Imagine a 20-year drought and public toilets controlled by mega-corporations. Throw in a cast of rebellious characters who break into song as they demand free access for the people and are chased by police through the sewers, and you can only begin to imagine the fun that some West Virginia University students and professors are having as they presentUrinetown, the Musicalat the WVU Creative Arts Center April 17-26.
Calledelevated silliness of the highest orderby a reviewer in Newsday, Urinetown treads a fine line between parody and satire with ease, while making sure not to alienate the audience with itsbad subject matter.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly April 17, 18 and 21-25 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre. In addition, there will be matinee performances at 2 p.m. April 19 and 26.
Urinetownis a joint production of the WVU Division of Music and the Division of Theatre and Dance and is being directed by Lee Blair, assistant professor of theater.
The Tony Award-winning musical premiered in 1999 at the New York International Fringe Festival, moving to off-Broadway in early 2001 and finally to Broadway, opening Sept. 20, 2001. The music and lyrics are written by Mark Hollman, and the book and lyrics are by Greg Kotis.
The idea came to Kotis during a trip to Europe. A traveling student on a budget, he had to choose between urinating and eatingas pay-per-use toilets are common there.
The musical cleverly parodies and pays homage to shows such asLes Miserables,West Side Story,Fiddler On The Roof,EvitaandAnnie,among others.
It also satirizes capitalism , social irresponsibility, populism , bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and petty small town politics .
Theres even a love story, and unexpected plot twists will keep audience members on the edge of their seats.
Songs includeIts a Privilege to Pee,Follow Your Heart,Look at the Sky,Dont be the Bunny,Run, Freedom, Run,Why did I Listen to that Man?Tell her I Love Her,Were Not Sorry,I See a Riverand others.
The cast ofUrinetown, the Musicalincludes theater students Mike Baker, Tracy Toman, Jake Brady, MaryJoanna Grisso, Brian Edelman, Kellsye Carnill, Brandon Pro, Ian Cicco, Matthew Link, Dan Stevens, Taylor Ferrera, Brittany Jo Sowards, McKinley Sayre, Melissa Allen, Katarina Whitmarsh, Matthew Webster, Laura Peters, Dan Evans, Chasdan Mike and Carol Leigh Womack.
Musical director is Robert Thieme, music professor and director of WVU s Opera Theatre. Choreographer is Heather Ahern, director of the WVU Dance program, assisted by student choreographers Bethany Fisher and Rachel Romero. Costume supervisor is theater professor Mary McClung, and costume designer is student Hannah Wold.
Set designs are by theater professor Bob Klingelhoeffer, and lighting design is by student Karen Muller. Sound designer is theater professor Alan McEwan, and technical director is theater professor Dan Wilson, assisted by student Ben Jones. Stage manager Katie Kennedy is assisted by theater students Jesse Delbert, Logan Garrett and Alison Recht, and properties master is theater student Matt Laird.
Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for senior citizens and WVU faculty and staff, and $10 for WVU students with ID.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 304-293-SHOW or visiting the WVU box offices at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center. They are also available through Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com .
(NOTE:Urinetown: The Musicalcontains adult themes and language.)