Debuting Artist: Laurel Ladzinski

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Laurel joins the production team for the very first time with OpenStage in Reefer Madness!

 

Can you share a bit about your background and how you first became involved in theatre design?

I randomly picked lighting design after committing to attending CSU for my bachelor’s degree. I thought I was going to work in music education, and then decided that I wanted something that was a little more diverse. My advisory counselor said that he had majored in lighting design, so I told him to just sign me up. Best risk I ever took!

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

I actually served Sydney at the Moot House, where I work as a server and bartender in town, and she gave me her number. I’ve been crossing circles with her ever since, including my nail tech being one of her stagehands, so we finally connected to work on this show together.

What is your specific role or area of expertise for this show, and what excited you the most about working on this production?

My specific role is the lighting designer, which means my job is to immerse the audience in the show and give it some energy to support the story. I am in charge of atmospherics, color, brightness, and shadows, which are all important elements to set the scene and translate emotions to the audience. I am really excited to make my debut and meet other professional theatre performers and tech folk locally and make my mark on OpenStage!

What is the most interesting or unique aspect of your design/technical work for this production?

Most lighting designers hate using the color green — it makes the performer’s skin look sickly, it’s hard to create a color palette, and most fixtures don’t have the capability of mixing good hues of green. Because the show is about marijuana, I’m excited to explore this “taboo” color in my Lighting Design and challenge myself by using color to foreshadow and amplify.

Can you describe any particular challenges you’ve faced while working on this show, and how you’ve overcome them?

I love Kenny’s vision to bring the show to the audience, and lighting the house aisles was probably the most difficult part of this production! There are limited hanging areas in the house, which means we had to get creative and mount some of the fixtures on the actual infrastructure of the building in order to get the angle we needed.

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

Reefer Madness is a show about misinformation, creating a villain out of something because it’s not widely understood. I feel that especially in our political and social climate, it’s easy to fall into jumping on the bandwagon without doing your own proper research. I hope this show will encourage people to look into statistics and remove fear from the things they don’t understand.

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

Honestly, it’s hard to pick just one memorable moment, but I will say that there was a lot of laughter among the cast and crew. I enjoyed getting to know everyone during tech week. Putting on a show can be stressful, but enjoying those moments of laughter made it much easier!

Who is your favorite character in the show and why?

I love Mae! Her character arc is definitely my favorite because she learns to stand up for herself and take a stand to fight for what she feels is right. You’ll be excited to see what she does with that confidence!

Do you have a favorite song in the show? If so, which one and why?

You can’t go wrong with “The Brownie Song”. It’s such a silly way to start Act 2, and I think the choreography and the lights came together really well in this production to make that song pop!

What is your favorite play or musical?

There are so many plays and musicals that I have fallen in love with for different reasons, but the one that stands out the most to me is Come From Away. That show is so impactful, both because of the story and the technical elements. I’ve seen it three times now and worked on it as a spotlight operator once, and I have never not cried watching it!

What is one of your favorite designs or technical achievements from your career so far, and what made it special to you?

Honestly, my design for Spring Awakening in 2022 is one of my favorite shows I’ve ever worked on. It was my first major main stage musical, and I learned a lot of lessons during that show and pushed the boundaries of both my lighting equipment and my confidence. I also placed nationally for that design, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

What upcoming projects or roles are you excited about?

I am designing Oklahoma for the Candlelight Dinner Theatre which opens in January, and I’m super excited to work with a new director and in a new space to make that story come to life!

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

I am actually working on quite a few books right now of various genres, and I’m looking to publish a poetry book in the next year or so! I also do professional photography on the side, for both headshots and weddings. If it’s related to the arts, I’ve probably done it!

 

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 Laurel’s work 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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