Buskirk-Chumley Theater Bloomington, IN
Dr. Roger Hangarter
Distinguished and Chancellor’s Professor of Biology, Indiana University
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)— Green screens and hungry greens
Program Description
Explore the captivating realm of carnivorous plants with Dr. Roger Hangarter, a distinguished biology professor at Indiana University. Drawing parallels with the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors, join him on a journey that intertwines the bizarre and botanical. From the comedic horrors of a man-eating plant in the movie to the scientific wonders of carnivorous flora, Dr. Hangarter's expertise unveils the intriguing intersections of fiction and nature.
Presented At
Buskirk-Chumley Theater Bloomington, IN
Film Synopsis
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
Meek flower-shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) pines for co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene). A total eclipse brings a seeming reversal of fortune for him and the store: he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II (voiced by Levi Stubbs), an oddity that brings the press and curious customers to the shop. When it fails to thrive on water and sunlight, Seymour secretly discovers, to his horror, that the plant feeds only on human flesh and blood. After Seymour feeds Audrey's abusive boyfriend, Orin (Steve Martin), to Audrey II after Orin's accidental death, the increasingly bloodthirsty plant demands more bodies. If he refuses, will Seymour lose his newfound fame and his burgeoning romance with Audrey?
Image courtesy of PHOTOFEST
About the Speaker
Roger Hangarter is a Distinguished and Chancellor’s biology Professor at Indiana University. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and did postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Prior to joining Indiana University, Dr. Hangarter was an Associate Professor of Botany at The Ohio State University. He has served as a Program Officer for the National Science Foundation, USDA, and DOE grant programs. He also served in numerous leadership roles for the American Society of Plant Biologists (including the role of the Society’s President). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) and the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). Dr. Hangarter has served on several Editorial Boards and won many awards including Teaching Awards from the ASPB and the Botanical Society of America, a MERLOT Award for Exemplary Online Learning Resources, the Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge Award from the NSF and AAAS, and an Emmy Award for Photography (Great Lakes Region).