Ohio Wesleyan to Present Tony Award-Winning ‘Urinetown’
Satirical Musical Scheduled for Five Performances April 17 through April 26
Penelope Pennywise shares some startling news: Grace Thompson, left, as Hope Cladwell, Ryan Haddad as Caldwell B. Cladwell, Luke Scaros as Officer Barrel, and Brianna Robinson as Penelope Pennywise in Ohio Wesleyan University’s production of ‘Urinetown: the Musical’ (Photo by Ian Boyle)
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University’s Departments of Music and Theatre & Dance will present five performances of the Tony Award-winning “Urinetown: the Musical” between April 17 and April 26.
Performances will begin at 8 p.m. April 17, 18, 24, and 25, with a 2 p.m. matinee April 26. All shows will be held inside OWU’s Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
The satirical musical imagines a world where a terrible water shortage gives rise to a draconian system that outlaws private toilets and forces citizens to urinate only in paid-use public amenities. “Urinetown” features music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollman and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. The play earned Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in 2002.
The play’s public amenities are run by “Urine Good Company,” with CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell, and anyone caught peeing elsewhere is punished with exile to Urinetown. Of course, revolt is just around corner when the hero, Bobby Strong, falls in love with Cladwell’s daughter, Hope.
Ohio Wesleyan’s production of “Urinetown: the Musical” is directed by theatre professor Edward Kahn. Choreography is by assistant professor of dance Rashana Perks Smith. Assistant professor of music Jennifer Whitehead is serving as the vocal coach, with James Jenkins as the music director. Set design is by OWU technical director Chadwyn Knutson; lighting design is by theatre professor D. Glen Vanderbilt Jr., and costume design is provided by OWU costume shop manager Jacqueline Shelley.
Seniors Ryan Haddad and Grace Thompson play Cladwell and Hope. Freshman T.J. Galamba plays the hero, Bobby, and senior Brianna Robinson plays his boss at the amenity, Penelope Pennywise. Sophomore Reginald Hemphill and junior Sarah Shulman play Officer Lockstock and Little Sally, who serve as narrators as well as characters in the show. The cast features a total of 23 Ohio Wesleyan students.
General admission for this and all Ohio Wesleyan Theatre & Dance productions is $10, and admission for senior citizens, OWU faculty/staff, and non-OWU students is $5. Admission is free for Ohio Wesleyan students with a valid university ID. Call (740) 368-3855 for reservations, or visit https://www.owu.edu/academics/departments-programs/department-of-theatre-dance/ for more details.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers 86 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. OWU’s 1,750 students represent 46 U.S. states and territories and 43 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.