Taylor Johns moved to Stow when she was in sixth grade, immediately becoming involved with music and singing. Her first role here came when she played the Genie in “Aladdin Jr.” Now, she is the lead role in the SMFHS musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“[Audiences] should be excited because ['Little Shop'] truly is an amazing show. Every single person has worked so hard to make this show almost flawless and the chemistry between all the characters is very real and believable because we are all such great friends,” Johns said.
Johns will be playing Audrey, the love interest of the main character Seymour. The problem is that Audrey is already in a relationship with the town dentist, senior Alex Norman. So Seymour, who is being played by senior Bryan Detweiler, has choices to make once a chance for revenge on the Dentist comes around.
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“Well, [Audrey] is hilarious and actually a really challenging character to play because there are a lot of aspects and details you have to look at, even though she isn't that bright. But, I love a challenge!” Johns said.
Johns has been extremely involved in both Drama Club and other school activities in her three years at SMFHS. One of the biggest influences for Johns has been the ETC School of Musical Arts, a group that just recently took Grand Champion at a competition, one of their biggest accomplishments yet. She has performed in the House of Blues for a “Kickin' the Cancer Blues” concert, won first place in the
Columbus Idol competition and formed her own charity group “Singing for Smiles.”
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The performance in the Columbus Idol also places Johns in the top 100 for the next level of competition on “Ohio Idol.”
Johns has also been known around the community for her song writing abilities. She has been playing guitar and piano, taking lyrical dance and even ballet classes, adding variety to her daily life.
With experience comes influence, and Johns credits her father as being her biggest inspiration in all that she has done.
“My dad is a huge inspiration because he is always trying to improve and become the best that he can be. He is an amazing role model and I hope that one day I can become as confident and motivated as he is,” Johns said.
Johns has shown dedication to her role as Audrey—in fact, she started showing dedication before she even knew she had the role.
“About [three] months before the auditions I actually started preparing for this role,” Johns said. “I was a little over anxious, but it paid off! I literally watched the movie version of ['Little Shop'] every single day and now I'm just so ready to put on a great show!”
The weekend is here! Buy your tickets today to see Audrey and the rest of the “Little Shop” gang in action this weekend — April 20, 21 and 22—for $8 general admission for students or senior citizens, $10 for anybody else and $12 for reserved seats.
Johns said, “ I've never been very confident about my acting, but the best part of this would be the fact that I'm no longer afraid to just lay all my acting out on the table and go for it, because this role totally requires that.”