Ellen Greene sings "Somewhere That's Green" at the 50th NYFF

After a screening of the director's cut of Frank Oz's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the 50th New York Film Festival, actress Ellen Greene surprised the audience with a performance of "Somewhere That's Green" on the stage of the Walter Reade Theater, accompanied by composer Alan Menken!

[@FlowersInHisHair]

This song always gets me choked up. It's not just because Ellen sings it so beautifully (she does), it's because Audrey's dreams are so modest, so ordinary, so commonplace, and yet even those simple ambitions are seemingly beyond her grasp. She doesn't want diamonds, the high life. Just a simple suburban existence. Poor Audrey.

[@kelman727]

Never been able to laugh at the character, even if we’re meant to (a little).

[@cybersee9966]

Like Audrey, I always wanted, and assumed that I would get, a home in the suburbs. It’s not such a simple, modest dream. My parents went through a lot to get their home in the suburbs. I rent an apartment in the same suburb, and can only dream of owning a house.

[@hrhargyll]

Absolutely.

[@josha7248]

We must be kindred spirits. These are my exact thoughts as well, and at the risk of sounding solipsistic, because the things I want are simple but also feel so out of grasp. My heart hurts over this song

[@gertiegrace6500]

ALL SHE WANTS IS A TOASTER 😭😭😭

[@patricke2088]

It isn't just her voice, which is certainly incredible. It's the way she completely becomes the character in every nuance

[@jayzenscorner974]

She is still beautiful even at 62. And there is hardly a change in her "Audrey" voice even after all this time.

[@DivineGraceQueen]

No one has ever done it better than Ellen Greene.

[@TheTradge]

How has she barely changed in almost 30 years?? Greene is still phenomenal, always embodies the character completely and whole heartedly, and this is one of my absolute favourite musical theatre songs, beautifully composed, and so heart-wrenchingly poignant.

[@DannyMoser]

I was so so so SO lucky to have been there that night!

[@OkieGal2]

Daniel Moser Omigosh. Even this video. Time just stops. The world goes away.

[@Ramsgate15]

love the fact even after so long someone says do audrey and physically and mentallya and vocally shes there

[@magicmulder]

I guess at a point it's just second nature. Every good actor/singer is basically fused with their signature role.

[@princepeterwolf]

She's so incredible...one of the few performers that always manages to make me cry

[@jordankeller7279]

Fun facts: That's Alan Menken on piano, the composer for Little Shop of Horrors. He and lyricist Howard Ashman are the same pair responsible for Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and (before Ashman's untimely death) a couple songs in Aladdin.

[@contron]

This song never fails to get me weeping. So beyond beautiful, she embodies the role completely. She's extremely talented, and was never given enough recognition or credit that she truly deserves. I love her always.

[@JeffFreemanPresents]

Whenever I hear this, my heart aches for Howard Ashman.

[@ronaldh8446]

There aren't many singing voices that can make this grown man cry. Ellen Greene is definitely one of them.

[@HerpDerpPerkMusic]

Ellen Greene is my favorite theatre actress. She is a legend!

[@engincigerciogullari]

Incredible old school performance! This film was my childhood obsession that even trained me to be a musician. Mrs Greene is so beautiful and it is a joy to hear her perform as perfectly well as it was before. Bravo to her and Mr Menken for this song which will always be remembered by some of us🌻.

[@indef2def]

She owns this character and this song, forever.

[@geozia]

Still love her preformance of Suddenly Seymour on the Tonight Show in 1987. I remember seeing it back then and being blown away by this powerful voice. I think Johnny was too.

[@joedambrosio5423]

Alan Menken, true genius, Ellen Greene, superior vocal talent. Little Shop, saw it 10x and met one of my best friends there, the late Ron Taylor, who played the plant.

[@darrylmorrison6127]

When she gets to the "December bride" part, I'm just a puddle.

[@kendhoward551]

All this time, she still bring tears to my eyes when I hear her sing ... so beautiful, and a voice like no other ... thanks for sharing ... :)

[@magicmonkichi]

She is indeed the true definition of a singing actress!

[@hrhargyll]

So beautiful. So moving. More than ever.

[@EverydayMinecraft]

thank goodness for youtube this is stunning - so grateful to see/hear her sing like this...

[@jakedlp_]

I know right I was shocked at first I thought she was lip sinking

[@jakedlp_]

BTW I love wander quest

[@JohnMcLeanWolff]

She has still got it! So beautiful.

[@SittingBearProd]

I’ve never heard anything so damn beautiful in my entire life x

[@dickiegreenleaf750]

Such a haunting song in the second part. Brings me to tears.

[@razzati420]

Amazing how she still doez that perfect

[@BibiTheLinkBuilder]

'and an ironing machine' cracks me up every time 😂😂😂

[@bitcheslovesticks6993]

SHE LOOKS AND SOUNDS SO YOUNG IT'S RIDICULOUS.

[@Harpfrmhel]

I've heard this song many times, and there have been numerous talented singers who are amazing. That said, Ellen Greene OWNS this character and all of her musical numbers. No one else has nailed it as well as she did and everyone has tried to emulate her performance. Her singing voice is a little weird and definitely unconventional, but she brings soul to Audrey and gives the character life and personality. She's the best!

[@hannahsweeney6113]

So absolutely honored I got to see her preform this live, she's amazing

[@irenesacendoncillo3203]

She's still got it!

[@bethanymaud3893]

This woman ... She's an absolute inspiration

[@1stSnipergrrl]

The voice is only off because, as I have found to be typical (and endearing) of her, Ms. Greene is frequently emotional. Brava!

[@bradmoyse6162]

I adore her,and that gift of a voice. Suddenly Seymour when she takes off.... Still makes me cry.

[@richardpohl5367]

So thats Menken himself at the piano? Cool :)

[@TheRealFrankDaTank]

Wow, well that performance just gave me chills!

[@vercoda9997]

She makes it all look and sound so effortless. Bravo.

[@GregoriousGregori9]

Ellen still slips into Audrey as seamlessly as stepping into your favorite pair of slippers. There is absolutely noone on earth who can even touch her shadow in this role... She lives each & every word, every line she sings.

[@davidb1633]

She's awesome. Probably the saddest song in history, sung brilliantly.

[@chonduu_]

Man, that was beautiful and so powerful. I can't believe this is the first time I have seen this.

[@wlaneh]

Powerful singer. This is so mesmerizing. I love Ellen Greene.

[@johndorcic4488]

This should be a silly song with someone doing a silly charachature of a voice, but Ellen Greene has a way of plumbing the emotional depths of every song she’s singing and finding the pure loving humanity in everything she does. I cannot not cry when I see /hear a performance by her. She is truly a wonder.

[@EdLove]

What a delight! I watched the film (again!) yesterday, and just adore it. So good natured, despite a2 :)

[@AmandaGabr1elle]

I just bawled my eyes out~ ;w; This is lovely~

[@paulsilano9069]

All hail THE QUEEN

[@annwyn321]

She is perfection.

[@johndicarlo1945]

@HerpDerpPerkMusic said this in the comments 8 years ago. I'll repeat it. "LEGEND"

[@stevebandklayder4243]

Saw the show. Saw the movie. Saw her in Mr. Katz's acting class at Rider College. Saw her at Michael's Pub, saw her in The Cooler. Many fond memories...

[@blehoo1]

Brilliant musical. MD'd it twice and know it inside out. Alan Menkin - genius. Ellen made for this role. Beautiful song.

[@revdrjc]

Incredible control.

[@michaeloberg3018]

Nobody has a voice like her's. She is one of a kind, recognizably unique in the same respects of Cher, Barbra Streisand, and Bette Midler. Nobody else on earth comes close to sounding the same.

[@MrBlinkyStuff]

I loved her performance of this song in the movie - i'll never forget it. But to see her perform it live in this clip was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@barbaracorrigan2666]

Freakin' fantastic. I'm a singer. If you're not a singer, don't even comment. What it takes to do what she's doing is nothing short of magical. Gifted, brilliant, amazing. I want to be her when I grow up.

