CANNABIS! A VIPER VAUDEVILLE Returns to NYC: The Rebellious Musical Hits Joe’s Pub for Two Electrifying Nights
From Off-Broadway to Cultural Phenomenon, the Immersive Concert Reclaims the Plant’s Radical Roots
When CANNABIS! A VIPER VAUDEVILLE first premiered at La Mama’s Ellen Stewart Theatre, it wasn’t just another Off-Broadway production—it was a revolution. Now, the critically acclaimed musical experience returns to New York City for two special performances at Joe’s Pub on July 9th and 10th, and it’s more timely than ever.
Created by visionary artists Baba Israel and Grace Galu, CANNABIS! is a genre-defying immersive concert that takes audiences on a multi-sensory journey through the plant’s complex and vibrant cultural history. Fusing elements of hip-hop theatre, vaudeville, and concert performance, the show features music by icons such as Bob Marley, The Beatles, Cab Calloway, and original compositions that pulse with urgency, soul, and joy.
But make no mistake—this isn’t your average musical. CANNABIS! is a political and emotional awakening, re-centering the stories of those who have fought, suffered, and healed through the plant. The narrative shines a spotlight on trailblazers like Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary, LGBTQIA+ activists who were instrumental in the medical cannabis movement, and Black and brown communities who bore the brunt of the War on Drugs.
As Jaime Lubin wrote in her original Honeysuckle review of the Off-Broadway run, “We’re not in tongue-in-cheek Reefer Madness territory here; instead, we’re flipping the script to understand the plant through the eyes of those communities who have suffered most.”
A Cultural Experience That Demands to Be Felt
Set to the rhythm of funk, soul, jazz, and protest anthems, CANNABIS! invites its audience not just to watch but to move, reflect, and act. The ensemble cast—including Courtney Cook, Grace Galu, Baba Israel, Robert Knowles, Osei Kweku, Sean Nowell, Juan Carlos Polo, and “Duv”—brings magnetic energy to every moment. Standout performances from Galu as the shape-shifting Sativa Diva and Israel as the Magical Mystical MC embody the heart of the show: transformation through truth and resistance through rhythm.
Costume designer Kate Fry’s layered gowns, which unfold as the eras shift, projection mapping that simulates a euphoric high, and the pulsating work of the Soul Inscribed band elevate the show into a multidimensional experience.
Joe’s Pub: A New Stage, A Bigger Vision
The show’s July 9–10 engagement at Joe’s Pub, located at The Public Theater in downtown Manhattan, marks a new chapter for CANNABIS! as the team prepares for a large-scale commercial run in New York City. These two nights offer a rare chance to witness the magic in an intimate setting before it explodes onto an even bigger stage.
Showtimes:
July 9th & 10th, 2025
9:30 PM (Doors open at 9 PM)
Joe’s Pub @ The Public Theater, NYC
Reclaiming the Narrative
More than just entertainment, CANNABIS! is a rallying cry. At its La Mama performances, the creators invited local advocates onstage nightly to speak about social equity, cannabis policy, and the injustices still being endured by incarcerated individuals. The show embodies its values both on and off stage—reminding us that healing and justice are entwined.
As Baba Israel told Playbill, “Our nation has a long history of using the criminalization of this drug against communities of color… It’s time to reclaim what belongs to those who always understood what cannabis could do.”
From La Mama to the Mainstream
What began as a boundary-pushing Off-Broadway production has quickly become a cultural force. CANNABIS! has already drawn comparisons to Hamilton for its historical depth, Hair for its political boldness, and still stands entirely on its own as a uniquely immersive journey through time, trauma, celebration, and healing.
This is history with a beat. A musical with a mission. A plant’s story, finally told right.
Stay Connected:
🌐 vipervaudeville.com
📸 @cannabis_a_viper_vaudeville_
Read our previous coverage here!
Join us at Joe’s Pub to feel the rhythm of rebellion—and the music of liberation.
