlier this season in “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.”
She has performed as Jan in “Grease” and Waitress #1 in “Rock of Ages” for recent Pittsburgh CLO shows.
Clark also has had roles with the Delaware Theatre Company, traveled while performing with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and filmed several commercials, as well as the short movie “Final Decision,” available on Amazon Prime.
What’s been her favorite role so far?
“I would probably have to say playing Effie in ‘Dreamgirls.’ I fell in love with it when the film came out. It’s still a favorite,” she says. Clark took on the role three years ago at Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville, Fla.
Clark also enjoyed performing in “After Midnight,” a 2014 best choreography Tony winner for Warren Carlyle, for the cruise line in 2018.
Speaking earlier this month while in rehearsals, Clark says she splits most of her time between Pittsburgh and New York City.
“I’m quite ambitious. I want to do it all. Theater is my first love. My goal is definitely Broadway,” she says.
Mentoring others
Clark remains active with the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP, something she began in childhood.
“I think it’s such an important thing to be involved in community service. These are people who have supported me along the way,” she says. Clark works with middle and high school age girls on topics ranging from healthy eating to interviewing skills.
“I talk with them about dreaming big and setting goals. They impress me just as much as I impress them,” she says.
Next up for Clark is the new musical “Untitled” with Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret this spring.
