The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, in partnership with UNL Opera in the Glenn Korff School of Music, presents “Urinetown: The Musical” with music by Mark Hollmann, book by Greg Kotis and lyrics by Hollmann and Kotis.
Performances are April 24-May 4 in Howell Theatre. For showtimes and tickets, visit https://nebraskarep.org.
“Urinetown” is a darkly comedic satire that lampoons corporate greed, social responsibility and the legal system in a dystopian future where water scarcity has led to a ban on private toilets.
The production is directed by Assistant Professor of Practice in Theatre Ann Marie Pollard with Music Direction by Assistant Professor of Voice Suna Gunther.
“Come because it’s a fun, entertaining musical; stay because it’s a thought-provoking take on balancing societal regulation and personal freedoms,” Pollard said. “A comedy about a water shortage with a wide-ranging musical score that is both complex and catchy, and a story with bold, expressive characters, ‘Urinetown’ has become a mainstay of the modern musical theatre canon.”
After a drought, the society in question develops a fee-based system that requires people to use regulated, sanctioned amenities with strict punishment for attempting to relieve oneself elsewhere.
“I know, not the typical expectation for a musical,” Pollard said. “But rest assured, there are heroes, villains, romances, sweeping music, fun dance numbers, and the moral dilemmas of the plot that provide the stakes of heightened theatrical experience. The creators of the show developed the material for 10 years before making their Broadway debut. It’s a tight, well-workshopped and wildly entertaining night at the theatre.”
Pollard said it’s important for the Carson School and Glenn Korff School of Music to collaborate on musical theatre productions.
“Musical theatre is a major part of the entertainment industry. The musicians and theatre makers within the Hixson-Lied College need and want to practice this particular art form while on campus,” she said. “It’s an interdisciplinary genre where our multi-hyphenate students (of which we have many) learn to synthesize their skills. Our singer-focused students build on their acting chops, and our actor-focused students build their musicianship skills. Our designers and technicians work within the style, size, spectacle and energy of a musical score. It’s also a place of great passion for a number of our students within both schools. Bringing members of two schools together to celebrate their shared love for the art form and to level-up their skills together is what the Hixson-Lied College is all about.”
Pollard has enjoyed collaborating with Gunther. The two collaborated in last year’s production of “Big Fish.”
“It’s such a pleasure to collaborate with Suna again as our Music Director and to have Kaleb WIlkening on the team this year as well,” she said. “The cast is truly special. It’s felt like a real team effort where the designers and I are bringing ideas, and the cast is running with them, and vice-versa.”
Pollard said the rehearsals have been fun.
“The characters in the production are so juicy—everyone gets to color outside the lines and make big, bold choices,” she said.
Robbie Exstrom, a senior acting major from Kearney, Nebraska, plays Caldwell B. Cladwell.
“Caldwell B. Cladwell is a determined, passionate and simple businessman, who just happens to force the people in his community to pay him for every time they use the bathroom,” he said. “Though he may be the villain of this musical, he believes he is the good guy and thinks he is genuinely saving the people from their own doomed fate. It is so much fun to embody this powerhouse because Cladwell is very extravagant, opulent and suave, however, he is also very fierce and sometimes cruel. We all have our reasons for having both sides of ourselves, and it is fascinating to explore what it’s like to be this toilet tyrant.”
James Rasser, a senior voice major from Papillion, Nebraska, plays protagonist Bobby Strong.
“Bobby Strong is the hero of the story,” he said. “He’s a really big dreamer, is quick with his words and likes to create some trouble to spark change. At the same time, all of these characters are cartoonish. He has a lot of fun songs I get to perform, which I am very excited about.”
It is Rasser’s first Nebraska Repertory Theatre production.
“The level of artistry displayed by the directors has made the process so much fun,” he said. “The cast is a mixture of music students I’ve known for years, acting students I’m meeting for the first time, and students who are simply here for the love of musical theatre. Each and every one of them is so talented and passionate about making this show their best work. It’s inspiring and humbling to be around so much talent from every corner of the musical theatre realm on campus.”
Brianna Stai, a junior voice major from Lincoln, plays tough warden Penelope Pennywise.
“Penelope Pennywise is the chief custodian at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town,” she said. “She is tough, practical and relentless. She is not afraid to tell you straight, even when the stakes are high. Through the weeks of diving into this character, I have come to learn a lot, not only about Penny, but about myself. She is a strong, confident woman, and I strive to emulate those traits, especially in today’s society.”
Pollard also said the conceit of the show called for lots of work from the lighting, scenic and costume designers and the technical direction teams.
“I’m so excited to see the designs come together as we head into technical rehearsals,” Pollard said. “Sarah Roberts sets the stage with bold, brassy shape and choices. Breaeanna Pierce’s costumes establish a unique world for the characters with art-deco details for the richest members of society and hand-drawn details for the poorest. This production is our lighting designer Caroline Nowak’s thesis project. Caroline has built a many-layered design with a spectrum of lighting instruments from old to new so that we’re using different levels of technology to help tell the story.”
Pollard said there are many references to other musicals throughout the show that should be fun for audiences to identify.
“You’re really getting a taste of some of the great musical theatre classics—from ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ to ‘Guys and Dolls,’” she said. “A musical theatre fan will love picking up on the references and a newcomer will get a sampler of musical theatre song styles.”
Exstrom said audiences should expect a spectacular musical with a little bite to it.
“This show gets into your face by the mere premise of it centering around a bodily fluid, then it gets into your head about how we treat each other in crisis and warns us of how it might go if we are not truly honest with ourselves,” he said. “And finally, it gets into your heart by earning a billowing belly laugh and having two or more songs stuck in your head as you leave the theater. It is—much like the sewer system—multifaceted. Once everyone takes their seat, they are not going to want to leave.”
Stai said the audience should expect a lot more than what the title suggests.
“This show is a dark comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s also incredibly smart and packed with surprises,” she said. “Expect to laugh, expect to cry, and maybe even ask yourself some questions about our own society and the things we may take for granted.”