Latrice Royale is serving ‘nothing but fierceness’ in Little Shop of Horrors at Ogunquit Playhouse

Featured photo by Nile Scott Studios.

Latrice Royale is no stranger to the spotlight. After three legendary runs on RuPaul’s Drag Race and dropping wisdom in small-town America on the latest season of We’re Here, the drag superstar is bringing her talents to the stage.

Royale is taking on the iconic role of Audrey II — aka, the plant — in a star-studded production of Little Shop of Horrors at Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. Alongside Broadway actors Etai Benson as Seymour, Talia Suskauer as Audrey, and Adam Heller as Mr. Mushnik, all led by director Hunter Foster, Royale is (in her own words) putting her stank all over the classic musical.

INTO caught up with Royale ahead of the show’s opening to see a preview of her performance and talk all things Little Shop, from why a drag diva is the perfect pick to play a murderous plant, to how Maine is speaking her love language.

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Hey, Latrice! It’s so exciting to see put your own spin on this classic role. Have you been a fan of Little Shop for a long time?

Oh, ever since it came out in the ‘80s! One thousand percent, a huge fan.

Are you a musical theater fan in general?

I am! And luckily, I married a theater geek. My husband’s a nerd. He rises where I falter and picks up all the info and the history of theater.

Is he excited that you’re doing this?

This is a dream for me, but I think he’s living a fantasy too. You know what I mean?

Of course. Now, you’ve done theater before, including the play Death Drop on the West End, but do you have any history with musicals?

This is really my first full musical. I feel excited that it’s pushing me and stretching me. As an artist and as a person, I always welcome a challenge. I always welcome something that’s gonna take me out of my comfort zone and put me on the next level. So let’s do this!

What specifically excites you about playing Audrey II?

This is my dream role. Do you understand that I have been singing and lip syncing to Audrey II since the beginning? I always felt like this could be a great role for me if I ever got the opportunity, baby. And then here we are!

Do you think being a drag artist lends itself to this role, too?

It does, because Audrey II is a big old drag of a plant. To be able to incorporate what I do and then put it into this role and have this fusion of fierceness, ferocity — I think everyone’s gonna take note and want to be us.

Oh yes, I could see a trend of drag artists as Audrey IIs in the future. Would you say that the drag side of things came out today in your small Freudian slip, when you swapped the word “punk” for “bitch” during your performance of “Feed Me (Git it!)”?

I got a little bit too much into character!

@theatrely

We promise we know @Latrice Royale knows her lines! #littleshop @Ogunquit Playhouse #broadway #lyric #theatrekid #latriceroyale

♬ original sound – Theatrely

Nothing wrong with that! Personally, I think you should make the change permanent. And are you excited to be up in Maine?

I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about Ogunquit in particular, because they say it’s like a beautiful oasis — that I’m gonna love the beaches and the weather and the people, and I might not want to leave. Seafood is my favorite: that’s my love language. So I’m gonna go get my life with some lobster!

And for fans who might know you mostly from Drag Race or We’re Here, do you think being in this role will show a new side of you?

You’re gonna see a side of Latrice that’s never been seen before. I’m gonna be pushing this character, this role, to new heights. I always put my stank on everything that I do, and so it’s gonna be nothing but fierceness. Trust. ♦

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Little Shop of Horrors runs at Ogunquit Playhouse now through September 21. Tickets are available here.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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