Alleyway Theatre lights up the joint

The Alleyway Theatre presents the tongue-in-cheek musical comedy "Reefer Madness" through Nov. 18.

The year is 1936 and the new drug menace "marhihuana" is threatening the American way of life. Love-struck, soda-sipping teens Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane are as wholesome as they come until the slick pusher Jack lures Jimmy back to his Reefer Den to experience "a real party." There, Jimmy encounters Mae, the Reefer Hostess, Ralph, a psychotic, addicted ex-college student, and Sally, who pays for her habit with the only currency she possesses - her generously proportioned body. Watch the nightmare begin to unfold once Jimmy tastes the forbidden fruits of sensual abandon.

Inspired by the legendary 1936 film, "Reefer Madness," this production is the first to combine the best elements of the original stage version with those of the Showtime movie musical.

"Reefer Madness" features Stephanie Bax, Jennifer Caruana, Jeffrey Coyle, Casey Denton, Chris Handley, Kim Piazza and Guy Tomassi. Rounding out the cast are Andrea Dudziak, Christopher Parada, Anna Shoemaker and Micah Stanton. Choreography is by Carlos Jones, with musical direction by Theresa Quinn.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays at 1 Curtain Up Alley, Buffalo. Tickets are $24 general, $12 students, and are available at the box office 45 minutes before show time, online at alleyway.com, or by calling 852-2600, Ext. 0. A pay-what-you-can performance will be held Thursday, Nov. 2.