A sidesplitting sendup of greed, love, revolution (and musicals!), in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.
Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is an hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America's greatest art forms.
In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!
Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny.
[accordions][accordion title="Click for Cast Information" active="yes|no"]CAST INFORMATION
Character Breakdown
Caldwell B. Cladwell - Lead - Baritone - Non-Dancing - Mature Adult - The money-grubbing megalomaniacal CEO of Urine Good Company, which owns all the lavatories in town. Cladwell is selfish and cruel, and believes firmly in survival of the fittest. He also firmly believes that it’s his right to charge high fees, collect the money, and use it to fund false research and line his own pockets. He has just enacted another round of exorbitant fee hikes that will send even the wealthiest scurrying off to Rio. Cladwell loves his daughter, Hope, and has bought her the best education money can buy, but becomes quickly disenchanted when he feels betrayed by her. Cladwell reminds his daughter, Hope: “Don't be the bunny. Don't be the shoe. You don't get stepped on - No, the one who steps is you!” Must have excellent comic timing.
Hope Cladwell - Lead - Soprano - Young Adult - The idealistic daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell (and illegitimate daughter of Penny Pennywise). She has recently graduated from the Most Expensive University in the World and naively wants to use her newly purchased education to do good as an employee at her father’s company. Hope is curious and treasures her education, though she cheerfully recalls that the purpose was to “learn how to manipulate great masses of people.” She begins the show an idealistic, occasionally ditzy romantic, but when she is exposed to her father’s evilness and the cruelty of others, she becomes more jaded and disillusioned. Must have excellent comic timing.
Bobby Strong - Lead - Tenor - Young Adult - A dashing everyman who is an assistant custodian at Amenity #9 under the supervision of Penny Pennywise. He is close to his parents and heartbroken when his father, Old Man Strong, is unable to pay for the “privilege to pee,” and is sent off to Urinetown. Bobby has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a sunny view on what a good society “should” be. He leads the revolution of the poor against Caldwell B. Cladwell, and surprises himself by falling in love with Cladwell’s daughter, Hope. This love takes an interesting turn when Bobby kidnaps Hope so that she can’t work against the revolution. While his feelings for Hope are genuine, Bobby is not past resorting to violence if the task requires it. Bobby is idealistic, charming, and a natural leader. According to Little Sally, “Everybody loves Bobby Strong.” Must have excellent comic timing and natural charisma.
Officer Lockstock - Supporting - Baritone - Adult - Non-Dancer - The principal narrator and the leader of the cops who polices the toilets. Bold, brash, and unsympathetic, Officer Lockstock is completely dedicated to completing his job effectively -- whether he’s morally correct in doing so, or not. He’s unflappable, even in the face of the horrors he enacts on the people of Urinetown. Lockstock does have a soft spot for Little Sally, a poor urchin with a keen intelligence, and chats with her often, occasionally giving her a penny so she can pee. He also advises Bobby -- gruffly, but wisely -- to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. He truly believes that what he does is all in the service of keeping peace and order in town. Must have excellent comic timing.
Little Sally - Supporting - Mezzo-Soprano - Late Teen/Young Adult - Non-Dancer - A poor street urchin and co-narrator of the show. Little Sally is small in stature, but big in smarts and even bigger in opinions. She is irreverent, intelligent, and always one step ahead of Officer Lockstock. Little Sally is an enthusiastic and hopeful member of the poor rebellion, even calling out, “You can punish our bodies… but you can never punish our spirits!” Little Sally is taken by the budding romance between Bobby and Hope, and it makes her something of a romantic herself -- a new feeling for the streetwise urchin. Must have excellent comic timing.
