WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
14 UCW JUNE 2-8, 2021
KEYURI PARAB, Editorial Assistant
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com 910-484-6200.
EVENT
Gilbert Theater brings Broadway hit 'Urinetown' to local audiences
by KEYURI PARAB
Be Good To Yourself, an organization com-
Gilbert Theater's newest musical "Urinetown"
is set to open June 4 and run through June
13, bringing some clean toilet humor to the
public. Written by Greg Kotis, the musical ori-
ginally premiered on Broadway in 2001, and it
satirizes various social constructs.
"One big-wig has taken over everything
in the story and is monitoring the water use
and making huge amounts of money doing
so," said director Robyne Parrish. "People
literally have to pay to pee under the threat
that they will be sent away to this place called
Urinetown, if they disobey."
The storyline is set in a dystopia where a
water shortage leads to governmental ban
of private toilets and how one man, Bobby
Strong, stands up against the unjust system.
"The question is, 'what is Urinetown?' Is it
a jail, is it an island somewhere, is it a work
camp, what is it and you find that out as the
story progresses," Parrish said.
The lead of the story rallies the town people
to speak up and make change in the town,
actor Quentin King said.
"The main character meets and falls in love
with the villain's daughter, Hope, so there is
a little bit of the star-crossed lover's element,"
actor Jacquelyn Kessler said.
The musical puts a satirical spin on the
legal system, and questions
capitalism, corporations, cor-
porate mismanagement and
bureaucracy.
"It has all the things you
want to see in the musical, it's
got love, heartbreak, death
and fantastic characters, so
any big Broadway musical
lover is going to love this
show," Parrish said. "Huge
built-in numbers and great
dance numbers, sweet bal-
lads, it just has a little bit of
everything for everyone."
Urinetown also mocks
Broadway musical shows like
"The Threepenny Opera" and
"Les Misérables."
"It's going to talk about
social constructs so it will be
a lot of poor versus rich for a
lot of the scenes so hopefully the clothes will
ref lect that. One group will be dressed posh
and the other very raggedy Ann," Kessler said.
Artistic Director of the Gilbert Lawrence
Carlisle encourages potential audiences to
not shy away from the production because of
the title.
"People should not be turned down by it
being called "Urinetown,' it's good family fun
and there's something for everyone," Carlisle
said. "The opening night is sold out already."
For more information about the show and
to purchase tickets, visit https://w w w.gil-
berttheater.com/index.php
The cast of Gilbert Theater's "Urinetown" rehearses for the June 4 opening.
(Photo by Megan Martinez)
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