KINGSTON, R.I. — January 13, 2006 — The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Theatre will be the first theatre group in the state to premiere the Broadway show, URINETOWN. The play will be performed in J Studio in URI’s Fine Arts Center on the Kingston campus from Feb. 16 through 18, 22 through 25 and March 1 through 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.
“The most appallingly titled show of the URI/Theatre season is also one of the best,” comments Paula McGlasson, chair of URI’s Department of Theatre. “Look past the title. From the opening notes of this Tony Award-winning musical, URINETOWN has a wit, intelligence and originality found only in the very best musical spoofs. It’s a loony, loopy delight. Join us.”
If you have any doubts about the suitability of subject matter, listen to what Ed Siegal of the The Boston Globe wrote about the play:
“URINETOWN is here to save the day. You might have thought it impossible to send up The Threepenny Opera, Annie, Mark Blitzstein Depression-era musicals and Gershwin romances simultaneously, but that’s exactly what URINETOWN does. Knowing, ultra-ironic wit, URINETOWN knows how to keep the laughs coming without any letup.”
URINETOWN is set in the future where a drought of epic proportions has forced corrupt city officials to come up with a unique way to conserve water: people may only use public restrooms and they must pay for the privilege. Fed-up citizens take to the streets, but those caught breaking the law are carted off to the mysterious “Urinetown,” never to be seen or heard from again. Along the way, this gleefully irreverent, laugh-out-loud, award-winning musical pokes fun at every imaginable musical and theatre convention with biting humor and catchy music you’re sure to be humming long after the show is over.
URINETOWN is the winner of three Tony Awards including “Best Original Score” and “Best Book,” three Outer Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards.
Based on the book and lyrics by Greg Kotis and the music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, URINETOWN is said to be a brilliantly funny and engaging satire of musical treat traditions with the edge of a Brecht cabaret.
The play is directed by McGlasson, musical direction by guest artist, Lila Kane; costume design by Assistant Professor David T. Howard; scenic design by URI /Theatre Alumna Cheryl deWardener; lighting design by Associate Professor Christian Wittwer; sound design by guest artist Peter Nabut; choreography by McGlasson and Donna Gamache-Griffiths, senior development officer for the College of Business Administration. URI theatre senior Erin Condry from Warwick is choreographing the cop dance.
Tickets are $18 general, $14 seniors, URI faculty/staff and $12 for students. For reservations, call the Theatre Box Office at 401-874-5843. For more information, call 401-874-5921.
The Feb. 19 performance at 3 p.m. is dedicated to the memory of Thomas R. Pezzullo, a former vice president for university relations at URI and frequent actor who died in 1992 at the age of 49. All proceeds from that performance will go directly into the Thomas R. Pezzullo Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Members of the cast, their characters, and hometowns follow:
Cast,Character,Hometown
Patrick Bosworth,Officer Barrel,Narragansett
Donald J. Dallaire,Bobby,Warren
Seth Finkle,Mr. McQueen,Gloversville, N.Y.
Haley Hanson,Penelope Pennywise,Grass Valley, Calif.,
Joe Kidawski,Cladwell,Framingham, Mass.
Kyle A. Maddock,Officer Lockstock,Lincoln
Amanda Ruggiero,Little Sally,Woonsocket
Stephanie Sherman,Hope Cladwell,Marlboro, N.J.
Joseph Short,Senator Fipp,Wakefield
Lauren Ustaszeswski ,Josephine Strong,Shamong, N.J.
Alejandra Alavarez,Hot Blades Harry/ Old Man Strong,Coventry
Patrick Poole,Gentle George,Pemberton, N.J.
Leah Kolb,Soupy Sue/Mrs.Millennium,Sacramento, Calif.
Daniel Korn,Tiny Tom/Mr. Billeaux ,Portsmouth
Dana Merson,Little Becky Two Shoes ,W.Orange, N.J.
Ryan Romanowski,Robby the Stockfish/UGC Exec #2,Highland, N.Y.
Nile Hawver,Billy Boy Bill/UGC Exec #1,Coventry
Tiffany Page,Hildago Jane/ Cladwell’s Secretary ,Warwick
Kate Ferdinandi,Old Woman,Coventry
Max Ponticelli,understudy,Braintree, Mass.
Elyssa Baldassarri,understudy,Holmes, N.Y.
URI students (clockwise) Donald Dallaire of Warren, Haley Hanson of Grass Valley, Calif., Kyle Maddock of Lincoln, Amanda Ruggiero of Woonsocket, Stephanie Sherman of Marlboro, N.J., and Joseph Kidawski of Framingham, Mass. appear in URI/Theatre’s production of URINETOWN. URI Photo by Randy Osga.