New Trier Students Perform 'Urinetown'

WINNETKA, IL — This week, performing arts students at New Tier are presenting a musical satirizing politics, populism, corporate power and the medium of the Broadway musical itself. Performances run Dec. 6-9 at the Cornog Auditorium at New Trier's Northfield Campus.

Urinetown, which premiered in 2001, tells the story set under a government that bans private toilets and forces citizens to use public amenities. Those facilities are regulated by a single malevolent company, which profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. But then, a hero emerges from the masses and plans a revolution to lead the people to freedom.

Winner for "Best Book of a Musical," "Best Original Score" and "Best Direction of a Musical" at the 2002 Tony Awards, Urinetown is a tale of greed, corruption, romance and revolution in a city where water is worth its weight in gold. The hysterical romp both celebrates and spoofs the best of Broadway traditions, poking good-natured fun at everything from corporate greed and politics, to boy-meets-girl romance, to good-versus-evil.

The students have been working very hard over the past weeks, and the two casts are incredibly collaborative and dynamic, said Director Tommy Malouf.

“I have always been a huge fan of this show, so I am really excited not only to work on it with students, but to see them so enamored with the project as well,” he said. “They bring new things to the rehearsals every day, and the process has been equal parts hilarity and silliness, as well as bravery and heart.”

Urinetown and all authorized performance materials are presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Urinetown music is by Mark Hollman, the book is by Greg Kotis and lyrics are by both Hollman and Kotis.

Performance Schedule:

• Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 8, 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 9, 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday and Friday Cast:

Vivian Adelman, Ben Ancell, Daniel Austen, Cammi Avery, Max Bennett, Charlotte Bokhof, Jules Brown, Isabelle Cowan, Erin Donohue, Mery Drilling-Cohen, Jack Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Abby Finch, Mia Hales, Andrew Kearney, Katie Klaskin, Grace Koehler, Audrey Lolli, Kathryn Madigan, James McColl, Carter McDermott, Billy Nayman, Julie Oelerich, Robbie Petrie, Jennine Pono, Chloe Ricci, Spencer Rosin, Liam Ryan, Seth Salkin-Weiss, Amelia Tam, Grace Tobey, Elsa Vieregg, Evan Vlahandreas, Katie Weis, Keyler White, Evie Wigdale, Renee Zhou

Thursday and Saturday Cast:

Grace Astolfi, Elijah Barker, Jasper Bickers, Sara Bunge, Noah Burfield, Isabel Dube, PJ Embree, George Esteve, Quinton Eudy, Anna Feinerman, Johanna Fomacion, Daniel Friedland, Emma Friedman,

Sydney Gaines-Wheeler, Jon Hanold, Samantha Heiman, Charlotte Jaffe, Charlotte Lahti, Isabel Mangum, Owen May, Grace McCafferey, Lucy McDowell, Ian Michelson, Rachel Miller, Ben Morabito, Phoebe Moy, Reilly Oh, Emma Parks, Isabelle Roberts, Amelia Roselli, Davina Shin, Anita Shubert, Zach Stein, Marie Tasiopoulos, Elias Wachtel, Connor Walker, Gabi Zinman

Crew Members:

Skylar Aronson, Henry Blasingame, Claire Cohen, Isa Figlioli, Jamie Goldman, Paul Graham, Sabrina Hagedorn , Ellie Henrich, Vicka Khrabatyn, Sydney Kunkler, Dahee Lee, Ethan Lestrud, Alina Popatia, Adam Read, Caleb Sulkin, Caroline Swanson, Leona Useni, Sam Wolf

Pit Orchestra Members:

Lily Fox, Eli Goroff-Behel, Cole Horvath, Sam Kawula, Jenna Oshana, Kushali Patel, Henry Witt

Production Staff:

Tommy Malouf, Director; David Ladd, Music Director; Matt Temple, Orchestra Director; Talar Khosdeghian, Accompanist; Denise Karczewski, Technical Director; Karli Blalock, Sound Designer; Sue Romanelli, Costumes/Props; Mo Ulicny, Graphic Designer

» via New Trier Township High School District 203

Top photo Photo by Manos Gkikas via Unsplash