Students are working to create a musical that promises from the very title to be a show worth seeing. Urinetown is full of crude jokes, satire and 
holds an unconventional plot, yet will be performed by a cast of well-seasoned actors.
The show was created by Greg Kotis, who was inspired by having to face the decision of using a pay-per-use toilet in Paris or to pee freely in the street. Teaming up with his friend Mark Hollman, who wrote the music, Kotis and Hollman wrote the play strictly for a laugh and were not expecting it to go anywhere. Surprisingly enough, within three years the show ended up on Broadway.
The basic premise of the play is that a 20-year drought has rendered the possibility of having private toilets unthinkable, and all usage of such amenities is tightly controlled and monitored. For each use the citizens are charged a fee, and if they are caught cheating the system then they are sent to “Urinetown” from which no one returns.
Capital’s Urinetown is produced and directed by Mark A. Baker, along with music director and conductor Bill Boggs who is currently nominated for a Grammy. The central members of the cast include Brent Suver, Nick Klein, Emily Turner, Em Slider, Ernie Cottrell and Heather Rudisill.
The cast seems to enjoy their time working together, and though most admit that the time commitment is a strain they say it is also worth it to be part of an amazing production.
“Urinetown is incredibly high energy comedy- Don’t miss it,” said Turner.
“Urinetown is very satirical and makes fun of everything from politics to music theater itself. Audience members should walk in knowing that they’re going to have a good time and to not take anything too seriously,” Rudisill said.
Urinetown will be performed at the Roth Resler Theater in the Leo Yassenoff JCC Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. and Sunday Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Capital students can receive one free ticket with their ID, tickets for other students and seniors cost $10,and general admission is $20. Tickets are available in the conservatory office.
Meet the performers:
Name: Nick Klein
Major: Music Education
Year: Senior
Role: Bobby Strong
What is your favorite memory in the play so far?
Getting to work with Bill Boggs overall has been my favorite memory. He is phenomenal and knows so much, it is an opportunity not many people get a chance to have.
How long have you been acting?
I was in my first play in 6th grade, so I have been acting for about 12 years. I will say that I prefer the musicals over just plays, I am more of a singer that kind of acts rather than an actor who happens to know how to sing.
What other plays have you been in so far at Cap?
This is my third one, I was in Little Women the Musical as a sophomore, Street Team as a junior and now Urinetown.
What is the funniest mishap that’s happened so far?
There was one day where we were rehearsing a scene that first off involves my face to be shoved into quite a few breasts, but also involved me kissing another member of the play. Neither of us knew who was supposed to kiss who and it just turned into a really funny situation.
What is challenging about the role?
The music is really challenging for this one. It requires a very large range of singing and styles. The show also requires very precise comedic timing and that is really hard to get down.
What is the most exciting part about the role?
I’m just excited to be involved in another show. This will probably be my last time performing on stage so it is just exciting to be able to do something I love doing for the final time.
Name: Heather Rudisill
Major: Vocal Performance with emphasis on Opera and Music Theater
Year: Junior class of 2013
Role: Penelope Pennywise
What is your favorite memory in the play so far?
My favorite memory has been when we put everything together. When the performers, set, costumes, lighting and pit musicians all finally come together, it makes everything real and exciting! Those moments are exactly what performers live for.
How long have you been acting?
Since my junior year in high school. I loved to sing, and sang in competitions such as OMEA. I was cast in my first show, Hello, Dolly! through a performing arts program. I immediately fell in love and decided that that was what I wanted to do with my life.
What other plays have you been in so far at Cap?
This is my stage debut here at Capital. I have been active in other shows such as Little Women and Street Scene behind the scenes on the stage crew. It was a wonderful experience and taught me a lot about being a professional member of a performance, but I’m particularly excited to be on stage as a performer!
What is the funniest mishap that’s happened so far?
Throughout the show there are many lines that are a bit of a tongue-twister, so it’s been funny to watch the actors mess them up and say absurd and ridiculous sentences.
What is challenging about the role?
Ms. Pennywise is a great character and I’m so happy to have been given the chance to play her. She comes across as brash and in your face, but underneath it all she actually cares deeply for the people of the community and the harshness comes from her bitter past with a former lover, and also from a big secret that is reveled in the show! I think the most challenging thing about the role is portraying all these different emotions at appropriate times, sometimes comically and sometimes legitimately.
What is the most exciting part about the role?
The most exciting part about the role is the many different emotions that Ms. Pennywise portrays. At times she is defiant and at other times she is silly and over-dramatic. She ranges from brash, to silly, to seductive, to vulnerable and everything in between and that is what is so exciting about playing her!
