'Reefer Madness, the Musical'

(Photo By Al Sachs)

"Reefer Madness, the Musical" is once again lighting up the Waterfront Playhouse.  Positive reviews and sold-out houses made this show the 'hit' of last season. It opens March 25 and runs only 3 weeks until April 12, with performances Tuesday through Sunday evenings. Based on the 1936 propaganda movie, this outrageously twisted musical of sex, drugs and show tunes is the brain-child of Dan Studney and Kevin Murphy, who wrote the book, lyrics and music. Solares Hill raved, "Shockingly funny! Strangely uplifting...infectious, with a praiseworthy cast." The entire production is sponsored by  Conch Color. The opening night gala reception is hosted by Kathy and Tom Cawley and Jack Paul.

Danny Weathers, the Waterfront's Artistic Director, directs "Reefer Madness" with a cast of fourteen. He has also assembled the same technical team that wowed audiences last year. Musical Direction is by Michael Fauss, with choreography by Penny Leto. The set design is by Michael Boyer, lighting design by Kim Hanson and costume design by Leigh Hooten. Allen Gallant is the sound designer, Scott Zimmerman is the props master (including a 12 foot hookah!) and Lisa Alderdice is the stage manager.

"Reefer Madness" tells the story of Jimmy Harper, an upstanding youth who becomes a whacked-out pot fiend after one 'toke' of the evil reefer. We first meet Jimmy and his plucky girlfriend Mary Lane (wink) at the local soda shop. Mary informs Jimmy that she's entered them into a dance contest. Just one problem - Jimmy can't dance. Enter Jack, the evil pot pusher, who trolls the soda shop for his teenage victims. Jack assures Jimmy he can teach him to dance, and brings Jimmy to his Reefer Den...of EVIL! Here he meets a group of tainted misfits and is immediately sucked into a world of weed freaks, orgies, hallucinations and brownies! It's an evening of singing, dancing and lung-filled pandemonium.

Jimmy is played by Marc Crow last seen in "Wild Women of Planet Wongo." His girl friend Mary Lane is played by Kristen Bussiere, who was in "Bat Boy" at the Barn and the Pops' "A Little Night Music." David Black ("Doubt" "Urinetown") plays the Narrator, who has created this play within a play, featuring himself as a multitude of characters.

Denis Hyland ("Rocky Horror Show," "Equus,") plays Jack the super smooth proprietor of the Reefer Den, with Mary Falconer ("The Best Man," "Urinetown") playing Mae - the long-suffering hostess of the Den. Nulita Loder ("Urinetown," "My Way") plays Sally, the seductive Reefer Slut, and Michael Aaglan ("The Best Man") plays Ralph, a former fraternity man who's become a giggling reefer addict. Kristen Wilson ("Urinetown," "Bat Boy") plays the Placard Girl who parades lessons to be learned from the dangers of the leafy menace.

The Reefer Zombies, High School kids, dancing Angels and Jungle dancers are played by Carolyn Cooper ("Urinetown," "Wild Women of Planet Wongo"), Rhett Kalman (who's New York credits include "Tony and Tina's Wedding"), Kyla Piscopink ("Rocky Horror Show," Key West Contemporary Dance AD), Leigh Pujado ("Wild Women of Planet Wongo," "Rocky Horror"); Scott Shambaugh ("the Times," "The Laramie Project") and Phil Tabb ("Urinetown," "Bark!" "Bat Boy"). 

The 'Reefer Madness' band includes Michael Fauss (conductor/keyboards), Georges Hemund, (woodwinds), Chris Burchard (electric guitar), Jim Wist (bass), Max Zemanovic (percussion).

Audience Advisory: "Reefer Madness" is a highly-stylized show that contains adult humor, suggested violence, sexual situations, religious parody and simulated marijuana use. It may prove TOO SHOCKING for the conservatively minded!

Tickets for "Reefer Madness" may be purchased by calling the box office at 305-294-5015 or online  at www.waterfrontplayhouse.org. Tickets are $35, with student tickets (under age 25) at $20 with a student or college ID. The Friday Night Date Special is in effect, with 2 tickets for $50. 

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