Wireless Mics and Projection for Little Shop of Horrors
Show guide · Full-length · 8 roles plus the plant · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 10 channels. Seymour, Audrey, Mr. Mushnik, Orin, Crystal, Ronnette, Chiffon, the Voice of the Plant, and two spares. Use a wired offstage mic for the plant's voice and you can manage with 9.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Little Shop of Horrors.
Who gets a mic
Every singing role gets its own channel: Seymour, Audrey, Mr. Mushnik, Orin, Crystal, Ronnette, Chiffon and the Voice of the Plant. With two spares, that is 10 channels. The puppeteer does not need a vocal mic.
The Voice of the Plant is the only flexible call. A dedicated wireless headset lets the singer stand where they can see the puppet, which helps sync. A wired handheld at a fixed offstage spot also works and saves a channel. Do not share mics between the three street-corner singers, who sing tight harmony together.
With a bigger budget, add channels if you expand the cast with extra Skid Row residents who speak or sing featured lines, and add a monitor speaker so the puppeteer and the plant's voice hear each other clearly.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Seymour Krelborn | Hairline, brown | Glasses sit clear of a hairline mic |
| Channel 2 | Audrey | Hairline, beige | Big blonde wig hides the element |
| Channel 3 | Mr. Mushnik | Earset, beige | Often bald cap or aging makeup |
| Channel 4 | Orin Scrivello | Hairline, black | Pompadour wig; works under the doubling costumes and hats |
| Channel 5 | Crystal | Hairline, brown | Girl-group wig; tight choreography |
| Channel 6 | Ronnette | Hairline, brown | Girl-group wig; tight choreography |
| Channel 7 | Chiffon | Hairline, brown | Girl-group wig; tight choreography |
| Channel 8 | Voice of the Plant (offstage) | Headset, black | Offstage singer; headset or a wired handheld |
| Channel 9 | Spare | Hairline, beige | Covers any wigged principal |
| Channel 10 | Spare | Earset, beige | Covers Mushnik or Seymour quickly |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The licensed cast is small, so many schools add Skid Row residents as an ensemble. Cover them with two or three area or choir mics along the stage lip, and give one a body mic only if they sing a solo line or speak over music.
Show notes from our team
- Syncing Audrey II. The plant's voice sings offstage while a puppeteer works the mouth. Give both a clear sightline or a video monitor, plus a foldback speaker, so the mouth moves with every word.
- Orin's gas mask. The dentist's laughing-gas number puts a mask over his face. Keep the mic at the hairline, above the mask seal, so the mask does not rub the element or muffle the sound.
- Orin's quick changes. Orin's actor traditionally doubles several Act Two characters with fast costume and hat swaps. Tape the cable well, keep the pack in one place, and rehearse each change with the mic on.
- Inside the plant. Actors who are eaten go into the puppet. Check that packs, cables and mic elements will not snag the pod's mouth or get crushed, and mute those channels once they are inside.
Projection
Skid Row streets, the flower shop exterior and the dentist's office suit projected scenery, while the shop interior and the plant usually stay physical. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes can use less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Little Shop of Horrors. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 10-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does Little Shop of Horrors need?
- Plan on 10 channels: Seymour, Audrey, Mr. Mushnik, Orin, Crystal, Ronnette, Chiffon, the Voice of the Plant, and two spares. Use a wired offstage mic for the plant's voice and you can manage with 9.
- Do we need ensemble mics for Little Shop of Horrors?
- The licensed cast is small, but many schools add Skid Row residents. Two or three area or choir mics at the stage edge cover them. Give an added ensemble member a body mic only for a solo line.
- How do we mic the voice of Audrey II?
- The plant's voice is an offstage singer. Use a dedicated wireless headset or a wired handheld, and place the singer where they can see the puppet or a video monitor so the voice stays in sync.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for tech, dress and every performance. Kits arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Little Shop of Horrors this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Little Shop of Horrors is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
