Colonial theater to present "Urinetown"

By: Heidi Hickle

Posted: 2/26/10

The Robert Morris Colonial Theatre will be presenting their next show, "Urinetown," which won a Tony Award for Best Score, given for best music of the year, in 2002, in Massey Theater Feb 24-27 at 8 p.m. and on the 28 at 2 p.m.

"Urinetown" is a satire of political and social issues. It features a Broadway-style satire of musical theatre set in the future, where there is a scarce water supply and people have to pay to pee.

"This musical is best described by Little Sally's quote, 'what kind of musical is this? The good guys take over and everything falls apart'," said Ken Gargaro, director of "Urinetown."

The cast of "Urinetown" is composed of about twenty-eight people Gargaro said.

Gargaro explained that there is not one star, or two stars, in this play. The entire cast makes the show. There are also two roles that are double cast, meaning one actor plays a character one night and the other actor plays that same character on a different night.

"It's an ensemble show, so there are many stars. Bobby and Hope are the two main characters, Bobby being double cast by Channing Frampton or Logan Williams, and Hope being double cast by Kate Queen or Chrysti Petrozzi," he stated.

There are multiple rehearsals needed for a show to go smoothly, and the snow days have been a challenge to work around.

"It takes about twelve to fourteen practices and two technical practices to put on a show," he said. "I'm not worried about the snow effecting the show. The show will be a good time," Gargaro said, regardless of the fact that the weather has interfered with a few of their rehearsals.
With all of the snow days, making up rehearsals has been difficult.

"We have extended the rehearsal hours to make up for the time we've lost over the snow days," Ashley Reichl explained.
Reichl, who is playing the role of Penelope Pennywise, is opening the show with her solo, 'Privilege to Pee.'

"Everyone should come. There is something for everyone to enjoy," she said.
Williams, who plays Bobby, gave a deeper insight into the character, Caldwell B. Cladwell.

"The antagonist, Caldwell B. Cladwell, becomes a rich man after he owns the right to pee. He controls the water supply to pee and calls it 'a privilege to pee.' The poor people do not have the money to pay to pee, and they revolt," Williams said.
Williams uses a metaphor to describe the main topic of the play.

"Paying to pee is like taxing gas, it's useless. It's a perfect example of supply and demand," he explained.

Despite the fact that most actors want to come off as normal and not dramatic, but this play appears to be different.

"It's not a normal musical, you want to be over dramatic," Williams remarked.

Williams said he is excited to play Bobby. Although, when he is not playing Bobby, he plays an old man.

"It can be hectic to learn 2 parts, it's a lot to remember," Williams stated.

"I really like this show, it is a multitude of theatre. Theatre lovers and others [non theatre lovers] will both laugh at the different kinds of jokes throughout the performance. It encompasses all audiences," said Ellen Lichius, who is playing the role of Soupy Sue.

Ryan Collins, cast as Hot Blades Harry, is most excited about this show because it is his biggest role. He even has his own song, 'Snuff that Girl.'

"My character is portrayed after James Cagney, who played most of his roles as a 'tough guy,'" he noted.

Kirsten Heibert, playing Little Becky Two-Shoes, does not attend Robert Morris University, is enjoying her time working as part of the cast.

"I'm having fun acting in a new venue with a different cast. I'm enjoying the change and the new experience," Heibert expressed.

The students will not be preparing "Urinetown" itself for competition. However, they will compete through their roles in "Urinetown" against other students in the region for the mid-Atlantic awards.

The cast and crew are hoping for the weather to cooperate and they invite everyone to come out and enjoy the show.

Tickets will be sold for $10 at the door and Robert Morris students can get them presale for $5 in the student life office.
When asked what the audience should get from the play, Gargaro replied briefly, without giving away any hints.

"Expect the unexpected," he ended.