Know neWS

Thursday, Aug 07 2:43 PM

Know Brings Reefer Madness to OTR

Know Theatre of Cincinnati is thrilled to open its eleventh season with the regional premiere of Reefer Madness: The Musical, a political satire about marijuana and its exaggerated effects on American youth. Reefer Madness will open on Know Theatre’s mainstage Sept. 20 and play through Nov. 14th while running in repertory with Militant Language: A Play With Sand.

Jimmy Harper’s life gets turned upside down after he meets a couple of local toughs that convince him to give marijuana a try. Jimmy finds himself falling into a downward spiral of sex, drugs and murder. His sweet girlfriend Mary Lane, who wants nothing more than for her boyfriend to drop the dope, accompanies Jimmy throughout his raucous journey. Even sweet Mary Lane finds herself influenced negatively by the drug notoriously called Mary Jane.

The musical is a comedy that features characters like FDR, stoner zombies and even Jesus Christ himself. The show features songs such as “Jimmy Takes A Hit”, “The Brownie Song” and “Listen to Jesus Jimmy.” Reefer Madness will be a full-scale production featuring lively music, choreographed dance numbers and a cast of resident and local actors. These actors will portray every kind of character from naïve teens and nasty thugs to showgirls in angel’s wings.

Eric Vosmeier, the director of Reefer Madness: The Musical is especially excited about bringing the show to life. “Reefer Madness is a little gem of American musical Theatre,” says Vosmeier. “It has great music and large production numbers, but it also has a strong political voice couched in hilarious satire.”

Reefer Madness: The Musical is based off the well-known marijuana propaganda film from 1936. The film has become an American cult classic because of its dated lingo and embellished presentation of the affects of drugs, particularly on straight-laced teens.

Know Theatre’s Artistic Director, Jason Bruffy, says that Reefer Madness: The Musical is the perfect way to kick off the eleventh season. He said people will be able to relate to this musical despite the fact that it is based on a film from the 30s. “Replace the world 'marijuana with Muslim or homosexual, and the press and rhetoric junkies are still at it more than 70 years later,” said Bruffy. “Reefer Madness is a hilarious way to put things in perspective.”

The first adaptation of the original Reefer Madness film was the Los Angeles production of Reefer Madness: The Musical, which opened in 1998. The score was then adapted and opened off-Broadway in 2001. The movie musical was released in 2005 with further changes to the score. The stage musical and movie were immediate hits, with the film starring A-list names like Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer and Neve Campbell.

The musical by Dan Studney and with lyrics by Emmy-nominated head writer of Desperate Housewives, Kevin Murphy has been a hit from coast to coast and it is a musical that continues to build a loyal fan base and cult classic hype. Studney and Murphy have remained the creative team throughout the course of the stage and film productions.

Reefer Madness will be directed by Eric Vosmeier and is starring a cast of 12. Tickets are (price) and can be obtained online or by calling the Know Theatre box office at (513) 300-KNOW (5669).

Reefer Madness

Mainstage performance
Sept. 20- Nov. 14
8 PM performances: Sept. 20, Oct. 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 25, 30, 31, Nov. 8, 14
4 PM performances: Sept. 21, Oct. 4, 25, 26, Nov. 8, 9
Performances at 8 PM, Matinees at 4 PM
Cash bar before and after show

Creative Team
Director - Eric Vosmeier
Music Director - Michael Flhor
Choreographer - Liz Vosmeier
Lighting/Scenic Design - Andrew Hungerford
Costume Design - Laura Franzini

Cast
Jimmy - Daniel Hines
Mary - Courtney Brown
Jack & Jesus - Fang Du
Mae - Jenny Guy
Ralph - Babs Ipaye
Sally - Ayla Ocasio
Ensemble TBA (Auditions on August 2nd.)

By Dan Studney and Kevin Murphy
Regional Premiere
September 20 –, 2008
Musical - Satire

Synopsis:
Fight the Menace! No, not Communism! Not the Democrats! We’re talking about the real evil: Marijuana. Mary Jane. Weed. Ganja. Bud. Hear the story of Jimmy Harper, an upstanding youth turned murderous pot fiend. Be Shocked! Watch how reefer sucks him into a world of orgies, weed freaks, and rock music! It could happen to you! The year is 1936. FDR is in the White House, Gone With the Wind is on everyone’s bookshelf, the original Flash Gordon is hitting movie screens, and “Reefer Madness” is sweeping the nation!

Sidebar information:

Reefer Madness: The Musical, a political satire about marijuana and its exaggerated effects on American youth, will open on Know Theatre’s mainstage Sept. 20 and play through Nov. (date). Performances start at 8 p.m. and tickets are (price.) Call Know Theatre’s Box Office (513) 300-KNOW (5669) for reservations or more information.