URINETOWN:  THE MUSICAL by Carol Kaufman Segal

The title Urinetown:  The Musical can be a turn-off to some.  However, that did not keep this musical from being a tremendous hit on Broadway.  It was first produced off-Broadway from May 6, 2001 to June 25, 2001.  After it opened on Broadway on Sept. 20, 2001, it ran through Jan. 18, 2004!  It was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won three, for Best Book, Best Score, and Best Direction (John Rando).   

            Urinetown:  The Musical takes place in the future in a city that has suffered a 20-year drought and its citizens are not allowed to have private toilet facilities.  Of course this state of affairs allows for an opportunist by the name of Caldwell B. Cladwell (Gary Lamb) to take advantage of the citizens of the city by running a corporation called “Urine Good Company.” 

The corporation taxes the citizens of the city a urine tax in order to use his facilities, and if they refuse, they are exiled to a place called Urinetown.  Naturally, Cladwell has control of the city’s governing officials as well as the police.

Fortunately, for the citizens, Bobby Strong (Daniel Bellusci), a lowly worker at one of the urinals, bravely leads a revolution against the city’s laws.  He also falls in love with a beautiful girl named Hope (Ashley Kane) who joins in the fight.  How was he to know that she was the daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell?

            As expected, the good guys win, the bad guys lose, and boy gets girl in the end.  The music is by Mark Hollman, the book by Greg Katis.  The lyrics are by both Hollman and Kotis.  This production, presented by the Coeurage Theatre Company, Los Angeles’s Pay What You Want Company, is directed by Karl Hayter, music direction is by Gregory Nabours.  The play features a very large talented cast.

            Urinetown:  The Musical is playing at the Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.  It plays Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, through Dec. 3.  There will be no performance on Thanksgiving Day, but there will be an added performance Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 8 PM.  Reservations are available online at www.couerage.org/urinetown, or call (323) 944-2165.