Musical pits corporations, government against citizens' privacy

by Catherine Coke, High School theater teacher

An explanation of the plot and meaning of "Urinetown: The Musical."
The cast of "Urinetown: The Musical" has learned many of the large musical numbers, including songs and choreography, within the past week as well as many of the smaller, more intimate pieces as well. We’re well on our way to a great production.

What is this show? Set in a world 20 years after a major ecological disaster a corporation working in cahoots with the government controls the water supply and, by extension, the private necessity of the people to urinate. The corporation charges a fee, and if people can’t pay, then they can’t relieve themselves. Finally, the populace has had enough, and they revolt. The outcome is unexpected.

Why the choice of this musical at this time? The story told and the issues raised in "Urinetown: The Musical" may have been prescient in 2001, but today they are evermore becoming a reality. In our real world, corporations and government have increasingly more access to our private lives. This show is an imaginative extension of reality, which is logical. It may sound like serious stuff, but handled deftly by its creators, the musical incorporates dark humor, satire, and lively numbers, which are in themselves an homage to many musical stylists including Brecht & Weill, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and many other Broadway show-stoppers.  

Performances are: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 and Thursday, Nov.  3; 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Tickets are free for students, faculty, staff, and Tiger Arts Patron members. They are $5 for the general public. Advanced purchase and reservations will be available online after fall break and encouraged because seating is limited.
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