[@samanthasantin-morgan1273]

Barbara Corrigan I’m a singer and I pray that one day I’ll be 1/4 as good as this angel💕

[@Positivekitten]

Yes absolutely!! I’m getting older now, but in my younger singing days, I would’ve loved to perform as Audrey and Ellen would have absolutely been my inspiration!

[@fakerating]

Real talent all around in this clip... thanks for posting it

[@egnarotsew]

It was a great night and the performances were fantastic! Thank you for recording and posting!

[@CraigMansfield]

Wonderful. I always loved that soundtrack. It's all top class, great music, great singers, great writing, great acting :D Great gardening too

[@RhiannaBarr]

rest in peace Howard Ashman 1951-1991 i H8 AIDS

[@phousefilms]

She's still got it.

[@funnybaldbloke]

Ellen, you are always amazing X

[@bobtoller956]

It chokes me up too, for the very same reasons.

[@onatcinklc3317]

this is beautiful beyond my imagination, ellen greene is a gem living amongst us.

[@dennislaux]

Ellene is as good as they get in the arts.......beautiful.....great body and so much talent it takes my breath away. To sing like this and have the ability to communicate to the audience is so beautiful.

[@willislynn4613]

beautiful and fantastic,,,,this song and her performance was my favorite part of the film, she still looks gorgeous,,what a body!!!

[@teachershen]

Love her, love the song.

[@jasonallen703]

I cry every time I listen to it. I love her times a million

[@Spifftasticdork]

She still sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing this. :-)

[@ShatnerLover]

She’s so talented. I feel every single performance she does, no matter her age

[@ems999100]

i think you mean AUDREY singing. she is audrey god i love this woman

[@germandimini]

Adoro a esta mujer! Gracias Ellen!!!!

[@omgwth7567]

greatest melody from Alan Menken.

[@FreedomKat]

I just love her!

[@AngelLovesTheArts]

She is incredible!!!

[@itsginoramirez]

ellen as audrey is so precious ♥️ the song works coz it's such a flawless vision sung by such a flawed character 🙌

[@Muswell]

She's fantastic.

[@DivineGraceQueen]

So brilliant.

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I'd die at seeing this live.

[@RudieObias]

This is amazing! I wish I had tickets to this. :(

[@captainKbobkeeshan]

Amazing!

[@badbradsc]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN

[@BobbyinNashville]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHMAZING!!!

[@chrisjacobsen5558]

Incomparable. Wow

[@JOEYdaMUSH]

She sounds good as ever.

[@crissy297]

Wonderful

[@orion5134]

💚💚💚

[@kosmoboi]

Now. That’s. Commanding a stage. You could hear a pin drop.

[@TheSazzy47]

Still fantastic

[@MaxSwann-r9j]

I was so confused watching her sing and then talk in the film 😁 bravo!

[@johnathonf1]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kelman727]

Ellen put her stamp on this role as thoroughly and deeply as Ron Moody did on Fagin. For interest, if you too first saw this as a child, did it occur to you even once that you were meant to giggle at Audrey?

[@chelsiirvine8970]

She’s showing her Audrey character it’s incredible

[@aprildawn7119]

WONDERFULL

[@basspro373]

Good song

[@onefunseaguy]

FUCKING BRILLIANT!! LOVE YOU ELLEN!

[@benbae3449]

3:13 is incredible

[@davidmenke7552]

I fucking love how free and unfettered she is. Her voice is not what it was years ago, but damn it still has that special something. Probably the only performer who can screech and still sound amazing.

[@tomadams5582]

And where has Rick Moranis Been anyway ???? Did the plant win ????

[@backtoearth1983]

He retired to look after his kids when his wife died.

[@ThisIsJ.Nicole]

😭😭😭😭

[@jamestravers6665]

It’s a shame the film cuts out the monologue in between the verses. But it’s so nice hearing this

[@jaffa74]

Mean! She's still as word as ever, can take the girl outa Broadway, but you can't take Broadway outa the girl

Long live to Audrew