It’s a perfect time of year to bring a political spoof to the stage and the world of “politics as usual” goes uproariously awry when Pennington Players brings the irreverent musical satire “Urinetown” to Kelsey Theater. The curtain rises weekends November 4 to 13. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Friday, November 4.
It’s a tale of greed, corruption, and revolution — and a lovely little romance — in a drought-stricken city where the government has enforced a ban on private toilets. Citizens must use public facilities, regulated by the megacorporation, Urine Good Company, which profits by requiring payment for one of humanity’s most basic needs.
With songs like “It’s Privilege to Pee,” the futuristic tale pokes fun at small town politics, capitalism, social irresponsibility, corporate greed, liberals, and conservatives — and even Broadway musicals themselves. No one is safe from scrutiny as violators are sent to the penal colony of Urinetown, never to return. Finally, one courageous citizen decides to take a stand. And, on its simplest level, “Urinetown” is the story of two kids who fall in love in the middle of a water shortage.
Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, the show was written by Greg Kotis with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann. There were 965 performances and 25 previews at Henry Miller’s Theater from August, 2001, to January, 2004. It received nine Tony Awards including Best Musical.
“I fell in love with Urinetown the first time I heard the CD when I was in high school,” says director Kyrus Keenan Westcott of Plainsboro. “I found it to be so witty, dark, funny, and smart.”
“I knew that one day I would be in it, playing Bobby Strong — instead, I received an even better opportunity — the chance to actually direct the show. I have always had ideas about how I would approach the show if I were to direct it, so the fact that my vision has been coming to life is completely surreal.”
Westcott has directed “The Wiz,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “The Musical of Musicals: The Musical” for the Pennington Players in the past. “I approached them during the summer of 2010 about doing a production of ‘Urinetown’ at some point and put together a vision and a production staff,” he says. “They approved the show and now, a year or so later, it’s opening! Time flies…”
Born and raised in Hamilton, he moved to Plainsboro in August. “It is so quiet and peaceful and I have yet to meet someone who isn’t nice,” he says.
Westcott got the theater bug when he was a student at Reynolds Middle School. “My middle school crush, Dianne, was auditioning for the school show and me, having a broken arm and not being able to try out for the basketball team, felt that this would be the perfect opportunity to court her,” he says. “So I auditioned for the show, got in, started dating Dianne, and realized as soon as I stepped on that stage that this was what I wanted to do.” He has been in more than 45 theatrical productions since middle school.
When Westcott is not performing at Kelsey, he is usually performing professionally along the east coast. This past summer he spent six weeks in Connecticut playing “Benny” in “Rent.” Earlier this year he played “Seaweed” in “Hairspray” in South Jersey. When he is not performing he works for Axima Marketing Group and Uno Chicago Bar & Grill in Hamilton.
West Windsor resident Frank Ferrara, the producer of the show, portrays Officer Barrel. His wife, Shannon Ferrara, a music teacher at Village School, plays Josephine Strong. Benji Sills of Plainsboro is Billy Boy Bill. Rachel Tovar of Plainsboro is the choreographer.
Urinetown, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Friday, November 4, to Sunday, November 13. $18. Reception with cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Friday, November 4. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
