When Dreams Come True - With Sam Seferian

Since actor Sam Seferian was young, he has wanted to play Seymour Krelborn, a meek floral shop assistant working on Skid Row, in the beloved musical Little Shop of Horrors. Now, years later, Seferian's dream has come true—he plays Seymour in FST's production of Little Shop of Horrors, which is now playing through January 14 in FST's Gompertz Theatre.

We sat down with Seferian to talk about what he most enjoys about playing Seymour, why Little Shop is still successful today, and the ins and outs of performing musical theatre.

Little Shop of Horrors is a cult classic. Why do you think the show is so popular?

I think people love Little Shop of Horrors for a multitude of reasons. For me, so much of that love is due to the incredible score by the legendary Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. This pair is responsible for a lot of the iconic music from our favorite Disney animated movies, and Little Shop was one of their first collaborations.

Additionally, Little Shop has such a unique blend of comedic and dramatic elements. On the surface, it’s an incredibly silly and sweet little gem of a show. I think audiences fall in love with that aspect, but are also surprised by the deeper dramatic stakes of the musical. It really is the best of both worlds!

This marks your first time performing at Florida Studio Theatre. What has your experience been like so far?

I have had such an amazing time being a part of Little Shop of Horrors at FST. The theatre has created such a wonderful community, with so many moving parts, and everyone cares so much about the final product. We're all so proud of our show and so excited to do it every night! 

Do you have a personal connection to Little Shop of Horrors?

Little Shop of Horrors was the first musical that I ever participated in when I was in the second grade! That was the first time I ever performed on stage in that way, and I instantly fell in love with the show and musical theatre as an art form. I really wanted to be Seymour, but had to settle for a narrator with three lines, since I was the youngest kid in the show. Twenty-something years later, that dream has finally come true!

What drew you to the character of Seymour Krelborn? What do you most enjoy about playing him?

It’s rare for me to play a character with the dramatic stakes that Seymour has in Little Shop of Horrors. Seymour has such an intense desire to change his life and move out of Skid Row that he will do just about anything to make that happen. I think everyone has felt stuck in their life at some point, and to play a character whogoes through so much over the course of the show is such a treat. I’m so excited to go on that journey every single night, while getting to play a character with so much heart.

You have extensive experience with musical theatre, performing in Pretty Woman on Broadway and playing Boq in the national tour of Wicked. What do you most enjoy about performing in this medium? What is the most challenging part of doing musical theatre?

Musical Theatre taps into human emotion in such a deep way. Nothing stirs the soul more than music and dance, and those elements added to drama really creates an experience that can move you in profound ways. The most challenging part about doing musical theatre is truly just the stamina it requires. You really have to be an athlete to be able to perform consistently, and it's an art form that is almost impossible to sustain without a lot of training. 

Little Shop of Horrors is now playing through January 14 in FST's Gompertz Theatre. For tickets or more information click here. 

Header Image: Samantha Duval and Sam Seferian. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.