Sex, drugs and choreography

What do Jesus, marijuana and the soundtrack of the 1930s have in common?

They'll all be a part of the environment in UNC's Forest Theatre starting tonight, as Company Carolina presents "Reefer Madness" at the outdoor venue at 8:30 p.m.

The musical is based on the 1936 film, "Tell Your Children," essentially a propaganda video stressing the evils of marijuana use in an exaggerated manner.

"Anyone exposed to the reefer loses any semblance of goodness in their lives," explained Kelsey Reinhard, a freshman who plays Mary Lane in Company Carolina's play.

Reinhard's character experiences the alleged moral decline that stems from marijuana use, she said.

"The fun part for me is getting to be bubbly and girly but then making a complete change," she said.

"Reefer Madness" is largely faithful to the original screenplay, but UNC alumnus Will Halman, who plays Jesus in the performance, said that makes it more of a satire.

"The movie, just by being as old as it is, is satirical," Halman said. "Here it's often line-by-line the same as the movie, but it's not just the movie set to song. I mean look at me, I'm playing Jesus in the show."

Indeed, there is no Christ figure in the original film - Company Carolina has tried to make the highly acclaimed show its own.

Part of that personalization includes hosting the show in an outdoor venue.

"The two main differences are adjusting to the size difference, and sort of tied to that, the problems with projecting," said junior Paul Nguyen, who narrates the performance. "Thankfully a lot of us are going to be miked."

But Reinhard said the space difference can still be a remarkably positive change.

"There's so much more space to create a world for your character," she said.

And anyone who's indulged in the musical's flora of choice might agree that world wouldn't be complete without music.

"The play takes place in the '30s, so a lot of the music is swing and big band jazz," said Charles Cleaver, the show's musical director. "But it's also a comedy, and there are some anachronistic elements in the music."

Cleaver and three other musicians will perform the music on stage surrounded by a set that includes four-foot-tall marijuana plants.

The crew spent Wednesday before rehearsal working on the set, rolling drums onto the stage and passing around wires to hook up lights.

"It's been a scramble this week to get lights and sound and stuff integrated into the show," said Halman, who added he's usually a member of the crew, not the cast.

"But this is a new thing for me, and it's really exciting."