Urinetown - Newark Central Schools

“Urinetown”
“What kind of musical is this?”
It’s a satirical comedy.
About greed.
Corruption.
Love.
Anger.
Revolution.
Change.
Urinetown.”
There is simply no getting around the fact that the
name of this Tony-award winning musical production is
well . . . just plain unappealing.
But don’t let the title fool you and keep you from seeing
this dynamic show that will be presented at Newark High
School March 7-9 because it is packed with great songs, dance,
laughter and talent.
“I was terribly put off by the title for more than five
years and I didn’t want to see the show,’’ recalled Director
Steve Duprey, who is now in his thirteenth year of directing
award-winning musicals and plays at NHS. “But after I read
the script, I realized the title is meant to foster a discussion, to
be provocative and bring people in.”
“Urinetown,” that was nominated for 10 Tony awards
in 2001 and won three of them for Best Book, Best Score and
Best Direction, does have a compelling message.
It’s a satirical comedy about greed, corruption, love
and revolution.
Set in an undisclosed city where water is verrrrry scarce
after a 20-year drought and verrrrry expensive, the local
government bans the use of private toilets to reduce water
consumption.
Citizens are forced to comply and pay to use public facilities, regulated by the monopolistic, malevolent Urine Good Company (UGC) that profits
exceedingly from charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs.
After deciding he’s had enough, a hero, who has fallen in love with the daughter of the CEO of Urine Good Company, arises and plans a revolution!
Read more about the show here: http://www.newarkcsd.org/Page/4785
Duprey is not the first director to do the show at a high school in the region.
It was done at Fairport High School in 2010; at Brighton and North Rose-Wolcott high schools last year and is being done at Waterloo High School
this March 14-15.
And the Phelps-Clifton Springs Community Theatre did the show in 2006.
“This show has a lot to say,’’ Duprey said. “I have always believed there is more to theatre than entertainment. It educates. It excites. It provokes. It
starts conversations. I think this show does that. The message is clear and strong, yet there is wonderful sense of comedy in the show as it deals with very
serious subjects.’’
Duprey has also been pleased about the discussions that have sparked among cast members at rehearsals “about the way we treat and value our
natural resources _ especially in light of the serious drought in California that is forcing people to greatly conserve water usage.” Learn more here: http://
www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24998683/california-drought-bay-area-water-districts-start-asking
“Is it far-fetched to think of a time when water is so scarce during a drought that it could be so regulated and controlled that it leads to a government
ban on public restrooms?” he asked.
And is profit-making by charging people to use amenities so far out in this day and age?
Duprey just recently learned a New York City Company wants to open upscale pay toilet stations in NYC this summer that people will be charged $8
a day to use. Read more here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/flush-with-cash-posh-pay-toilets-in-the-big-apple-2014-02-19
Besides the message value of the
show, Duprey says people who also enjoy
great acting, music, dancing, humor,
romance and colorful characters won’t
leave disappointed.
“It’s truly an old-fashioned musical,
with great, sing-able tunes in a variety of
music styles in which boy gets girl, boy
loses girl, and boy gets her back,” Duprey
continued, noting that Music Theater
International rates this show PG.
NHS vocal music teacher Jean
Bendix is the musical director; NHS
instrumental music teacher Dave Schwind
is director of the band; Mary Lou Bonnell
is the piano accompanist and Emily
Howard is helping to produce the show as
well as being the choreographer.
Cast members include:
Ryan Tracy as Officer Lockstock
Matthew Fedczuk as Caldwell B.
Cladwell
Spencer Edmonds as Bobby Strong
Hunter O’Campo as Mr. McQueen
Evan Corteville as Senator Fipp
Sam Wersinger as Oldman Strong
and Hot Blades Harry
Grant Howard as Officer Barrel
Coby Frazier as Tiny Tom
Joel Fowler as Robby the Stockfish
Teddy Collins as UGC Executive #1
Ethan Erway as UGC Executive #2
Ian Mac Taggart as Billy Boy Bill
Elizabeth Kline as Penelope Pennywise
Kathryn Brinkman as Little Sally
Shea Matz as Hope Cladwell
Mara Corwell as Josephine Strong
Kaitlin Lyman as Cladwell’s Secretary
Riley Collins as Soupy Sue
Makalah Crawford as Little Becky Two Shoes
Samantha Cepulo as Mrs. Millenium
Maria DeRenzo as Dr. Billeaux
Ensemble members include: Jacob Lindberg, Mary Adkins, Alice Rosario, Shelby Cramer, Emily Partridge and Jillian Blodgett.
There is a small pit band for this show that includes: Bonnell, on keyboard; Bob White on percussion; Andy Stobie on bass; Jenna Taylor on
trombone and Mark Viavattine on reeds.
Destiny Baker is the stage manager. Stage crew members include: Gillian D’Ambrosia, Alec Matz and Talon O’Campo, run crew; Josh Wilck,
sound; Anthony Diamond, lighting; and Cheyenne Lane, spotlight operator.
The set was designed by Steve Duprey. The set crew includes: Kate Duprey and Shelly DeRenzo (scenic painters); and set builders, Steve DeRenzo,
Dave Howard, Joe Cepulo, Bob Wersinger and John MacTaggart.
The costume crew includes: Julie
Blodgett, Jane Collins, Kathy Cornwell,
Suzanne Erway and Lisa Fedczuk.
Jennifer Demo and Jennifer Reiners
did the program; Shelby Cramer designed the
poster.
Tickets for “Urinetown”
performances are $5 for students and senior
citizens and $7 for adults and will be available
at the door.
Senior citizens may attend the final
dress rehearsal of “Urinetown” for free at 3:30
p.m. March 6. Refreshments will be served
during intermission. There will be no dinner
this year following the performance because of
low registration.
One final note, and it is bittersweet.
Duprey noted that “Urinetown” will be the last
show four seniors _ Ryan Tracy, Spencer
Edmonds, Katie Brinkman and Elizabeth Kline
_ will be performing on the NHS stage.
Collectively, since Middle School, these four
have appeared in 38 shows.
“Their commitment to the theater
program has been amazing,’’ he said.
“They will be sorely missed.”