Directed By Phil Murphy.... November 7-29
Phil's Blog spot ,Pictures,Review
Oficer Lockstock ... Lars Kelto
Penelope Pennywise... Nan Worthington
Bobby Strong... Brett Nichols
Little Sally... Jamie Moyers
Mr. McQueen...  Jeff Buday
Sentor Fipp, Jerry the Stringbean... Louis Rodriguez
Office Barrel/Bennie the Brain... Nick Viox
Hope Cladwell... alissa Konon
Old Man Strong... Hedges Macdonald
Soupy Sue... Kate Sumner
Little Becky Two Shoes...  Gage VanderMeer
Caldwell B. Cladwell... Keith Firstenberg
Josephine Strong... Mimi Spaulding
Hot Blades Harry...  Joe Shoup
Missouri Milligan...  Niky Girard
Mrs. Millenium/Dream Street Rose... Megan Kelto
Tiny Tom...  Rick Fowler
Dr. Billieus/Pool Hall Pete... Tony Lezon
Queenie Martin...  Shakyra Eady
Opal Gemstone McCreedy...  Amy Rupp
Minnie the Mouser... Elizabeth Stewart
Black-Eyed Susan... Cat Tallman
Berry Blue Eyes... Becca Walton
 Director... Phil Murphy
Music Director... Joe Rice
Vocal Director... Tom Stokes
Marketing... Thomas Webb
Producer... Sheri Wallace
Choreographey... Miky Girard, Philip Leete
Stage Manager... Denni Don Hunting
Asst. Stage Mgr.... Dick Cieslik, Lee Rockwell
Stage Crew... Sherri Buford, Abby Berens, Rick Fowler, Tirra Staubes
Margaret Ann Slawson, Laura Staubes
Set Design... Joe Shoup
Set Construction... Jeff Kroger, Ricgard Farrar, Rick Fowler,
Rick Korndorfer, Justin Korson, Bob LaMont, Jesse Moyer, Steve Morse,
 Mike Nunn, Joe Rice, Gene Rountree, Dick Tuebert, Al Thompson
Painting... Joe Shoup, Elizabeth Stewart, Diane Hubert
Costumes Design... Kathy Verstraete
Asst. Costumes Design... Bradley Roswell
Costumes... Margaret Micallef, Jeanine Easterday, Rebecca Owen
Props... Bernadette Groppuso, Kathy & Clifford Kelto
Light Design... Don Kuehlhorn, Scott  Zeller, Steve Rine
Light Operator... Cinder Conlon, Bonnie Deigh
Spotlight... Jeanette Hagberry, Kaan Torgrul, Margaret Ann Slawson
Sound Design and Operator... Stu Dana
House Mgr... Jeanne Ramick
The Band
Cindi Robertson, Paule Parsons, Susan Snyder Nunn... Keyboard
Heorge Bliss, James Perez... Low Brass
Raleigh Newman... Woodwind
Greg Mormon, Valerie Vreeland, .. Bass
Jerry Endress... Percussion

‘Urinetown’ - Definitely Not A Stinker!

Reviewed by Wayne Erreca (11-7-08)

Traverse City Record-Eagle Newspaper

Urinetown? You may ask yourself, “What foul joke is this?“ Who would write a musical titled ‘Urinetown‘? Before you discard its cultural significance, let me share a few other oddly named American cities, such as Yellow Water, Looneyville, Goobertown, Muck City, Belchertown, and, of course, everyone‘s heard of Truth or Consequences. This should help you to forgive, playwright and lyricist Greg Kotis, of his presumptuousness in unleashing this contemporary satirical musical comedy onto the world.

While touring Europe as a student, Kotis came across a pay-per-use toilet, which stirred no small aggravation, and he immediately began writing his outraged rebuttal against this blatant authoritative overreach. Recruiting his friend, composer and lyricist Mark Hollman, they conspired together to create ‘Urinetown - the musical’, which first debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival. Soon after, with a short run on Off-Broadway at the American Theatre For Actors, it was then produced on Broadway at the Henry Miller’s Theatre on September 20, 2001. At the 2002 Tony Awards it garnered ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Original Score’, and ‘Best Book of a Musical’. It’s fair to say, “Kotis and Hollman achieved no small feat by investing a lot of personal ‘piss and vinegar’ thrown in.”

The amusing storyline of this iconoclastic parody of such memorable classics as Les Miserables, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Evita, and even a touch of Sweeney Todd, evolves around the plight of a fictional town caught in the clutches of a twenty-year drought. Under these dismal water shortages, Caldwell B. Caldwell (Keith Firstenberg), the CEO of Urine Good Company, is forced to decree all personal toilets off limits. Only public latrines for a price, overseen by the Urine Good Company, are permissible for usage by the citizenry. If anyone, is freely caught sprinkling the daisies, they’re immediately apprehended by Officer Lockstock (Lars Kelto) and Officer Barrel (Nick Viox), who swiftly chaperone these unlucky culprits to a never-ending banishment in ‘Urinetown’. As in all great musicals, a love story does exist, between the endearing Hope Caldwell (Alissa Korson) and her heroic Bobby Strong (Brett Nichols). In not wishing to spoil your fun, I’ll refrain from disclosing their climactic ending, and if I were allowed more space, I would convey the many numerous hilarious scenes of, twists and turns, throughout this thoroughly tantalizing play.

This is a brilliant production, with a magnificent cast, a highly skilled creative staff, and should be a ‘must see’ for true theatre connoisseurs. Brett Nichols is nothing short of an Off-Broadway star and his singing is superb. Nan Worthington is wonderfully quirky and outrageously comedic as Penelope Pennywise. Lars Kelto is charmingly solid as Officer Lockstock. Jamie Moyers captures the delightful innocence of Little Sally and is completely endearing when singing ‘Tell Her I Love Her’. Keith Firstenberg confidently and masterfully portrays the protagonist, Caldwell B. Caldwell. Alissa Korson as Hope Caldwell, displays exquisite comedic timing and is a joy to watch.

A major credit to the success of this production goes to the artful and fantastic choreography by Niky Girard (who also portrays Missouri Milligan) and Philip Leete. Their combined efforts escalated the visual and physical professionalism of the entire cast. Also, in keeping step with the choreographers is Kathy Verstraete’s appealing costume design, and Don Kuelhorn’s intriguing light design. The whole supporting staff is deserving of high praise for, in my opinion, launching the best technically executed production yet at the Old Town Playhouse.

The individual making this brilliant production possible is Director Phil Murphy. Who first viewed ‘Urinetown - the musical’ five years ago in New York City and recommended it to the OTP Artistic Board. It’s amazing how he assembled such a creative cast and crew, and through his directorial expertise, has staged a true gem for the audiences of Northern Michigan.

With the current economic crisis of our times having befallen us, ‘Urinetown - the musical‘ just may be the balm for your tattered nerves. And the Old Town Playhouse promises their latrines are spectacularly clean, and no need to carry any change, for there entirely free.
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