(Posted October 26, 2016)

Little Shop' monster Audrey II has an actor playing the role, although he can't see audience reactions.
Photo by Anisah Pasquale '19
Little Shop' monster Audrey II has an actor playing the role, although he can't see audience reactions.
Photo by Anisah Pasquale '19

Juniata College theatre opened their show, “Little Shop of Horrors,” last Friday and continues through this Sunday. The show is a rock comedy musical about love, dreams, dentistry and a flesh-eating monster plant. This week Nathan Dryden talks about his experience operating the monster plant. “This is a fun play. I love the music and the era it is set in. We have a lot of theatrical magic and story lines that make it a fun production,” says Dryden.

For the musical, the school has rented four puppets to be used for the monster.  "They are constructed of wire and felt, and as the puppet grows, the wires become thicker until they are aSkeleton welded together," he says. Dryden states that his favorite part about playing this plant monster “is the reactions from the audience.” The one downside for him is that he is always inside the hiding in the props and does not get to see these reactions. “Unfortunately, I don't get to witness the puppet coming to life, because I am the puppet,” Dryden jokes. 

            Dryden works as the choreography and movement professor here at Juniata.. "I love the artistic process," he says. "I love making things work with imagery and movement. The whole process of making art is my passion". Dryden always thought he would become some sort of artist, and approached his career path with an open mind. “Not having a perceived vision of what I want to be allowed me to follow my interests and the opportunities came about. If it doesn't work out the way you envisioned, it is sometimes for the better." He added, “Having a career that is your passion is not the easiest path to take, however it is a nice way to spend your life.

  His advice to students is to take classes in what they are interested in. “I don't mean toil -- I mean you want to work hard because it is your passion. We spend long hours and practice because were a defining our art.”

By Marlene Matula ’17, Juniata Online Journalist

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.