Hannah Cruz Joins Little Shop of Horrors Cast
Hannah Cruz takes over the role of Audrey at the Westside Theatre while Ethan Slater extends his run as Seymour.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Children’s Theater
Hannah Cruz stepped into the role of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre, succeeding Betsy Wolfe. Ethan Slater extended his run in the production after T.R. Knight withdrew from the role of Seymour.
Why it matters
The casting changes reshape the leading roles in an Off-Broadway revival that has run since 2019 and resumed after a pandemic closure. Cruz, who received a 2026 Tony nomination for Chess, brings Broadway experience from Suffs to the role.
The Off-Broadway revival began previews on September 17, 2019, and officially opened October 17, 2019, before temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the pandemic. The run resumed September 21, 2021, but the stub does not specify the length of Cruz's engagement.
The players
Hannah Cruz
Hannah Cruz is a Broadway performer who received a 2026 Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Chess and has appeared in Suffs.
Ethan Slater
Ethan Slater is a Broadway performer known for his work in musical theater who extended his run in Little Shop of Horrors.
T.R. Knight
T.R. Knight is an actor best known for his television work who withdrew from the production of Little Shop of Horrors.
The details
Production photos offer a first look at Hannah Cruz in the role of Audrey. T.R. Knight had been scheduled to step into the role of Seymour on October 27 but withdrew, and Ethan Slater extended his run in the part.
Timeline
September 17, 2019: Off-Broadway revival began previews at the Westside Theatre.
October 17, 2019: The production officially opened.
March 2020: The production temporarily closed due to the pandemic.
September 21, 2021: The production resumed its run.
October 27: T.R. Knight had been scheduled to step into the role of Seymour.
Industry Dynamics
Cruz's casting continues a trend in which Off-Broadway revivals of musicals draw performers with recent Broadway credits, following the path set when Jinkx Monsoon became the first drag queen to play Audrey in a major production. The revival's casting history reflects how mid-sized productions rotate leads to sustain audience interest over multi-year runs.
Theatergoers can see Hannah Cruz in the role of Audrey at the Westside Theatre, where the production continues its run. Ticket availability and pricing for performances featuring the new cast were not specified in the source material.
The takeaway
Casting changes in long-running productions can refresh a show for returning audiences without altering its core staging. Readers interested in the production can check current cast listings before attending performances.
Further reading
For more on New York productions, explore Children's Theater coverage in New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Playbill.
