While performances for this year’s spring musical, “Urinetown,” won’t happen until late April, rehearsals began on Jan. 24 after a cast list came out a few days earlier.
“Urinetown” is a satirical musical set in a dystopian future city where citizens are forced to pay fees for the privilege of using the bathroom
Senior Nila Venkataratnam, an assistant director for the production, also plays the main role of Penelope Pennywise, a toilet manager. Senior Patrick Keogh will play Bobby Strong, a leader of a rebellion fighting for the right to urination and senior Ben Davies will step into the role of antagonist Caldwell B. Cladwell, a greedy CEO controlling the monopoly over bathrooms.
“The hardest part for me is assuming [Pennywise’s] persona as well as singing because her songs are really high in my vocal range,” Venkataratnam said.
With the rehearsal process still in the early stages, performers have just begun blocking scenes and learning choreography. The show has a much smaller cast — with only about 20 students — compared to last year’s production of “The Little Mermaid,” resulting in challenges for ensemble members to manage character switching and extra choreography.
Performances will take place on April 24, 25, 26, May 1 and May 2 at the McAfee Center.
For seniors like Venkataratnam, “Urinetown” will be their last production at the school.
“It’s definitely bittersweet, because I’m very happy with the role I’m playing in my last production,” she said. “But it is very sad because I’ve spent so much time in [high school] drama that it’ll be sad to leave.”
Across the drama department, the students in the Class of ‘26 enrolled in Drama 4H are preparing for their respective capstone projects: Senior Larry O’Brien is in the rehearsal process for his Drama 4 Honors student-directed production “Power Play”; senior Ben Davies is also preparing for performances of his show, “14 Ways to Screw Up a College Interview.” Both shows will perform on Feb. 27 and 28.
On Feb. 6, the program held its annual “One Year In One Night” fundraiser. Featuring short scenes from shows throughout the year, this fundraiser raised money for students to attend the California State Thespian Festival in March. During the festival, students will compete in categories such as solo acting and playwriting.
At the fundraiser, audience members put bids on auction items such as show tickets, a LinkedIn Premium account, a backstage tour and $50 gift cards to Hong’s Gourmet and Mandala Indian Cuisine.
Another drama group, the Comedy Sportz team, has done successful fundraising and has been preparing for an improv game game on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Thermond Drama Center.
