AUDITIONS: REEFER MADNESS: The Musical

AUDITIONS: REEFER MADNESS: The Musical

Playing in the Long Beach Playhouse’s Studio Theater

Music and Book by Dan Studney, Lyrics and Book by Kevin Murphy

Directed by Rovin Jay

Choreographed by Sonya Randall

Musical Direction by Stephen Olear

AUDITION DATES:  Aug. 3 – 5, 2026

• Monday, August 3, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm: Open Call
• Tuesday,  August 4, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm: Open Call
• Wednesday,  August 5, 2026 – 7pm – 11pm: Callbacks – By invitation only.

(Auditioners only need to come to one night of open call auditions.  We are only seeing in-person auditioners during audition times – no video submissions. Auditioners will be seen on a first come, first serve basis determined by when they signed-in at the Open Call.)

PERFORMANCE DATES:  Oct. 10 – Nov. 15, 2026

AUDITION NOTICE:

TITLE: REEFER MADNESS: THE MUSICAL 

AUTHOR: Book, Music & Lyrics by Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney 

DIRECTOR: Rovin Jay

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Stephen Olear

CHOREOGRAPHER: Sonya Randall

RUN:  October 9 – November 15, 2026

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. Special performances on Thursday and Sunday nights may be added for private parties and special events.

This is a volunteer community theater production.  Non-Equity.  There is no pay.

AUDITION DATES:

Open Call:

Dates: Monday, August 3 & Tuesday, August 4, 2026

(Auditioners only need to come to one night of Open Call Auditions.)

Times: 7pm – 9pm

Location: Long Beach Playhouse  

Callbacks, by Invitation Only:

Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Time: 7pm – 11pm 

REHEARSALS:

First Read-Through: Saturday, August 8, 2026, Noon – 4pm.

Regular Rehearsal: 

August 10 – October 8, 2026

Mondays through Thursdays, 7pm – 10pm

Saturdays, 11am – 4pm

Possible Sundays (if needed), 6pm – 9pm 

(Please see beginning rehearsal schedule BELOW for specific dates and times.)

Location: Long Beach Playhouse

NOTE: Open to working with some limited minor conflicts, but we will not be casting people with conflicts on tech dates and performances.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Bring headshot and resume. 

Singing auditions: please prepare 16 bars of a musical theater or pop/rock song that showcases your voice in the style of the show (no Sondheim or Jason Robert Brown, please.) An accompanist will be provided, so please bring sheet music that is in your key, clearly prepared, indicating where you start and stop. No tracks or a cappella.

Be prepared to dance.

Sides for cold readings will be provided at the auditions/callbacks.

SHORT SYNOPSIS:  

A wildly irreverent satirical musical comedy based on the infamous 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film. Narrated by a pompous Lecturer, the show follows all-American teenager Jimmy Harper as he’s lured into a reefer den and his wholesome life spirals into deception, obsession, and madness. Outrageous and over-the-top. It’s 1930s camp, gangster movies, and musical theater madness colliding with sharp wit and a killer score.

CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:

All roles are open. Long Beach Playhouse encourages actors of all backgrounds, gender identities, and abilities to audition.

NOTE:  REEFER MADNESS is a hilarious, over-the-top adult musical comedy like the Rocky Horror Show that contains simulated drug use, and comedic, simulated orgy-like scenes as well as simulated sexual scenes.  Please read the script before auditioning to make sure you are comfortable doing a show like this.  Due to the adult nature of the show, no one under the age of 18 will be cast.

JIMMY HARPER (M, Tenor, 18-24): A wholesome, innocent student who runs into trouble after he’s lured into the dangerous world of reefer. Must sing, act, and move well. (Intimacy requirements – kisses MARY LANE multiple times, simulated sexual moments with SALLY.)

MARY LANE (F, Soprano, 18-24): Jimmy’s pure and devoted sweetheart; naïve and bright. Must sing, act, and move well. (Role requires being seen in underwear – bra and panties. Intimacy requirements – kisses JIMMY multiple times; has simulated dominatrix/BDSM sexual moments with RALPH.)

THE LECTURER (Any, Baritone, 35-55): A pompous authority figure who frames the action as a cautionary tale. Dry comic presence. Must own the stage. Must sing. (Plays multiple different roles in the show.  Role as GOAT MAN/SATYR in Bacchanal requires being seen bare-chested in a skimpy satyr costume.)

JACK STONE (M, Bass/Baritone, 25-40): The villain. Handsome, slick, charismatic drug pusher. A 1930s gangster movie-type. Strong comic actor; must sing. (Also Plays JESUS – roles requires being seen shirtless in a loincloth.)

MAE (F, Mezzo/Soprano, 25-40): Jack’s attractive, sharp, and world-weary girlfriend. Powerful belt. Must sing and move.

RALPH WILEY (M, Baritone/Tenor, 18-30): A dopey, lovable stoner. A fraternity man whose college days ended long ago due to his reefer habit. Very funny. Strong physical comedy. Must sing. (Intimacy requirements – has simulated dominatrix/BDSM sexual moments with MARY LANE.)

SALLY DeBOWER (F, Mezzo-Soprano, 18-30): Vivacious, free-spirited “reefer girl” with the soul of Mae West and the moxie of a vintage Barbara Stanwyk. High energy comic role. Must sing and move. (Intimacy requirement: simulated sexual moments with JIMMY.)

PLACARD GIRL (F, Soprano/Mezzo, 18-30): Interacts with and reinforces the Lecturer’s warnings by holding large moral-message signs throughout the production. Strong mover; must sing.

ENSEMBLE: Churchgoers, students, junkies and much more. Strong singers who move well. All ages. All voice types.  (Ensemble members will be seen as belly dancers and “jungle orgy” dancers in revealing harem/cabaret style clothing. Intimacy requirements – simulated, group “orgy-like“ activity in the Bacchanal; “lascivious” style dancing and grinding in “Five and Dime.”)

BEGINNING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: