Brown Paper Box Co. Presents REEFER MADNESS, 4/20

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney's award-winning spoof, REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL, as a one-night remount fundraiser of their sold-out 2010 hit. Performances are Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Studio BE (3110 N. Sheffield Ave.) in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Tickets and information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org or by calling 773.248.5900.

One night. Two performances. Total madness.

Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name and based on The Brown Paper Box Co's 2010 sold-out hit, 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. 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 at Studio BE," says M. William Panek, the show's director and one of The Brown Paper Box Co.'s founding members. "We had a blast during our initial run in October and are thrilled to remount the show for Studio BE's intimate space."

In its own subversive way, REEFER MADNESS! shows the consequences of blindly obeying edicts without questioning the "whys" of decision making. "But don't worry," says Panek, "While the title focuses specifically on marijuana, our show is about the many consequences of exploiting and twisting the public - with a good deal of adult goofery baked in."

The cast of 13 includes Zev Steinberg* (The Lecturer); Tyler Davis (Jimmy Harper); Anna Schutz* (Mary Lane); Marty Scanlon (Jack Stone); Michael Gardner (Ralph Wiley); Jillian Weingart, (Sally); and features Patrick Butterfield, Katherine Glavin, Jasmine Ryan, Sarah Sapperstein, 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); Whitney Havice (Choreographer); Ian Anthony (Props Master/Show Runner); Steph Charaska (Poster Designer); Austin Shapley (Lighting Designer); Zev Steinberg* (Fight Choreographer); Michelle Kritselis* (Dramaturg); and Daniel Spagnuolo (Dance Captain).

* Denotes The Brown Paper Box Co. company members