Urinetown, The Musical

When a show has a title like Urinetown, one might expect a work of great vulgarity or at least something of cheap toilet humor, (pun intended!) Was ' newest musical vulgar? Absolutely not!

Urinetown, The Musical, was conceptualized by Greg Kotis when, as a student with limited funds, he traveled across Europe and, for the first time, came face to face with a toilet that you had to pay to use. This inspiring toilet would lead Greg Kotis and composer/lyricist, Mark Hollmann to Tony Award Gold.  In 2002, it was nominated for nine Tony Awards of which it won three – Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and Best Direction of a Musical. The show played in Henry Miller’s Theatre on Broadway from Sept. 20, 2001 to Jan. 18, 2004 running for a total of 965 performances.

So what exactly could this Urinetown, The Musical be about, you ask? It is a satirical musical about capitalism, bureaucracy, politics, corporate misconduct and social responsibility, or better yet, irresponsibility.  Due to a great water shortage, the local government passes a law stating that no one may use a private toilet. Everyone must use public toilets, all of which are controlled by a corporation called “Urine Good Company” (UGC.) Even though these are the only toilets that are in use, you have to pay to pee. Anyone caught breaking the law is then sent to “Urinetown,” a supposed punishment colony from which no one seems to return.

Public Amenity #9 is the dirtiest and poorest urinal in town, where the townsfolk finally take a stand against the large corporation.  Pee for Free! and Flush! Urine Good Company become the battle cries of the toilet oppressed people.  And, if you can believe it, even amidst all of this talk of urine and pee there is a love story that manages to stream its way through.

While I will not give away the ending, suffice to say that this musical does not follow convention.  By the end of the show you are not sure who the villain really is. Is it the corporation? The government? What about the townsfolk?

Urinetown, The Musical, runs Jan. 12-14 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 15 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are only $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.  The Thursday Jan. 12 is a pay-what-you-can performance and the show is family-friendly.

Cast:

Officer Lockstock – Derek Kunz

Penelope Pennywise – Rachel Beauregard

Bobby Strong – David O’Connell

Little Sally – Jenny Cayer

Hope Cladwell – Julie Cox

Mr. McQueen – Austin Mazza-Venditelli

Caldwell B. Cladwell – Seth D’Antuano

Senator Fipp/Hot Blades Harry/Old Man Strong – Andrew Roderick

Soupy Sue/Poor – Emily Partington

Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millenium – Kylie Chartier

UGC Secretary/Poor – Dallas Jacquart

Officer Barrel – Evan Crocker

UCG Ex. 1/Billy Boy Bill – Megan St. Onge

Josephine Strong – Danielle Morgan

UCG Ex. 2/Tiny Tom – Danielle Kurczy

The Poor – Sierra Fetzer, Tiahna Grover & Chloe Cournoyer

Director - Dawn Souza

Musical Director – Derek Doura

Technical Director – Jason Robert LeClair

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