REEFER MADNESS:
THE MUSICAL
Book by Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney
Music by Dan Studney
Lyrics by Kevin Murphy
Directed by Jeremiah Heitman
The award-winning Reefer Madness musical was inspired by the notorious -- and deliciously awful -- 1936 anti-marijuana film originally titled Tell Your Children. A smarmy lecturer arrives in a typical small town of the late '30s to warn the populace of the dangers of the "evil weed," bringing along a lurid propaganda production to dramatize his message. In broad, unsubtle, and hilarious strokes, the play-within-a-play shows how even a squeaky-clean pair of highschoolers named Mary Lane and Jimmy Harper can become hopeless dope addicts by succumbing to the lure of marijuana. Reefer Madness: The Musical is not only a savage skewering of the original black-and-white movie (some of the musical's campiest lines are taken directly from the earlier script!), but also a devastating attack on what playwrights Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney consider to be the real reason that the 1936 movie was made: to frighten the public out of their wits in order to keep them under the thumb of an oppressive government. Some memorable songs include "Romeo and Juliet,” “The Stuff,” “Down at the Ol' Five and Dime,” “Listen to Jesus Jimmy,” “Mary Jane/Mary Lane,” “The Brownie Song,” “Tell 'Em the Truth,” and the title number.
The cast includes: Alyssa Bonanno, Brian Brown, Jared Cantrell, Caroline Clark, Alex Cullen, Jessica Delcid, Diego Flores, Samantha Gonzales, Jeremiah Heitman, Jay-Ar Ignacio, Austin Jallo, Kamala Kruszka, Taylor Lozano, Paul Sosa, and Veronica Surber.
Performances are June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 8PM, with 2PM Sunday matinees on June 15 and 22. Call 327-PLAY to make reservations! 

TO MAKE A RESERVATION CALL (661) 327-PLAY or Click here

Little Red Riding Hood  

June 21st and 28th  
at 11 AM and 2 PM
At the Empty Space Theatre
706 Oak Street in Bakersfield
Admission is $4 per person over the age of 2

The classic fairy tale about the little girl who couldn't stay on the path.  A raucous re-telling featuring a Big Bad Wolf who sings Elvis and a woodcutter who makes friends with a swarm of killer bees.  Red's opening song, "What a Great Day for an Adventure" says it all.
40 minutes - Recommended for ages 3 and up.

TO MAKE A RESERVATION CALL (661) 327-PLAY or Click here

THE ROCKY HORROR ZOMBIE SHOW
 
Since 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been corrupting America's youth, and we're proud to continue this tradition of sexual debauchery here in Bakersfield, California. Jaden Snow Productions proudly presents The Velvet Darkness: Bakersfield's Rocky Horror Experience. We perform quarterly at The Empty Space Theatre, and our next show will be our Rocky Horror Zombie Show which celebrates 5 continuous years of Rocky in Bakersfield.
 
Performances are on Friday, the 13th and Saturday, the 14th of June. This show incorporates over 100 horror movies which have been added to the traditional cult classic and is sure to be a bloody good time. Tickets are $11.00 and include a poncho for those of you lucky ghouls who sit in the splatter zones! Dress up in your best zombie attire; we’re dying for you to join us!
 
Don’t dream it at home; be it in the theatre!

TO MAKE A RESERVATION CALL (661) 327-PLAY or Click here

TES GALLERY
 
Join The Empty Space Gallery for "Freak Out!," our June Art Show. This group exhibit, featuring psychedelic and multi-colored artwork, runs with the June production of Reefer Madness: The Musical. This exciting art show features work by a variety of artists using many mediums, including marker and felt, digital imagery and photography, painting, and drawing. Be sure to see Freak Out! this month at The Empty Space.

The Empty Gallery is committed to bringing thought provoking and forward thinking exhibits to our community featuring solo, group and installation art shows.  We honor professionalism, integrity and creativity in our exhibits, performances, and programs.  Our gallery is open thirty minutes prior to regular performance times and by appointment.  To make an appointment or for more information, please call 327-PLAY. 

Omnipresent Puppet Theater will perform its production of “The Three Little Pigs” as a fundraiser for The Empty Space Theatre in Plymouth Hall at the First Congregational  United Church of Christ at Real Road and Stockdale Highway at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 14.
 
Admission to the show is $3.00 per person.  There will also be a number of raffles, including a 26-inch mountain bike, an Omnipresent Puppet show for your birthday party or event, and tickets for the Bakersfield Condors.  Doors open at 12:30 p.m. All proceeds go to benefit The Empty Space Theatre.

THE EMPTY SPACE’S SUMMER PICNIC & BASKET AUCTION!
“A picnic for all ages to benefit The Empty Space!”
Saturday, June 21st
1-4pm at Jastro Park
 
In an effort to bring back the annual “theatre picnics” of the past, The Empty Space would like to extend an invitation to all the theatres around town as well as ALL Bakersfield artists and their families! There will be lunch, games, prizes, raffles, face painting, and a preview performance of Reefer Madness: The Musical (family-friendly scenes only, of course!) To top it off, we’ll be auctioning off some delicious picnic baskets filled with homemade desserts and baked goods. Come hang out, eat, support the arts, catch up with old friends, and make some new ones! Bring water balloons and squirt guns to cool off afterwards!
 
Picnic Lunch:
$6 adults
$4 kids
(includes hot dogs, chips, fruit, and lemonade. A la carte items available as well).
 
Please RSVP at 327-PLAY to help us get an idea of how many people to expect. We’d love to see as many local artists in attendance as possible, so spread the word to your friends and family!
 

 
AUDITIONS: BARE, THE MUSICAL
Directed by Jeremiah Heitman and Kristina Saldaña
 
This edgy, innovative rock musical is told mostly through song, so come prepared with a selection in a Broadway pop/rock style to sing a cappella. We also ask you to bring a list of all known conflicts from June 15th through October 5th. You may be asked to read from the show or attend a call-back.
 
Visit www.barethemusical.com for a synopsis and song samples. Music and videos are also available on MySpace Music and YouTube. Please e-mail KristiCo11@bak.rr.com or Preacherlad@yahoo.com if you have additional questions.
 
Audition Times: Saturday, June 14, Noon-3:00pm; Sunday, June 15, 5-7:00pm
Performance Dates: September 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28; October 3 & 4.
 
The Cast
JASON - Handsome golden child of St. Cecilia's senior class (already cast)
PETER - Introspective; Jason's clandestine boyfriend
IVY - Pretty and popular; insecure
NADIA - Jason's pudgy, sardonic twin sister
MATT - Studius and pious; Jason's academic rival.
LUCAS - The school's fun-loving purveyor of altered reality
TANYA - African-American; Lucas's girlfriend
KYRA - African-American student; sexy
DIANE - Asian student, very naive
RORY - Student, sarcastic
ZACK - Student, jock type
ALAN - Student, nerdy
CLAIRE - Peter's mother
SR. CHANTELLE - African-American nun; wise, no-nonsense
PRIEST - St. Cecilia's headmaster

Do you need a unique venue for your next sales presentation? Perhaps you would like a special setting for your child’s little league awards ceremony. Find out how you can rent The Empty Space for a super-low flat rate.

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