For the first time in 20 years, Lisa Honz isn’t directing the annual Windsor musical. 

This year’s rendition, Little Shop of Horrors, is directed by Liska Hromnak and Deanna Michel. The show will take place today, tomorrow, and Saturday at 7pm. Tickets are $7 each. There is also a sensory friendly show on Saturday at 3pm. 

Hromnak is thrilled to be in her new role.  

“I have previous experience choreographing musicals, but directing was new territory for me. I was nervous, but excited to step into this new role,” Hromnak said. 

She herself is actually a Windsor graduate and participant of past productions that Windsor has hosted. 

“I am a Windsor grad and participated in Windsor’s musicals, under the direction of Lisa Honz and Ellen Mueller, all four years of high school. I was in Once Upon a Mattress, The Addams Family, Bring It On, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I was also involved in Shakespeare plays, Christmas at Windsor Castle, and Improv. I loved having the opportunity to perform at Windsor; it was very fun and taught me a lot,” Hromnak said. 

Senior Lillian Harrison is enjoying her final experience with musicals at Windsor. 

Harrison said, “I like our new directors; they are different from Madame Honz but it doesn’t feel much different. I have been working with Miss Hromnak in musicals since my freshman year. She has been an amazing choreographer and director. And Mrs. Michel has helped I believe the past two years  on the show, so having her direct isn’t new.” 

Senior Katie Boyster is the female lead of this year’s musical. 

“Our new directors are amazing. It’s not better or worse than working with Madame, but it is definitely different. They put in so much time and effort into the show. They have helped with musicals in the past, so some of us already knew them. They were also in the musical when they were students at Windsor,” Boyster said. 

Senior Wyatt Graham is the male lead for the show. 

Graham said, “I’m a little nervous, but I make my best efforts to convert those nerves into pure energy. Put it into remembering my character. ‘What would Seymour do?’ It’s also been an absolute blast to watch the plant itself evolve. I remember walking into rehearsal one day to a wooden and hoola-hoop skeleton of a plant, and then now we’re putting full grown people into it?! This is by far my favorite production I’ve been in, and every single memory has been a core one. This is a show I will never forget.” 

Hromnak is pleased with the staff that she has in her first year in charge.  

 “I love the cast. I have been in shows with most of them before so I’m used to the shenanigans that they get up to. I wouldn’t necessarily say we are in a close knit community, some people are closer to others, we just all get along and tolerate each other in the end,” Hromnak said. “We have a great group of kids in our show, and they have been working very hard. They are very talented, and it will show at our performances. I don’t think we could’ve gotten a better group for our first production as the new directors.”