The funny, touching and dark 1982 musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” is the latest offering from Playhouse South in Kettering.

Set in a 1950s Skid Row florist shop and featuring terrific songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricist-librettist Howard Ashman, who would go on to win Academy Awards for their Disney tunes from “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” “Little Shop” involves ambition, revenge and a blood-thirsty plant. Nerdy clerk Seymour Krelborn is at the center of the action, which chronicles his ruthlessness as he falls in love with his kindhearted co-worker Audrey, saddled with an abusive boyfriend.

“The thing I love about ‘Little Shop’ that I think most people can relate to is that it explores just what people will do to obtain that thing they think will make them happy only to discover they didn’t need to go to such extremes lengths to get there,” said director Jenni Cypher, a member of Playhouse South since 1995. “Everyone has had those moments in their lives where they have had to make choices about how they want to reach those goals. Hopefully, not everyone does it in as ridiculous a fashion as Seymour.”

Cypher, who studied theatre arts with an acting/directing emphasis at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, hasn’t directed for Playhouse South since helming “Baby” during the 2002-03 season. Even so, she’s drawn to “Little Shop” because of its enduring universality, specifically the desire to simply be emotionally connected to another person.

“There’s a little bit of Seymour in everyone - the sad, lonely person that just wants to be loved and be saved from their own pain,” she said. “Seymour’s quest (to be loved and be saved) is what drives the show and leads him to be led astray by an evil little plant.”

Desmond Thomas, a strong vocalist who appeared in the Playhouse South productions of “In the Spotlight: A Night at The Movies” and “Rent,” will portray the flawed Seymour. While preparing for the role, Thomas says he avoided watching the relatively faithful 1986 film version starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Ellen Greene. He is aiming for originality, particularly as he illustrates the consequences of Seymour’s actions.

“I’ve been making an effort not to watch Rick Moranis’ interpretation,” said Thomas. “I’m trying to make Seymour my own. I hope to convey the rise and fall of what power can do to a person. As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker in ‘Spider-Man,’ “with great power comes great responsibility.’ (‘Little Shop’) is a great example of that.”

The “Little Shop” cast also includes Cari Meixner as Audrey, Zach King as Orin, TC Schreier as Mr. Mushnik, Sarah Grace Griswold as Ronnette, Megan Rademacher as Crystal, Erika Rogers as Chiffon, Angie Thacker in multiple female roles and Jamal Cann in multiple male roles.

Songs include “Downtown (Skid Row),” “Dentist!,” “Somewhere That’s Green,” “Suddenly, Seymour” and the infectious title number. Jim Brown, who staged “Legally Blonde” for Playhouse South last fall, serves as musical director.

“I would love for the audience to have as much fun watching the show as we have had putting it together,” Cypher said.