Although it has been almost 90 years since William Randolph Hearst created panic with the propaganda film “Reefer Madness,” the movie retains its mark on culture.
The Return of a Cult Classic
Actor and producer Christian Campbell attempted to promote his Los Angeles stage revival of Reefer Madness: The Musical for its 25th anniversary, however, Facebook and Instagram flagged the word “reefer” for reasons that were, perhaps, a little too meta.
Campbell made his debut as Jimmy Harper in Reefer Madness: The Musical in 1999, when it debuted in Los Angeles. The musical, created by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, is a parody of the 1936 propaganda film turned stoner-cult classic. Now, the musical returns home to The Victory Garden.
Campbell says, “The Victory Garden is the outdoor dining and drinking and other post-show experience. We’ve basically created an oasis on Hollywood Boulevard.” He adds, “It’s a beautiful green, lush space. Come on in, relax.”
Campbell is being joined by Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming as producers of the new adaptation, which will be choreographed and directed by Spencer Liff. Anthony Norman and Darcy Rose-Byrnes will play Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane respectively, and a new cast includes Thomas Dekker, Nicole Parker, J. Elaine Marcos, and Brian Daniel Porter.
“Coming back to this, for me, was a no-brainer,” says Bell. “I owe so much of my life to these people and this show.”
Reviving Community and Nostalgia
Moreover, 25 years after the initial musical ran, the crew has officially recreated “The Refer Den,” a cafe next to the musical’s original venue. This was the area of Los Angeles where the cast would congregate after every show, but this time around, it is a fully functioning lounge. The lounge will feature live performances for a whole new community to enjoy.
Bell and Campbell were asked about all aspects of the show including, their favorite memories of working with the others involved. In response, Bell stated, “When I joined the cast, I was asked to audition in New York, and I didn’t show up to my first audition. And some of the New York producers, the Nederlanders who were doing it at the time, said, ‘Well, hold on. She’s worked for us before. Let’s just have her at the callbacks.’ And I don’t think I showed up for my callback either. And then finally, the second call back I showed up, and I still can’t believe that they hired me.”
“My first memory is a very awkward audition for [director] Andy Fickman and Kevin and Dan because I wasn’t really a lover of musical theater,” said Campbell. “I kind of had a bad experience in college with an ex-nun vocal teacher, and that just turned me off from any kind of singing and musical theater… I read the script and heard some of the music, poorly sung by Dan and Kevin. And I just really loved it. I loved the lyrics. I loved what it was about and what it was saying. And so I said, if this is musical theater, I can do this. And so I went on in and apparently, I did a good job.”
As for long-term hopes for the show, Bell says “…What I love about starting in L.A., regardless of where it goes, we will go where the community wants us, the community will show up where this show Is needed. The show offers something so specific. I mean look, it’s 24 years later, I can’t and don’t want to get away from it. There is a lack of high-quality musical theater in L.A., outside of touring companies that come and go. And this is something that’s going to offer you an experience, but also a community to come back to, which I think people in L.A. have a desire for even if they don’t know it yet.”
