Join us down on Skid Row with our latest episode - "Somewhere That's Mean: Settling Scores Feasts on Little Shop of Horrors." Categorizing LSOH (with music by Alan Menken and lyrics/book by Howard Ashman) is a bit tricky. Here’s our best effort: it’s a genre-crossing cult classic chamber musical with elements of dark comedy, horror (obviously), and sci-fi with a ton of catchy Motown-inspired earworms and a giant puppet. Phew.

The cast and creative team of the original production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” In the front at center are Howard Ashman, left, wearing plaid, and Alan Menken, lying on the floor.

Howard Ashman directing Ellen Greene, who played Audrey. “He just loved me, and when a director just adores your creativity, your creativity blooms,” she said.