Members of Iowa Stage Theatre Company loosen up during a choreography rehearsal for Reefer Madness. — photo by Britt Fowler/Little Village; Collage by Kellan Doolittle/Little Village

In two years, the top-notch talent at Iowa Stage Theatre Company have managed to craft a distinct programming style. From classics (such as the Shakespeare on the Lawn franchise and The Glass Menagerie) to the cutting-edge (2024’s Witch), to their current take on a campy classic, ISTC has gained a reputation for dark, daring, actor-centric theater in central Iowa’s already rich theater scene. 

Reefer Madness promises to give audiences a special high while undoubtedly drawing in new ISTC fans. The production will run from Oct. 2 to 11 at the Des Moines Civic Center’s Stoner Theater. 

First released in 1936 as a low-budget anti-cannabis morality play financed by a church group and chock-full of racist subtext, it was bought by Dwain Esper in 1938 and redistributed. In the 1970s, Reefer Madness became a massive late-night cult classic on college campuses. Its original over-the-top melodrama was irresistible satire, brimming with outlandish exaggeration and outright fantasy. In 1998, it was adapted as a musical that skewered the original film’s moral grandstanding. 

With Reefer Madness: The Musical, Des Moines-based artist Michael Tomlinson is making his ISTC directorial debut. In addition to his role as manager of artistic operations for Ballet Des Moines, he teaches musical theater, jazz, ballet and Muller Technique in the area, as well as choreographing numerous musical productions for the Des Moines Playhouse and DMACC Ankeny Theatre. 

Little Village caught up with Tomlinson to extract his feelings about ISTC’s latest joint.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How did Iowa Stage bring you to Reefer Madness?

Reefer Madness is a show that’s been on my radar since 2008. When [Iowa Stage Theatre Company Artistic Director] Alex Wendel floated the idea by me to direct and choreograph this show, I was already interested. I love this show—-it’s kooky in all the best ways. I have choreographed many shows and felt I was ready to take on the added role as director. It couldn’t be more perfect.

The cast of Iowa Stage Theatre Company’s ‘Reefer Madness’ rehearse. — Britt Fowler/Little Village

For the uninitiated, what is the storyline?

We follow this young boy, Jimmy, who is navigating romance with his love interest, Mary. He is coerced to a house of ill-repute and is given a stick of reefer and goes on this wild journey of becoming addicted to the “devil’s lettuce.” The whole story, especially the musical, is super high camp. You have to think about taking this exploitation film from the 1930s, that was all about, “Reefer will turn you into a monster, a zombie.”

What is your vision for this musical?

The concept I’m going for is, this almost cartoon-like world where we can play; with props coming out of posters, ensemble members becoming pieces of furniture or the set. I like to build my shows from the ensemble, especially from scene to scene. It all feeds into the campiness of the show, and almost lends itself into being a political satire about how people used to view people who smoked marijuana.

In researching this show, I watched the original film and it is quite funny. I think that’s why it had that resurgence in the ’70s, because of how comical it was. What I like about it becoming a musical is that you get to expand on that, the comedic side of the story. As a dancer, being a musical, I wanted to create something highly choreographed [where] I can bring in those elements of comedy. I have a really great cast who embraces my background as a dancer, as they explore how this character walks, or how this character makes his entrance, or in dancing numbers in how to make it really characterized. This allows us to pull out parts of the story that make sense through movement.

As a mover and choreographer, I think movement always plays a big part of how I like to tell a story, even in the moments that are simply blocking or characters on stage speaking dialogue. I have tons of ideas about how this character comes into the space, how they present themselves throughout the show, or how they just move from an internal place.

Is there a message beyond the entertainment?

There’s so much research now about how marijuana can be helpful for people with certain illnesses or mental health issues. One of the things about this show that is important to me is shining a light on how crazy some of the mindsets around marijuana can be and why that is absurd, especially for something that is now almost akin to drinking liquor. I don’t want to get on a soapbox or get political, but there’s so much research out there and we can open people’s eyes.  

Event details:

Iowa Stage Theatre Company: Reefer Madness, Stoner Theater, Des Moines, Oct. 2-11

---

The infamous opening scroll text in Reefer Madness (1936)

The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug — a violent narcotic — an unspeakable scourge — The Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations — space expands — time slows down, almost stands still…. Fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances — followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions… leading finally to acts of shocking violence… ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose…. Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter… or yours… or YOURS!

This article was originally published in Little Village’s September 2026 issue.