Constance Wu Says Doing ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Off-Broadway Feels ‘Like Coming Home’ (Exclusive)

Constance Wu is just days away from her debut as Audrey in the Off-Broadway hit revival of the beloved musical Little shop of horrors. But rehearsals for the show were anything but a horror show.

“It was a lot of fun,” Wu, 41, tells PEOPLE of preparing for the production before taking the stage at the Westside Theater in New York. “It feels good to be back on stage, working with theater people. It’s like coming home.”

The Crazy rich Asians actress has long loved the horror-comedy rock musical — which features music by Alan Menken (music) and the late Howard Ashman (lyrics), the team behind Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

“Small store it’s been my favorite musical since I was a kid and I saw it in a local theater production in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia,” Wu recalls, noting that nothing surprised her in the rehearsal process. “I’ve been obsessed ever since, so I arrived with super-fan knowledge of the show.”

Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu.

Credit: Avery Brunkus

Wu will star in a musical together High school musical vet Corbin Bleu as Seymour, Audrey’s love interest.

PEOPLE is exclusively premiering two photos featuring the two on the set of the series.

When asked what it was like to work with Bleu, Wu praised her colleague as “beautifully talented.” She added: “I just love working with him because we’re both big theater lovers.”

And while Wu can sing major tunes like “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour” in the musical, her favorite part to work on is the Act II opening. “Call Back in the Morning”. “It was the most challenging, choreography-wise,” she tells PEOPLE. “I love challenges!”

Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu to Play Next Audrey and Seymour in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ New York (Exclusive)

Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu.

Credit: Avery Brunkus

Little shop of horrors is based on the 1960 film of the same name. Both tell the story of a down-on-his-luck florist named Seymour who helps his boss turn around the plant business when he discovers a rare (and voracious) plant. He named the mysterious greenery Audrey II, after his work colleague and longtime crush Audrey.

Ashman — who died in March 1991 at the age of 40 from an HIV/AIDS positive diagnosis — adapted the film for the stage, writing a book about the series. The musical originally premiered in New York in 1982, before transferring to Off-Broadway’s Orpheum Theatre, where it ran for five years.

It was followed by a 1986 film adaptation directed by Frank Oz and starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene. It became a cult classic and helped increase the popularity of community theater and high school productions Small store for decades to come.

Corbin Bleu and Constance Wu.

Credit: Avery Brunkus

A Broadway production finally arrived in 2003, starring Kerry Butler and Hunter Foster. It was closed almost a year later, after 40 previews and 372 performances.

A current Off-Broadway revival debuted in 2019, starring Tammy Blanchard and Jonathan Groff as Audrey and Seymour. Since then, Lena Hall, Maude Apatow, and Joy Woods have alternated in the roles of Audrey, while a number of stars have appeared in the role of Seymour, including Gideon Glick, Jeremy Jordan, Conrad Ricamora, Skylar Astin, Rob McClure, and Matt Doyle.

Maude Apatow to Make New York Stage Debut in Off-Broadway ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Wu and Bleu, 34, will begin their performances on September 26. PEOPLE first announced its cast selection last month.

“The music is so wonderful and I love Audrey,” Wu said at the time. “I relate to her grittiness and finding beauty in simple things. I’m so excited to be in this production, singing and performing alongside the brilliant Corbin Bleu and enjoying the thrill of live and alive theater with an audience.”

Constance Wu.

Credit: Avery Brunkus

Bleu, like Wu, said he has long “been a fan Small store since childhood”, when he looked Small store movie “on repeat”.

“I’m really looking forward to performing with Constance and finding our Seymour & Audrey dynamic,” added the Broadway alum. “We both love and crave live theater – our shared excitement is kinetic.”

Corbin Bleu.

Credit: Avery Brunkus

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Tickets for Little shop of horrors are available now at littleshopnyc.com.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education