Your Ticket Will Say "Urinetown’ This June at Flahive Field

Corporate greed. Human rights. Corrupt police forces. Class, Idealism. Love. All things happening in current events? Yes, and also in Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis’ 2001 musical “Urinetown: The Musical”, which Westwood High School’s performing arts department will be presenting on June 10, 11, and 12, 2021.

“The New York Times review [of Urinetown’s September 2001 Broadway premiere] talked about whether or not this was the right show for that time (and concluded that it was.) Similarly, today with both the pandemic and a tremendous divide in political ideology, doing a show that has a little bit of edge gives our students an outlet for the emotions they have regarding today's world. I've been a fan of the show ever since I saw that original production on Broadway and am thrilled that we are presenting it this year,“ says Westwood High School’s Performing Arts teacher and “Urinetown’s” director, Jim Howard.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show will be performed on the high school’s Flahive Field. “1st off is that we won't have a ton of time on Flahive to rehearse. With our active athletic program, I didn't want to impose on spring sports so we are only going to come in at the end on the field. For me, it is like college when shows only got a week or so in their performance space. I keep reassuring the cast that we will be fine (we will!) but I know they are probably a bit nervous about it. This show works well as a 'trunk show.' That means by its structure it can be performed anywhere. We aren't beholden to specific scenery and magical lighting. I went looking for a show like this knowing it would be successful in a nontraditional performance space,” explains Howard.

“Urinetown” opens with the characters of Officer Lockstock (Oscar Soucy) and Little Sally (Katie Barner) discussing how too much exposition, bad subject matter, and a bad title “can kill a show.” However, for those of you unfamiliar with the plot, it takes place twenty years after a bad drought that made private toilets illegal. Mega Corporation Urine Good Company controls all pay toilets. Enter the heroic Bobby Strong (Alex Mansour), who works at the decrepit Public Amenity #9. He meets up with the daughter of Urine Good Company’s corrupt CEO, Hope (Grace Buza). And on with the show and its nods to classic musicals such as “Les Miserables” and its Brechtian plot.

“Our Choreographer is and will be addressing it as he works through the numbers. Those moments played especially well in NY with audiences who had seen a lot of theater. That said, no one will feel left out if they don't know the reference,” says Howard of the many nods to the theatre throughout “Urinetown.”

“We weren't necessarily looking to get away from the family-friendly musicals, but don't want to feel like it is all that we do. ‘Urinetown’ was the right pick for this year so that is the direction we went in. That said, having done a number of family-friendly shows I wanted to be clear about the content of this one so families can research the show and decide who they want to bring to see it,” explains Howard of the fact that WestwoodStage calls this year’s musical PG-13.

“I told the cast that this show is incredibly important; not only as a piece of theatre, but for our community. As we come out of the pandemic, these first moments where we come together are vital for reminding us why we need each other. It is similar to when all the students came back to school. There was a joy in having everyone (nearly) in the same space. Theatre is about community. The community of students who put the shows together and the community who comes and shares the space with us when we perform. I'm terribly excited for this show because we need to be together again.

“ [We are] planning for mostly online sales (WestwoodStage.com) and similar to graduation, families will be able to sit in pods putting 6' between pods. Folks can bring a blanket and low chairs. There will be some chairs available. Seating in the stands will need to be at 6' for adults, but can be at 3' for students. Regulations continue to change and we will keep up with them all the way up to our opening night,” says Howard of the logistics of ticket sales and seating during COVID-19.

“Urinetown” will be performed at Westwood High School’s Flahive Field on June 10, 11, and 12 at 7:30 PM.