The fifth theatre production of the year kicked off on Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Wells Theatre. “Urinetown” is sure to please a variety of audiences.

The play, written by Greg Kotis with  music by Mark Hollman, is sure to be a great experience. Kotis got the idea to write the play on a trip to Europe. In Paris, all public restrooms are pay potties. While in Paris, Kotis ran out of money more quickly than he thought, and was circumstantially forced to choose between using the restroom and having dinner that night. His position prompted him to ponder a world where using the restroom was not free; thus, Urinetown was written.

The story follows a young man named Bobby, played by Andrew Watson, who lives in a world suffering from a drought for over twenty years. Due to the drought, urination is closely taxed and monitored to ensure people stay within the means of the drought. Everytime people need to relieve themselves, they must pay a tax to use the facilities controlled by a single, monopolized company.

This seems very unfair to Bobby, so he sets out on a rebellious path. The play is directed by professor of theatre Bill Wallace, who said, “It is all very exciting. Folks have really worked hard and given a lot of effort. This is a very ambitious production with lots of drama and music, but has been a lot of fun.”

Production began on Feb. 4, and the cast is eager to see the culmination of their hard work. Wallace said, “They have put in a lot of hard work, and the audience will be pleased.”  The cast was pulled together through an open casting. Nick Munson stars as Officer Lockstock, Amanda White as Hope Caldwell, Jonathon Snowdon as Caldwell B. Caldwell, the president of the company named You’re in Good Company, and Adrienne Schultz also stars as Josephine Strong.

The musical also has a lot of dancing, which was choreographed by professor of art and education Stephanie Baugh. According to Wallace, the production really came to life when the students made the roles their own. “It’s been a great collaborative experience. Students taking ownership of their roles is what educational theatre is all about.”

Students were encouraged at every stage of the production to bring their own experiences into the musical. “Urinetown” will have more performances on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m.. The Sunday, April 6 show will be held at 2:00 p.m.  There was also a talk-back on Thursday where attendees could ask questions about the production.

Tickets cost $6, with a price of $5 for students and $4 for seniors. The show is not recommended for children under the age of 12 due to the subject matter.

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