Debuting Artist: Blake Dorris

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Blake takes the stage for the very first time with OpenStage in Reefer Madness!

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into theatre?

In high school, a friend of mine in freshman math class had theatre class the period before, and would always talk about how much fun it was. I needed an arts credit, so I decided I’d give it a shot. Then I saw that our Fall musical sophomore year was Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite movies as a kid. I auditioned and was cast, and that had me hooked.

How did you first hear about OpenStage, and what drew you to work with us for this show?

I had heard about OpenStage from some of my theatre friends in Cheyenne, and then I did a show with Brian, who is also in Reefer Madness. Knowing a few people who were eyeing these auditions helped put it on my radar, and having seen last season’s Big Fish made me want to work on an OpenStage show.

What is your role in this production, and what excited you most about working on this particular production?

I am playing Ralph, who is basically a comedy version of an addict. I am so excited to work on this show because it’s just big, dumb fun, and everyone in the cast is all in on that, and it’s just a blast.

What has been the most enjoyable or unexpected part of the rehearsal process so far?

I was nervous stepping into a new company with a group of people I’ve never met or worked with, knowing only one person in the cast. But every single person has been genuine and friendly and welcoming, and I was delighted by how quickly they all felt like old friends.

What has been the most challenging part of bringing this character to life?

This character, and the script at large, are really big, taking on what could be difficult subjects with a gleeful, irreverent grandiosity. So walking the line between playing the dark truth of some horrific moment, but also throwing most of the seriousness out the window, all while trying to go as big and, often, as crazy as possible – it’s a lot to take in.

Why do you think Reefer Madness is significant or relevant to audiences today?

It’s actually astonishing how relevant this is. As silly and “just for fun” as it is, there’s an underlying critique of pearl-clutching purity culture. No spoilers, but the message is pretty bluntly portrayed in the ending beats of the show, and the tongue-in-cheek sentiments work as a surprisingly biting commentary on current political issues.

What is your favorite moment or scene in the show, and why does it stand out to you?

It’s hard to pick a favorite moment, but I am partial to the closing number. As referenced above, I think it’s where the play is able to make a serious point while still being funny, the kind of thing that you’ll laugh at but also may feel a bit of a drop in your stomach. And the song is a really fun, energetic number, so it’s got a great alchemy of attributes to it.

If you could swap roles with any other character in this play for a day, who would it be and why?

I think I would choose Mae? She’s sort of the head of the Reefer Den and sort of the first-in-line of the suckers in the Reefer Den. There’s a great tension to her character, which is also borne out in the serious vs. ridiculous line that she walks.

Which song in the show is your favorite? Why do you like that one?

I already called out the finale above, so I’ll cheat a bit and get a second answer here: “Listen To Jesus, Jimmy” might be the song I’ve gotten in my head the most. Doesn’t hurt that I really like the choreography and staging of this one.

What is your favorite play or musical?

My favorite play is Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, and my favorite musical is a three-way-tie between The Last Five Years, Next to Normal, and Hadestown.

What is your favorite role you’ve played in the past? Why was that role special to you?

My favorite role is probably my most recent one: Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! As an actor, I feel that the role challenged me to grow in some of my weaker performance areas in ways that I’m so grateful for. As a character, I find Cornelius’s desire for adventure and his optimistic worldview to be aspirational characteristics. He’s a lovable guy, and I’m so happy I was able to spend some time in his shoes.

Is there a dream role or type of production you hope to work on in the future?

I’m starting to age out of some of my dream roles, unfortunately, but I think you could make a case for Joe Pitt from Angels in America. Otherwise I think I’ll have to age a few more years and then go for Dan Goodman in Next to Normal.

What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not working on theatre projects?

I love to listen to music and podcasts and tinker with playlists on Spotify, and I’m a big fan of card games, so I spend a lot of time watching gameplay videos on YouTube while waiting for the next time I can get together with my friends to play.

 

Reefer Madness

Book by Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney
Music by Dan Studney
Lyrics by Kevin Murphy
Directed by Kenny Moten

November 2–30, 2024
Playing at The Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre

 

Come see Blake take the stage in Reefer Madness
November 2-30!

There is a new menace sweeping the nation, ready to ensnare and seduce the youth and drag them down into a life of sin: Reefer Madness! Inspired by the 1936 propaganda film of the same name, this raucous musical comedy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids, Jimmy and Mary Lane, fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a delirious downward spiral filled with jazz music, sex and violence. Full of camp, hilarity, and mayhem—if you get high on laughter you have come to the right place!

CONTENT WARNING: Adult Language. Adult Situations. For specific content and trigger warnings
contact OpenStage- 970-567-7387.

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