Los Angeles will play host to something that hasn’t been seen in over twenty years in LA and before that was originally released nearly ninety years ago…
What is that you may ask?
Well, it’s Reefer Madness… the musical.
Reefer madness is a cautionary tale from 1936 that features a fictionalized take on marijuana use.
A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to “reefer” cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music.
The story, as told by high-school principal Dr. Carroll to parents at a PTA meeting of the scourge of marijuana. The tale revolves around Mae and Jack, accomplices in the distribution of marijuana, who manage to entice the local high-school kids to come to Mae’s apartment to smoke reefer. The lives of all who are involved with this menace are inevitably shattered. One man becomes so addicted to the killer weed that the guilt over framing a teen for murder causes a judge to order him to be committed for life to a mental hospital. Dr. Carroll closes by advising us to not incur the same tragedy. – Reefer Madness (1936) – Plot – IMDb
Reefer Madness The Musical
Newsflash! An Assassin of Youth is infiltrating Hollywood! The popular multiple award-winning musical comedy Reefer Madness returns for the first time in 25 years to where it all began, filling the Walk of Fame with laughter and great music.
Step into the uproarious world of Reefer Madness, the award-winning stage musical re-imagined for a new generation. Directed by Spencer Liff and produced by the original creative team in partnership with the original stars, this 90-minute immersive experience combines outrageous comedy with Broadway-caliber singing and dancing. Break out your fedora and feather boa for high notes and high times! It’s an unforgettable night of retro entertainment on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, followed by the exclusive after-party at the Reefer Den where cocktails and munchies await.
Get your tickets today for Reefer Madness in Los Angeles!
Experience the side-splittingly funny cult-classic musical like never before in a uniquely immersive production, featuring additional songs and material by the original creative team, directed and choreographed for a new generation by Spencer Liff (Hedwig, Spring Awakening, So You Think You Can Dance?). The show, co-produced by Reefer alums Kristen Bell,
Christian Campbell and Alan Cumming, will be followed by a night out at The Reefer Den where you will continue to enjoy live music, curated cocktails and munchies galore. You will also be granted access to The Victory Garden, a charming outdoor space where you can commune with Hollywood stars under the Hollywood stars.
WARNING: This production contains strobe lights and simulated gunfire… it also features depictions of weird orgies, drug-crazed abandon and explicit violence timed to music. Appropriate for ages 14 and up. Audience members worldwide have reported side effects of uncontrollable laughter and the sudden urge to question authority and challenge the status quo. You’re in for a high time!
What about the Reefer Madness story inspired you to be a part of the production?
The creative team behind RM has always been full of people I flow easily with. We are all in agreement that the best joke wins. There is no Ego. Everyone is friendly and easy to be around. And To be honest, i would do almost anything my reefer madness family asks me to do, because i am forever indebted to them.
They truly changed my life when they convinced me to move out to Los Angeles. I had a ton of reasons why I couldn’t: I was intimidated, I didn’t have a place to stay, I didn’t know anyone… but these wonderful people were my friends (and family), they encouraged me to take the leap, and they let me crash on their couches. They changed my life. So when this new opportunity came up? Count me in. Duh. No brainer. I love them all forever. – Kristen Bell
With rescheduling on the horizon, does the production feel extra timely?
I think the show not only resonates with the marijuana debate and the exiting shots in our culture’s reaction to it, but also on a bigger level it is about how we use fear as a wean in America and use that to obfuscate the more pressing issues that people should really be getting angry about. There’s a great line at the end of the show ‘when danger’s near, exploit their fear’. Exploiting people’s fear has become one of the basic tenets of politics, on both sides of the political spectrum. andI think that whole strand of the show seems to be particularly relevant as we head into an election that is the most important one in American history. – Alan Cumming – Producer
What do you hope audiences take away from this experience?
I hope audiences will have a blast and revel in the irony that they are watching a musical based on a real propaganda film at a time when the very thing that was so demonized and viewed as the root of all society’s ills can be brought legally in any corner deli, and imbibed on the street outside the very theatre they are watching the show in!! – Alan Cumming – Producer
What was the inspiration for the revival?
Once we’d made the movie – we all figured that the show would be out in the wild and maybe enjoy a modest following in the colleges and community theaters. What we didn’t expect was that the movie would become an inspiration for a new generation of cult musical fans. Any musical theater nerd can name a show that In 2015 I was approached by a couple of young NY theater folks who asked if I’d help them produce a Reefer Madness charity concert reading.
They’d produce and direct it and I’d gather up as many of the original cast from the movie and stage productions. I didn’t expect much of a turnout but instead it was oversold with fans watching the concert on closed circuit TV. The love for our musical was clear from a very young and excited audience. We’d become a cult classic. That’s when it struck me that it might be time to do a revival. I approached the writers – told them the idea, looped our original director Andy Fickman in and we got to work.
There were some bumps in the road as well as a pandemic and an actors strike that got in the way – but now here we are and it’s finally happening. If anything, the bumps in the road were gifts – the show couldn’t be more relevant than now. – Christian Campbell – Lead Producer
Production Highlights and Important Information
This all-new Reefer Madness is a non-stop 90 minutes of hysterical satire and show-stopping musical mayhem! All your favorite songs from the movie are back, along with several new ones.
Join us Sundays for our Reefer Brunch and matinee showings where character cosplay is encouraged — you might even find yourself in the show!
After the curtain falls, the adventure continues right there on our immersive set. Come stay at Mae’s place, 420 Elm Street aka The Reefer Den. It’s a 1930’s speakeasy vibe featuring a hot house band with a Postmodern Jukebox vibe, with very special guests from Broadway to LA making surprise and scheduled appearances — you never know who might show up!
The space will also expand, opening out into The Victory Garden, a lush outdoor area connected to The Reefer Den.
Audience members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to Reefer Madness (which includes a complimentary ticket to The Reefer Den and The Victory Garden) or a ticket only for the after-show festivities. As the show says:
“Gotta take the gang out, To the local hangout”
So come build community with us and make the whole Reefer experience your favorite new destination!
Location: The Whitley
6555 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes (no intermission)
Age requirement: all ages are welcome! Some mature themes, parental discretion is advised.
Dress Code: 1930s cosplay encouraged!
Thursday May 30 – Opening Night
Thurs, Fri and Saturdays for 8-weeks: 8pm shows
Sat and Sunday matinees for 8-weeks : 2pm
June 2 (and every Sunday in June) – Pride Drag Brunches
June 2 – Opening Week Celebration @ OG Cannabis Cafe Post Matinee (4pm)
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