Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry
Pictured: Lex as Hot Blades Harry, Dana Morgan as Little Becky Two Shoes, and Michelle Vera as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown. South Bay Musical Theatre, Winter 2025.
Photo by Dave Lepori
January 25 - February 15, 2025
Saratoga, CA
Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, municipal politics, and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America's greatest art forms.
In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!
This production was directed by David Mister, choreographed by Jen Cuevas, vocal directed by Walter Mayes, and musical directed by Christine Lovejoy.
Reviews
“South Bay Musical Theatre’s decision months ago to open its punchy and pleasing production in late January 2025 now seems uncannily timely. That is especially true every time the large cast faces the audience at the edge of the stage, singing in huge-sounding, direct-in-your-face harmonies phrases like “This is Urinetown,” “You’re at Urinetown,” or “We are in Urinetown.” It does not take long for everyone to realize “Urinetown” is actually “Your Town.”
Yes, Little Sally, even in a musical with so much happy music, full-stage dancing, and fabulous voices, South Bay Musical Theatre’s Urinetown is not a happy musical. Lockstock asks in some amazement why she thinks people will not want to come to see Urinetown. “Don’t you think people want to be told their way of life is unsustainable?”
Well, maybe not, Lockstock, not right now in the U.S. But that does not mean that audiences should not flock to this opportunity at South Bay Musical Theatre to laugh, to enjoy, and to contemplate the fact that “This is Urinetown!””
