How do you follow up a smash? With a bigger, bolder classic, of course. The New Depot Players look to top last summer’s hit, "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," which was recently nominated for 11 Metro Atlanta Theatre Awards, with this summer’s "Little Shop of Horrors." Packed with a dazzling cast, featuring Kelley Whitmire at the helm, under Mary Lynn Luke’s musical direction and Jay Tryall’s choreography, this New Depot Players’ formula flourishes.

Set to MoTown style doo-wop tunes, "Little Shop" tells the tale of Seymour Krelborn, a humble and maligned employee at Mushnik’s Skid Row Floral Shop, and the double-edged partnership he strikes with a bloodthirsty alien plant on his quest for true love Audrey and a better life. Just as Mr. Mushnik, played by the solid Pedro Alvarado, is about to close the shop’s doors for good, Seymour reveals an exotic, unidentifiable plant, the Audrey II, he found at the flower market. Sure enough, the mysterious plant, named for his dream girl, Audrey, reverses Seymour and the shop’s fortunes at a high price.

Adam Sechelski cleverly conveys Seymour’s turmoil as he discovers the secret ingredient required for Audrey II’s incredible growth and the lengths his character goes to procure it. "I’ve given you sunlight, I’ve given you rain. Looks like you’re not happy, less I open a vein," he vents to the plant. Kenneth Perry Jr., under an ever-expanding disguise, amuses as the insatiable vine, Audrey II.

The plant’s namesake, Audrey, played to kooky perfection down to the New Yawk accent by Lisa Whitmire, has a penchant for bad boys resulting in black eyes and arm slings. Though Audrey dreams of a better life — a tract house in the ’burbs — she doesn’t believe she’s worthy of more. Enter Orin Scrivello D.D.S., Audrey’s sadistic, bullying boyfriend. As the miscreant dentist, Brandon Rose owns the role, charming audiences even as he croons the lyrics, "I thrill when I drill a bicuspid. It’s swell though they tell me I’m maladjusted…" Karma settles the score when Orin becomes plant food after an unintentional overdose of nitrous oxide.

Throughout the play, the trio of Ronette, Crystal and Chiffon, played respectively by Rosemary Blankson, Imari Hardon and Kiarra West, delight with their incredible voices as residents of the seedy Skid Row. These ladies set the bar for stage presence.

As the story unfolds, Seymour’s fame and opportunities grow as large as the creation responsible for them. But will he be able to satisfy Audrey II’s ravenous demands and live with himself? He gets the girl, but Audrey’s vision of life in a green, leafy suburb ends with a twist.

"Little Shop of Horrors" runs August 4 – 6, 11 – 13, and 18 – 20 at 8 p.m. and August 7 and 14 at 3 p.m. at 910 Center Street in Conyers. Pre-ordered general admission tickets are $20 with a senior and student rate of $16. Tickets purchased the day of the show are $25 or a senior/student rate of $21. For tickets or more information, visit www.thenewdepotplayers.com or call (678)374-3224.