Penelope Pennywise - Supporting - Mezzo-Soprano (Belter) - Adult - Mover - The jaded, ruthless proprietor of the city’s worst public toilet -- Amenity #9. Penny has seen it all before, and has no patience for the poor people she serves. Penny is penny-pinching, fierce, and gutsy, and suffers no fools nor beggars. She tries to be a good boss to Bobby, but won’t relent when Bobby asks if his father can pee for free. Penny knows how to use her position to better her own life, and has no shame about it. A bold woman who knows what she wants, Penny holds onto her job and her privileges with two tight fists. . We discover late in the show that Penny is actually Hope’s mother, and is uncharacteristically protective of her. When Penny is forced to choose between her own well-being and protecting Hope, she selflessly allows the officers to haul her away to Urinetown in order to save her daughter. Must have excellent comic timing and a powerful, high belt.
Joseph “Old Man” Strong - Featured - Non-singing - Non-Dancing - Adult/Mature Adult -- Bobby’s poor, rebellious father, with whom he is very close. Old Man Strong knows the way things work -- he has no illusions about the ways Penny, and everyone else in power, make arrangements to serve their own needs. Old Man Strong refuses to pay the fee to pee, so he is sent to Urinetown, a mysterious place from which no one returns. May double as Hot Blades Harry. Must have excellent comic timing.
Josephine “Old Ma” Strong - Featured - Mezzo-Soprano (belt) - Non-Dancing - Adult/Mature Adult
Officer Barrel - Featured - Baritone - Adult - Non-Dancer -- Officer Lockstock’s partner, a gruff, brash cop. Late in the play Officer Barrel reveals that he harbors a secret crush on Officer Lockstock. Despite his efficiency in his position, Officer Barrel occasionally has doubts about whether what they’re doing is right. He is an excellent right-hand man to Officer Lockstock. Must have excellent comic timing.
Senator Fipp - Featured - Tenor - Adult - Mover -- A corrupt politician. Fipp is in Cladwell’s pocket, and will do anything to stay there and reap the benefits. Fipp is selfish -- he refuses to give Little Sally a penny so that she can use the Amenity-- and demands exorbitant payment for his political support. He does have the foresight to see that Cladwell’s industriousness is unsustainable. He is creepy and sneaky, often lurking in corners. Must have excellent comic timing.
Mr. McQueen - Featured - Baritone - Adult - Mover - Cladwell’s assistant. Mr. McQueen is flamboyant, sneaky, and soft-willed-- willing to do anything Cladwell asks without a second thought. He is always one step behind Cladwell. Mr. McQueen is scared of the poor, despite the fact that he claims they have no power, and is always scurrying away to avoid confrontation with them. Must have excellent comic timing.
Mrs. Millenium - Featured - Adult - Mover - Soprano -- An office worker in Cladwell’s office who aspires to be his lead secretary. She “gets wise” to Cladwell’s evil when she sees him sacrifice his own daughter in pursuit of money and power. Must have excellent comic timing.
Hot Blades Harry - Featured - Young Adult, Adult - Mover - Baritone -- One of the poor. Dangerous, unpredictable, and almost sadistically violent. Harry is cynical and has no faith in Bobby’s movement. He frequents Amenity #9. Must have excellent comic timing.
Little Becky Two Shoes - Featured - Young Adult - Mover - Soprano -- One of the poor. Pregnant and crippled. She is Harry’s partner. Becky, like Harry, is quick to violence and lacks mercy for Hope. She frequents Amenity #9. Must have excellent comic timing.
Soupy Sue - Featured - Adult - Mover - Mezzo-Soprano -- One of the poor. Affectionate, sweet, and easily terrified.. She frequents Amenity #9. May double as Caldwell’s Secretary. Must have excellent comic timing.
Tiny Tim - Featured - Adult - Mover - Baritone -- One of the poor. An awkward, easily confused man-boy. He frequents Amenity #9. Must have excellent comic timing.
Dr. Billeaux - Ensemble - Adult - Non-Dancer - Tenor -- A scientist in the pocket of Urine Good Company. A bit nutty, Dr. Billeaux can sometimes appear the picture of a “mad scientist.” May double as Tiny Tom. Must have excellent comic timing.
Ensemble Poor -- Includes Robby the Stockfish and Billy the Boy. Members of the poor who frequent Amenity #9. Must have excellent comic timing.
[/accordion][/accordions]
Recent Comments