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Reefer Madness

When a clean-cut kid from a stand-up American family falls prey to marijuana, his descent into the pit is filled with jazz, sex and violence. This pointed political satire will go straight to your head!

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy, Satire/Political Satire
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Drugs, Smoking, Intense Adult Themes, Gun Shots, Nudity/Partial Nudity, Strong Language
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 7 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards including Best Production (1999)
    Winner! 6 Backstage West Garland Awards including Best Production (1999)
Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name, this raucous musical comedy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence.

You won't be able to resist the spoofy fun of Reefer Madness. The addictive, clever musical numbers range from big Broadway-style showstoppers to swing tunes like "Down at the Ol' Five and Dime" and the Vegas-style "Listen to Jesus, Jimmy," featuring J.C. Himself leading a chorus of showgirl angels. Refeer Madness is a highly stylized and satirical political commentary that will leave you wanting more.
REVIEWS:

"REEFER MADNESS...is deliberately outlandish and silly. And that's what makes it so good...[the show includes] a dozen or so over-the-top and hilarious production numbers."

Robert Dominguez New York Daily News

"A delirious romp, which at its best reaches highs of intoxicating goofiness."

Elysa Gardner USA Today

"The funniest thing to come down the pike -- or the pipe -- in a while."

Eric Marchese Backstage

"The musical stage version of REEFER MADNESS! really deserves to be a phenomenon unto itself.  You don't even have to inhale to enjoy it."

Meg Donivan After Dark

"REEFER MADNESS: THE MUSICAL broadly expands on the skeleton plot of the original film and turns it into a deliciously campy, wickedly funny romp… This show combines the main character from Godspell with the kinkiness of The Rocky Horror Show and the traditional musical theatre aesthetic of A Chorus Line…"

Johnnie Walker Strand (Toronto)
Premiere Production: In 2001, the musical Reefer Madness opened off-Boradway after its development and successful run in Los Angeles.

Characters

  • Casting: 4M, 4F
  • Casting Attributes: Ensemble cast, Roles for Multicultural Casting, Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: The principals double as other characters in some scenes.
  • Chorus Size: Medium

  • JIMMY HARPER - A wholesome, innocent, high school teenager who runs into trouble after he is lured into the dangerous world of reefer.

    LECTURER - a severe authority figure who warns the audience of the perils of Reefer Madness. (Doubles as Goat-Man, Mr. Poppy, Irish Priest, Old Man, Radio Announcer, Ticket-Taker, Policeman, FDR)

    MARY LANE - Jimmy's sweetheart, a naïve, virginal teenage girl.

    JACK STONE - The handsome and ruthless proprietor of the Reefer Den, a 30's gangster movie-type. (Doubles as Jesus, George Washington)

    MAE - An attractive, yet slightly haggard dame in her mid-30s, the hostess of the Reefer Den.

    RALPH WILEY - a denizen of the Reefer Den, formally a fraternity man, his college days ended long ago due to his reefer habit. (Doubles as Sally's Baby, Switch-Puller, Uncle Sam)

    SALLY - a sexy and seductive resident of the Reefer Den, she possesses the libidinous soul of Mae West combined with the rat-a-tat moxie of vintage Barbara Stanwyck. (Doubles as Lady Liberty)

    PLACARD GIRL - throughout the play she reinforces the warnings of the Lecturer by holding large signs that clearly state the moral of what we've just seen. (Doubles as Five-and-Dime Kid, Police Officer)

    ENSEMBLE - Mixed gender group to represent Reefer Zombies, Kids at the Five-and-Dime, Jungle Orgy dancers, Angels, and patriotic background chorus in the Star-Spangled finale.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto-Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Conductor/Keyboard I

    		$24.00
    Pre-Production Pack Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    1 x Libretto-Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Conductor/Keyboard I

    		$75.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Libretto-Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Conductor/Keyboard I

    		$500.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano Conductor/Keyboard I
    1 x Bass Guitar
    1 x Electric Guitar
    1 x Drums
    1 x Woodwinds (Alto Sax, Flute, Clarinet)

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto-Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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