First Year Players to perform ‘Urinetown’ this weekend
IF YOU GO
What: FYP presents ‘Urinetown’
Where: Goldstein Auditorium
When: Tonight through Saturday, 8 p.m.
How Much: $4 w/ ID
In order to use the bathroom, you must pay up or face being sent to Urinetown.
In Urinetown, a play performed by Syracuse University’s First Year Players, town residents are disgruntled with the water situation, where they have to pay to use the bathroom. They stage an uprising against the Urine Good Company, which governs the bathrooms. Thus, urinating actually leads to revolution.
Although the story may seem far-fetched, Urinetown is actually very relevant today, said Susan Borenstein, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences who plays the character Pennywise.
‘As much as the show doesn’t end on a positive note, it’s still a note to think about, and we should learn from the bad parts of life as much as we can,’ she said.
The original off-Broadway musical, created by Mark Holloman and Greg Kotis, opened in September 2001. In 2002, the musical won three Tony Awards and was nominated for seven more.
‘It is set nowhere and in no time,’ said Davis Haines, a freshman education major who plays the main character, Bobby Strong. ‘We as a production can only do so much to guide the audience through the story, everything else they better be ready to imagine.’
The First Year Players, a musical theater group run by SU students, gives freshman non-drama majors the opportunity to perform in an annual spring musical. This year’s show will run from April 2 through 4 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $7 and student tickets with SU I.D. are $4.
‘It’s called Urinetown?’ said Chasity Cooper, a sophomore public relations major. ‘I don’t know exactly what they are going to be doing in the play, but if FYP usually puts on good shows, I maybe would go see it.’
While FYP has performed hit musicals in the past, many in the group insist that Urinetown is very different and provides both the cast and audience with a new experience.
‘I definitely see it as a greatchallenge for FYP that moves us in a different direction from ourprevious shows,’ said Hannah Globus, the assistant producer for Urinetown and a sophomore television, radio and film major. ‘It’s very edgy and unusual and delves into some deeperthemes that I think are really valuable to the community, especiallyright now.’
Chris Cory, a senior public relations major and the co-producer for Urinetown, said the play also has strong themes of sustainability and social responsibility. These themes have also gained importance in our society in the past year.
‘Urinetown is not your typical musical, especially since it pokes fun of itself for being a musical,’ said Cory. ‘The musical has many styles of music and dance. There is something for everyone to enjoy.’
Published on April 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm
