Thomas Doherty is making a splash Off-Broadway this fall as Seymour in the beloved revival of Little Shop of Horrors, appearing alongside The Handmaid’s Tale star Madeline Brewer. Known for his turns on TV in the Gossip Girl reboot and Disney’s Descendants, Little Shop of Horrors marks Doherty’s New York stage debut.
As the end of his run nears, Broadway Direct caught up with the young star to ask 5 Questions. Find out why he loves musicals, what makes his Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors unique, and which NYC spot you may find him singing karaoke at.
1. What inspired you to become an actor?
I don’t really think it’s a choice. Honestly, I think some people are just born to express that way and tell stories and perform. I think it’s just part of who I am, so I didn’t really have much of a choice. And I didn’t want to go to university, so it all worked out. But I love musicals because it’s just such a powerful art form, to combine acting with good writing, music, and movement. I think it’s just such an amazing expression. And if you do it live, it’s so special.
2. Who in your field inspires you?
I mean, everyone, even if people aren’t very good. That’s inspiring to me. I’ve been so lucky to work with people like Madeline; she is such an inspiring artist. Honestly, everyone that crosses your path is some form of motivation to kind of dig in deeper.
3. What should audiences be most excited about seeing in Little Shop of Horrors?
Well, it’s quite interesting because I am playing against type. The way that I’ve gone about combating that is energy, so it’s a very energized Seymour. That’s just who he is to me; I can’t do it any other way. And obviously, the cast is just amazing. You got Maddie [Brewer], Reg [Rogers]…it’s such a good group of people, they’re all very, very talented and it’s a really fun show.
4. If you didn’t need to sleep at night, what would you spend your time doing?
I plead the fifth on that. [Laughs.]
5. What is your favorite NYC spot?
I love just playing pool with the boys, with my friends. I love Marie’s Crisis as well, and honestly, you can never go wrong with a karaoke night.
You can catch Thomas Doherty in Little Shop of Horrors through December 7, 2025.
