The Bates College theater department and the Robinson Players, a Bates student theater organization, will present the musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors.” Performances will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, May 18 to 21; and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, in the Gannett Theater, Pettigrew Hall, 305 College St., Lewiston.

With a book by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, this popular play tells the story of a nerdy florist, the woman he loves and a plant that loves blood. Based on a 1960 cult-classic film by Roger Corman, the musical debuted in 1982, was adapted for film four years later and became a hit again in a recent Broadway revival.

For the Bates production, Andrew Haserlat is the artistic director, Justin Moriarty is production director, Alex Smith is musical director and Sarahbelle Marsh is choreographer. Haserlat, a Bates senior, is a double major in biology and theater. At Bates, he has appeared in several major theater department productions, including the recent version of Chekhov’s “The Three Sisters.” Last fall, he directed Kenneth Lonergan’s play “This Is Our Youth” as part of his senior thesis. He has also been a player or crew member for various professional summer companies in Massachusetts.

Moriarty is assistant technical director for the college theater department and a resident learning associate in theater for this academic year under a program funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He earned a B.A. in theater technical design at Keene State College, Keene, N.H., and worked as technical assistant at Keene State for five years. He has also worked as technical director and stage manager at Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton, N.H., and for United Staging and Rigging in Boston.

Smith, a junior physics major, has taken part in theater and dance productions at Bates, including last fall’s performances by the Modern Dance Company.

Marsh, a senior religion major, has danced in and choreographed for a variety of Modern Dance Company productions, including “Without Warning” in fall 2003, “Tensile Involvement” in winter 2004, the company’s 35th anniversary performance last spring and all the major productions of the current academic year.

Admission is $6 general admission and $3 for non-Bates students, seniors and Bates faculty and staff. For reservations, call 786-6161 or visit the Web at www.bates.edu/boxoffice.