(CelebrityAccess News Service) — Ideal Entertainment Group and Magic Arts & Entertainment will present the Off-Broadway play The Marijuana-logues, written and performed by Arj Barker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin and directed by Jim Millan at The Actors Playhouse in New York. Previews begin March 18 with the official opening night March 30.
The marijuana-logues is about the rites and rituals of pot. There is a disclaimer: "this production does not glorify drug use–it merely illustrates that cannibus culture can be a thing of sustenance, humor and creativity."
Barker, Benson and Camin are national touring stand-up comics as well as accomplished actors. Shortly after Barker began touring, he placed 4th in the prestigious Seattle Comedy Competition. In 1997, he took his show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it played to sold-out crowds, and he won the coveted Perrier Best Newcomer Award. Since then, he has been seen on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and appears as a regular correspondent on Comedy Central’ s hit show, “Battlebots."
Benson is a stand up comedian and actor whose recent television credits include NBC’s “Friends” and “Late Friday,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” VH1’s “The List” and four appearances on “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.” He contributes to US Weekly’s “Fashion Police” and appears in New Line’s Run Ronnie Run.
Camin, a San Francisco native, has performed for audiences all over the world. A regular in Las Vegas, hehas appeared at the U.S. Comedy Festival and on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and written for several shows on Comedy Central and NBC.
Director Millan hails from Canada. He founded Crow’s Theatre in 1983, which has since produced over 50 new works and numerous tours in Canada and abroad. He is best known for his creation and work on the “Kids in the Hall” show, Same Guys, New Dresses which played five sold-out months across the U.S. and Canada. In 2002, he created and directed the latest “Kids in the Hall” production Tour of Duty, which toured North America and was filmed for pay per view/DVD release. With the “Kids,” he develops and stages new material and also revisits favorite sketches for adaptation to stage. He is the team’s director as they consider future projects.
Ideal Entertainment Group, founded by Jeffrey Chrzczon and A.C. Lichtenstein, is a versatile entertainment company specializing in the management and production of live entertainment. Other current credits include the rock musical Ministry of Progress at the Jane Street Theatre and the international tour of Spider-Man Live!. As president of the theatrical division, Chrzczon has been instrumental in 22 Broadway, Off-Broadway, concert and touring theatrical productions over the past 13 years including Saturday Night Fever, Jekyll & Hyde and Jesus Christ Superstar, among many others. As president of the music division, Lichtenstein acts as manager and agent to The Duke Ellington Orchestra and Motown legend Martha Reeves and The Vandellas.
Lee D. Marshall and longtime partner Joe Marsh have rejoined to form Magic Arts & Entertainment. They have produced and promoted some of the most successful concerts, theatrical and family shows worldwide for the last 20 years, including the National Tours of Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing, Evita, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, The Pointer Sisters Ain’t Misbehavin! and The Gin Game starring Julie Harris and Charles Durning. Concert touring credits:*N SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Barry Manilow Live Tour, STYX-Return to the Paradise Theatre Tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd-Twenty Tour and 98 Degrees.
All tickets are $55; a limited number of $20 “rush” tickets will be available for purchase at the box office each day of performance. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
