Urinetown
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Urinetown is a musical. It debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival, was produced off-broadway and then moved to Broadway, opening at the Henry Miller Theatre on 20 September 2001, its planned opening having been postponed after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. It ran through 18 January 2004. A national tour began in San Francisco on June 13, 2004. The premise is similar to "Gasping" (1990) by Ben Elton, but with toilets rather than air.
The music is by Mark Hollman, lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Greg Kotis.
As explained by the narrator, Officer Lockstock, the story takes place in a city in which water is in such short supply that an evil corporation (Urine Good Company), through manipulation of corrupt politicians, has managed to gain control of all the toilets. Non-use of the Company's "Amenities" is punished severely by the police: offenders are exiled to Urinetown. Amidst the squalor, Bobby Strong gathers a band of the poor and seizes Hope Cladwell, daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell, the president of the UGC. Bobby hopes to bargain with Cladwell in order to obtain free peeing rights for his fellows and the release of his father, who has been sent to Urinetown. Complications arise when he finds himself falling in love with Hope.
As the show moves into its second act, the true meaning of Urinetown becomes more and more menacing to the rich and the poor alike...
The title is sometimes given as Urinetown the Musical.
The play received 2002 Tony Awards for Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical, and was also nominated for Best Choreography, Best Orchestration, and Best Musical. Its stars John Cullum and Nancy Opel were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical. The original cast also included Hunter Foster and Ken Jennings.
External links
- Official site (http://www.urinetown.com)