Brown Paper Box Co. Presents REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL Reading, 4/20

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Reefer Madness! The Musical, the One-Night-Only 4/20 Staged Reading, April 20, 2012 at Stage 773.

Based on their four-time BroadwayWorld.com Award-nominated run, The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney's award-winning spoof, REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL, as a staged reading. This one-night-only performance is Friday, April 20, 2012 at Stage 773 (1225 West Belmont Ave.) at 11:30pm. Tickets and information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org.

Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name and based on The Brown Paper Box Co's 2010 sold-out hit, this 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. Wrought with punchy musical numbers and biting political commentary, REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL is a hilarious and highly stylized satirical spoof. Set at a 1936 PTA meeting, the show-within-a-show's Lecturer uses scare tactics, song, dance, and a little heavenly intervention to band his audience against a leafy green assassin - "the real public enemy #1."

"The Brown Paper Box Co. couldn't feel more honored to remount REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL for a second April 20th in a row," says M. William Panek, the show's director and one of The Brown Paper Box Co.'s founding members. "The ability to share Dan & Kevin's wildly clever show with Chicago on this subversively special night has become something of a tradition for us, and we can't wait to tweak the tradition this year by adding new cast members and elements of audience participation."

The cast includes Zev Steinberg* (The Lecturer); Justin Kilduff (Jimmy Harper); Anna Schutz* (Mary Lane); Ashley Klingler (Mae); David Geinosky (Jack Stone); Michael Gardner (Ralph Wiley); Jillian Weingart (Sally); and features Patrick Butterfield*, Megan Ensley, Katherine Glavin, Michelle Kritselis*, Nick Shoda, Daniel Spagnuolo, and Katie Colby* on piano.

This Emmy, Ovation, and Drama Critic Circle Award-winning comedy features a production staff comprised of Chicago-based designers & collaborators: M. William Panek* (Director); Katie Colby* (Musical Direction); Ian James Anthony* (Props Master); Michelle Kritselis* (Dramaturg); and Charlie Sheets* (Poster Designer).

* Denotes The Brown Paper Box Co. company members

Founded in 2010 and based in Chicago, The Brown Paper Box Co. creates thought-provoking and accessible theatrical experiences without the glitz of overproduction. This scaled-down approach allows our artists to deliver an elevated focus on the text.

Who: The Brown Paper Box Co.
What: Reefer Madness! The Musical
The One-Night-Only 4/20 Staged Reading!
Book by Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney
Lyrics by Kevin Murphy, Music by Dan Studney
Where: Stage 773
1225 West Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
When: Friday, April 20, 2012
11:30pm
Prices: $20 - General Seating
Tickets: Please visit www.brownpaperbox.org

Christina Mancuso, a mother of 3, has traveled to well over 70 cities on various Broadway National Tours. She is now residing in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio after spending a year in NYC to support her daughter's Broadway debut. Besides writing, traveling, and mothering, she is a 10-time marathon runner, freelance artist, classical violinist, and a previous Paralegal with over 20 years of writing and research experience. A former Theatre Critic for both Columbus and NYC, Christina is currently the Regional Managing Editor of BroadwayWorld.com and Editor-in-Chief of BWWFitnessWorld.com.

More Articles by This Author...