When Julianna Pallottillo first officially introduced herself to Spencer Dow, it wasn’t the first time she’d seen him around town. Over the years, they’d circled each other on the high school musical theater circuit. She’d seen him in a production of “The SpongeBob Musical,” and they’d seen each other at events like the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards.
So, when they found themselves performing in a 2024 production of “Big Fish” at Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center, Pallottillo walked up and formally introduced herself — perhaps a little too excitedly. Dow quickly retreated, and for a while, she thought he was scared of her.
“I was like, oh — Spencer doesn’t like me,” she laughed. “Alright, I’ll leave him alone!”
Fast-forward to today, and Pallottillo and Dow are dating and playing the romantic leads, Audrey and Seymour, in “Little Shop of Horrors” for the Marietta Theatre Company.
“Little Shop of Horrors,” with music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, is a black comedy/horror musical about a floral shop worker named Seymour who discovers a talking, carnivorous plant that feeds on human flesh. It’s a biting satirical take on capitalism and greed, and runs from Jan. 22-31 at Marietta’s Theatre in the Square.
This is not the first time Dow and Pallottillo have been in “Little Shop” together (in a Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center production, she played Seymour’s co-worker and crush Audrey and he played Orin, Audrey’s maniacal, abusive dentist boyfriend). But it is the first time that either of them has performed with the Marietta Theatre Company.
“We did a little research, and we found out this is a really good company to work for and we both really like ‘Little Shop,’” Dow said about the decision to audition for the company. “So let’s just go ahead and throw our hats in the ring.”
Both actors came into the show with an interesting perspective, particularly Pallottillo, who had played the role previously for a different company. Her performance necessarily had to change because of the different cast, company, and environment. But this version of Audrey, she said, is a little less traditional than audiences might expect.
“In my last show I was wigged up, and I had to cover my tattoos with make up, and it was a very different format. It was very traditional,” she said. “This time, coming into this company, they’re very, very big on embracing who you are as a performer, and they want you to portray that character through yourself.”
Having the freedom to be more herself changed Pallottillo’s mindset and her approach. Dow said that difference is noticeable.
“I feel like they’re giving her a lot more confidence to pave her own way,” Dow said. “They’ve given Julianna the tools to embrace that more edgy side of Audrey.”
For Dow, playing Seymour is a dream role. In high school, one of his friends off-handedly mentioned that he would be a perfect Seymour. That comment started a musical theater journey that Dow is still traversing.
“I started listening to the music, and it kind of made me fall in love with live theater and performing and music,” he said. “That comment is what kept me going and striving for that dream role of Seymour in ‘Little Shop.’”
The last time Pallottillo and Dow were in “Little Shop,” they weren’t also dating off stage. But navigating their new personal relationship didn’t pose too much of a challenge.
“We needed to keep in mind that every time we performed in a show together, we were a team and we worked well together,” Pallottillo said. “We knew that we worked well as costars before we worked well as partners.”
Being in a relationship with your co-star can be tricky, but it also has its advantages. Dow said that he’ll often tap into his real feelings for Pallottillo for his performance.
“Throughout this show as the feelings progress, you kind of have to tap into, what was it like when I first met that person, when I first started falling in love with them?” Dow said. “You can kind of use that in the show.”
Also, it’s a blast to sing one of the musical theater canon’s best love songs, “Suddenly Seymour.”
“The fact that we get to sing every couple’s go-to karaoke song is so amazing,” Pallottillo said.