'Urinetown' is Not Your Traditional Musical

Some people propose marriage in unique locations -- on billboards, in a baseball stadium, at Disneyworld.

Nick Kelly chose to do it at Urinetown.

"I was in a production four years ago and I proposed to my wife at the end of the night," Kelly said.

Four years later, Kelly is directing the Lindenwood University Theatre Department's production of Urinetown.  The musical begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 3-5, and March 10-12 in the university’s Bezemes Family Theater in the , 300 West Clay St., St. Charles.

"We've been doing a lot of traditional musical theater -- Anything Goes, Oklahoma! -- and we wanted to bring a newer musical to the main stage," Kelly said. "A different flavor of musical."

Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown made its Broadway debut in September 2001. The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won in the musical theater categories of Best Book, Best Score, and Best Direction. The musical was written by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis.

"The story takes place in a nondescript city of the future where water has become a major resource," Kelly said. "It's come to the point where people have to actually pay to use the restroom. It's the conflict of the poor people trying to pay these rates and the rich controlling the rates. It comes down to a revolution of the people saying we're no longer going to pay to use the restroom."

Kelly said that while Urinetown is not a traditional musical it is very much a musical comedy. "There's a lot of fun comedy and a lot of big dancing," he said. "Strong characters and a fun concept to work with, other than the usual two lovers get together at the end and sing and dance. It's not that kind of musical. It's also a neat political musical that shows both sides of the story."

Blaine Adams, a sophomore acting major at Lindenwood, agrees this is not a traditional show. "It's a musical that allows you to act more. It pokes fun at musical theater and that's my kind of personality," he said. "It's a comedy and I love comedy."

Adams is a part of the rebel chorus in the show. It's his first time working in musical theater. "I thought I'd be more stressed about it than I am but it's actually kinda really natural," he said. "And it's more fun than I expected to have."

"Fun" is also the operative word for Beth Wickenhauser. "I heard a lot about it and the title makes it sound hilarious," she said. "I picked up the soundtrack and fell in love with the music and the characters. It's a really fun show in general."

Wickenhauser is a senior theater major and plays Little Sally in the show. "She's a little girl who just knows everything," she said. "She's not buying the fact that this is a musical."

Kelly is pleased to be able to revisit Urinetown.

"It's not a disgusting musical just about pee," he said.

Kelly is assisted with the production by Pamela Grooms, musical director; Kyle Long, stage manager; Donnell Walsh, scenic designer; Natalie Smith, light designer; and Donna Northcott, costume designer.

Tickets cost $10 to $18 and are available at the Lindenwood Box Office, (636) 949-4433, or online at www.lindenwood.edu/center.