URINETOWN

TOWN HALL ARTS CENTER: JAN 26 – FEB 25

 

Damon Guerrasio and Lexi Lubotsky (photo credit: RDG Photography)

YOU’RE GONNA BE SO PISSED AT YOURSELF IF YOU MISS “URINETOWN!”

 

With Music by Mark Hollman and lyrics by Hollman and Greg Kotis, URINETOWN’s book is also by Kotis. This wonderfully quirky musical was nominated for nine Tonys and won three, including Best Book for a Musical and Best Score.

    Urinetown: the Musical is a satirical work that sends up everything from local politics to corporate greed. It also parodies the American musical itself, poking fun at such musicals as Les Miserables and The Three Penny Opera.

     Greg Kotis’ inspiration for the project was his discovery that a poor student (himself) traveling in Europe had to pay to use “les toilettes payants,” which the students call “les pissoirs.”

     As directed by Robert Michael Sanders, the show is cast beautifully and paced like a galloping racehorse! (Act One just flies by!)

     The incredible cast is chock-full of wonderful musical theatre actors.

     Damon Guerrasio (Marlowe Award for his performance in “Bullets Over Broadway,”) is Officer Lockstock, the narrator. His singing/recitatif of “Too Much Exposition” at the top of the show, is sensationally funny.

     As the amusingly annoying brat, Little Sally, Lexi Lubotsky shines! 

     Jake Bell is our hero, Bobby Strong.  This actor’s singing of “Look at the Sky” and “Run, Freedom, Run,” exhilarate.

     Anne Terze-Schwerze proves to be a musical theatre Star as Hope Cladwell.  Her gorgeous soprano gives us renditions of “Follow Your Heart” and “I See a River” that are ribbons of auditory bliss.

     Liz Brooks is appropriately over the top abrasive as Penelope Pennywise singing “It’s a Privilege to Pee.”

 Ms. Brooks is one of the most formidable musical theatre performers in town. Recent examples are her performances in “Nice Work if You Can Get it” and “Carousel” at Performance Now.

     Jim Hitzke as the greedy Caldwell B. Cladwell shows us just how effective the ‘trickle down’ theory is in Urinetown.    His singing and dancing of “Don’t be the Bunny” are most memorable.

     Mark Shonsey (Marlowe Award for his portrayal of Igor in Young Frankenstein.) is hilarious as Lockstock’s side-kick, Officer Barrel. His mugging and chortling were golden.

     Sam Barrosso, Isabella Duran, Carter Edward Smith, Eliot Clough and Ryan Buehler enhance the proceedings.

    It’s a treat having Ronni Stark doing choreography. Her delicious send-ups of Les Mis and Fiddler on the Roof are the genuine article!

     Jesse Page’s costume design and Dustin Hartley’s and Mike Haas's ramshackle scenic design were both spot on.  The very fine lighting design is courtesy of Mandy Heath.

     Maestro Curt Behm created the awesome sound design.

     The band was uniformly great, too! However, one must make mention of Michael Rosen on reeds. Whether on clarinet or saxophone, Mr. Rosen spiked the show to a level of musical excellence that was awe-inspiring.

     Music director Dan Graeber did a great job!  The choral work was spectacular!

 

For tickets call: 303-794-2787

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