Three rehearsals later new rules came into force and Years 6 to 10 returned to distance learning so we continued to rehearse with boys and some senior girls. Into Term 3 we continued with Year 11 and 12 boys only now with girls joining us on Zoom. It continued to amaze me how dedicated everyone remained to the show. Stage 4 sent us into a tailspin. It became abundantly clear that we were going to either limit our work on Urinetown to a documentary memory video shared with the cast alone and with no performance at all, or seek unlikely streaming rights for an online production. Unlikely, because streaming had developed under COVID as strictly live capture performance rather than montage, and the latter was all we had! Zoom rehearsals continued and we put together a complicated overview of all previously filmed video footage with the plan to create a more comprehensive documentary of the show charting our journey from audition to cancellation! Without much hope I wrote a letter to Music Theatre International (AU) explaining our position and pleading in the name of our talented and dedicated cast (especially the Year 12s) that we might be allowed to present the show in video montage online. To my grateful surprise after MTI (AU) approached the authors we were given full approval for the streaming license, and not just for us but for all other schools currently producing the show! We then went into overdrive collecting rehearsal footage (some in costume and some without), captured Zoom rehearsals, and used our couch choir experience to get the cast to record themselves providing Jess Doutch with all that she needed to edit a complete a montage of the show. Mr Feldt applied himself to post-production, Mr Bishop and Mr Phillips to mixing audio, and, when we found the orchestral tracks we had hired had significantly different and varying tempos to hi the rehearsal tracks Mr Johnston (a veritable wizard in digital audio workspaces) spend many tens of hours editing practically every bar of the whole score for our use. What you’ll see this evening is a “found and foraged footage film montage” of the show, rough, and not very ready, with most work a few weeks away from the benefit of the frantic last rehearsals that benefit a live onstage show. A muse, if you like, on the process rather than a polished final product, but even so there are many diamonds in the rough and much to be enjoyed! The show must go on! And it did. Andrew Stocker Director and Head of Drama
SYNOPSIS ACT ONE In a town like any other town, a twenty-year drought has caused a terrible water shortage, making private toilets unthinkable. All restroom activities are done in public toilets controlled by a corporation called ‘Urine Good Company’ (or UGC). To control water consumption, people must pay to use the amenities. There are harsh laws ensuring that people pay to urinate, and if the laws are broken, the offender is sent to ‘Urinetown’ never to return. The oppressed masses huddle in line at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town, Public Amenity #9, which is run by the rigid, authoritarian Ms Pennywise and her assistant, young everyman Bobby Strong. Trouble ensues when Bobby's father, Old Man Strong, cannot afford his urinal admission for the day and asks Pennywise to let him go free "just this once." After Old Man Strong's plea is dismissed (It's a Privilege to Pee), he urinates on the street and is soon arrested by Officers Lockstock and Barrel and escorted off to Urinetown (It's a Privilege to Pee Reprise). Later that day, in the corporate offices of Urine Good Company, CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell discusses the new fee hikes with Senator Fipp. Cladwell's daughter Hope arrives to start as the new UGC fax/copy girl. The UGC staff sing a song in praise of their chief (Mr. Cladwell). Officers Lockstock and Barrel discuss the journey to Urinetown (The Cop Song). Hope encounters a distraught Bobby, who wonders if he could have done something during his father’s arrest. The two realise that they both want a new world where the people can be happy and pee for free. United by their belief, they fall in love (Follow Your Heart). The next day, Cladwell's assistant, Mr McQueen, announces the new fee hikes set upon the urinals. Bobby concludes that the laws are wrong. Opening the doors of the urinal, despite Ms Pennywise's protests, he begins a pee-for-free rebellion (Look at the Sky). At the UGC Offices, Pennywise informs Cladwell of the uprising. Cladwell vows to crush the rebellion and tells Hope that it is their responsibility to stomp on the poor (Don't Be the Bunny). Cladwell, McQueen, Fipp, Pennywise, Lockstock and Barrel arrive at Amenity #9. Bobby learns that Hope is Cladwell's daughter. He realises that the only way out of the trap is to kidnap Hope to use as leverage against Cladwell. The Poor escape with Hope as their hostage. Lockstock vows to catch all those who are associated with the revolution (Act One Finale).
