Reefer Madness

October 2024

IU Theatre + Dance

By Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney

Directed by Richard Roland

Choreographed by DJ Gray

“This musical comedy based on the 1930’s ‘B movie’ takes a satirical look at what happens when evil jazz and menacing marijuana turn clean-cut kids into raging delinquents!”

Dramaturgy Website

Program Note

Lobby Display

This lobby display was inspired by the seemingly eternal experience of a student in a high school drama club asking their parents to put together a display table the night before. Clashing, while somewhat complementary, green patterned fabrics were sewn into a backdrop and Americana-style bunting.

The sign and pamphlets (this show’s variation of a program note) were designed to mimic language that attempted to cloud the truth surrounding marijuana use. Reefer Madness attempts to convince the audience that their over-the-top falsehoods are the truth, so I designed the dramaturgical materials to do the opposite. While the pamphlet included my note and actual facts about marijuana, the decor and signage blurred the presentation of the truth to intrigue the audience enough to engage.

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