Another Disney star is heading to Broadway! Thomas Doherty is trading in his prep-school chic and Disney Channel crown for a pair of oversized glasses and a man-eating plant. Yes, the Scottish-born actor, best known for the “Descendants” alongside ex-girlfriend Dove Cameron and HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot, has officially been announced as the next Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” Off-Broadway.
He’ll make his New York stage debut at the Westside Theatre beginning September 5. Several fans are excited about the announcement, especially since he’ll be on stage opposite Emmy-nominated actor Madeline Brewer. The “Handsmaid Star” joined the production earlier this month as Audrey. The role of Seymour currently being played by Nicholas Christopher through August 31.
For Doherty, this marks a new chapter in a career that has dabbled in Disney musicals, teen dramas, and darker prestige series.
Disney Darling to New York Leading Man
Doherty, now 30, first caught the spotlight as the mischievous Harry Hook in Disney’s
“Descendants 2 and 3,” where he quickly became a fan favorite among younger viewers. That breakout role opened the door to more, let’s call them grown-up projects. Including Hulu’s “High Fidelity” alongside Zoë Kravitz, “Catherine the Great” on HBO, and the steamy but captivating “Tell Me Lies” on Hulu.
But his biggest role came back in 2021 when he starred in the “Gossip Girl” reboot. Safe to say, all of the chaos and charm his character brought kept audiences hooked. The role earned him a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile young actors. He was able to leap from kids’ fantasy musicals to provocative cable dramas without missing a beat.
Now, Doherty is ready to take on one of musical theater’s most beloved underdogs. “I’m so honoured and excited to be introduced as the new Seymour; ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ was the first-ever show I did as a child back in Edinburgh,” he said via a statement. “So to be doing it now in New York City, alongside the incredibly talented Madeline Brewer — is a real dream.”
Little Shop’s Legacy and Thomas Doherty’s Big Leap
“Little Shop of Horrors” has been delighting audiences since it first opened Off-Broadway in 1982. The current revival at the Westside Theatre has been running since 2019, attracting a steady stream of starry Seymours and Audreys. We’ve seen several actors portray the characters off-Broadway, such as Sarah Hyland, Evan Rachel Wood, Constance Wu, Elizabeth Gillies, and Lena Hall. As for Seymour, we’ve seen Skylar Astin, Milo Manheim, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Darren Criss, to name a few.
Doherty steps into the role at a time when the show is thriving. While he’s been making headlines recently for his off-screen life, recently spotted in Los Angeles earlier this month with Scout Willis; his focus remains firmly on the stage.
1 thought on “Thomas Doherty Joins ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ as Seymour Off-Broadway”