An unlikely Broadway hit, Urinetown, The Musical takes place in a Gotham-like town that's suffering from a terrible water shortage. In an effort to regulate water consumption, the powers-that-be have outlawed the use of private toilets and all restroom activities are handled by a private corporation, the Urine Good Company (UGC), which is owned and operated by the crooked, iron-fisted Caldwell B. Cladwell. 'Course, peeing comes with a high price tag and any person who refuses to pay for their "private business" is immediately and without question hauled off to Urinetown. What is Urinetown? Nobody seems to know for sure, since the folks who are sent there never return.
The musical is meant to be a comedic satire of the corporate world, with sight gags, parodies of musical theater conventions in general (and Les Misérables specifically) and jokes making fun of the show itself (including its unappealing title). A local production opens this Friday and features Bay area youths who've successfully auditioned for the Palladium Theater's Summer Conservancy. This cast of young actors and actresses (who are supported by youth designers and technicians) are given four weeks to put together a professional show with help from a trio of local professionals; this year, PCCA Gibbs teacher Kevin Renken directs, with musical direction by Karen Bail (also a PCCA teacher) and choreography by Michael Vasallo (St. Pete High School).
Don't be fooled by the age of the cast; these kids have talent and this year's summer production has them singing and dancing amidst one of the conservancy's most elaborate sets to date.
Urinetown, June 30-July 2, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, $15 general/$10 students 18 and younger, 727-822-3590 , www.mypalladium.org.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 4, 2006.