ACT TWO Whilst holding Hope hostage in a secret hideout, the Rebels wonder what Urinetown is. Cladwell orders Lockstock to search harder for the rebels. Bobby is sure that Urinetown is nothing but a lie designed to keep the poor people in fear (What is Urinetown?). Convinced that Bobby has been captured, the Rebels decide that the best way to get revenge on Cladwell is to kill Hope (Snuff That Girl). Bobby bursts in and reminds the Rebels that their purpose is not only about revenge, but about freedom (Run, Freedom, Run!). Invigorated, the poor rally around Bobby, but balk at his statement that the violent fight could take decades. Ms Pennywise arrives at the hideout, telling Bobby that Cladwell wants to meet with him. Bobby departs, but only after being reminded by the impatient Rebels that if anything happens to him, Hope will be killed. At the UGC headquarters, Bobby is offered a suitcase full of cash and full amnesty to the Rebels, as long as Hope is returned and the people agree to the new fee hikes. Bobby refuses, and demands free access for the people. Cladwell orders the cops to escort Bobby to Urinetown—even if it means that the Rebels will kill Hope. Horrified, Pennywise marvels at the depth of Cladwell's evil. She, Hope, and Fipp sing of their regrets of falling for Cladwell's schemes (Why Did I Listen To That Man?). Meanwhile, Bobby is led to the top of the UGC building, and learns the truth: Urinetown is death. Lockstock and Barrel throw him off the building, killing him. Little Sally returns to the hideout in a shocked daze, having just heard Bobby's last words (Tell Her I Love Her). As the Rebels are about to murder Hope in revenge, Ms Pennywise enters and offers herself instead, proclaiming herself to be Hope's mother. Hope convinces the Rebels to let her lead them, and they march to the offices of UGC. Officer Barrel, Senator Fipp, and Mrs Millennium are caught in their rampage (We're Not Sorry). Hope reveals to her father that she is still alive. Cladwell is overjoyed, until the rest of the Rebels reveal themselves. Hope proclaims that his reign of terror is over. Pennywise and Cladwell reminisce about their past romance (We're Not Sorry Reprise). Cladwell is led to the roof, and is thrown off to his death. With the town at peace at last, the Urine Good Company is renamed ‘The Bobby Strong Memorial Toilet Authority’. The people celebrate their freedom (I See A River), but their urinary bliss is short-lived. The remaining townsfolk wage on, their town now quite like the imaginary ‘Urinetown’.
CAST
James Thorn
William Lewis
Rhys Denison
Grace Edge
Josie Parton
Mia Suda
Caldwell B. Cladwell
Bobby Strong
Ms Pennywise
Aidan Harris Officer Barrel
Officer Lockstock
Hope Cladwell
Sam Parmenter Senator Fipp
Little Sally
Thomas Ng
Hot Blades Harry
Rhys Campbell Mr McQueen
Mackenzie Young Little Becky Two Shoes
Hugh McGlone
Lexie Smith
Cooper Carbone
Laura Sharrock
Arman Cakmakcioglu
Soupy Sue
Robby The Stockfish
Josephine ‘Ma’ Strong
Hayden Whiteford
Erin Johnston
Joseph ‘Old Man’ Strong, Rebel
Mrs Millenium
Tiny Tom
Billy Boy Bill
Jack Hu
Dr Billeaux
Angus Aikman
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
William Allsop
The Poor, Ballet Blanc, Rebel Dancer
Angus Bosmans
Ben Bosmans
The Poor, Rebel
Cop, Rebel
Ned Chesler The Poor, Rebel
Madie Davis The Poor, Rebel
Hugo Fry The Poor, Rebel
Ethan Bennett
Cop, Rebel
The Poor, Rebel
Sarah Dick
Scientist
Luke Burton
Oscar Cheung
The Poor, Ballet Blanc, Rebel Dancer
Max Grant Scientist
Sabina Ashton
The Poor, Ballet Blanc, Rebel Dancer
Philippa Gray
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
The Poor, Rebel
Siena Dresner
Benny Grayson UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Marc Dalla Riva The Poor, Rebel
Sarah Feldt
The Poor, Rebel
The Poor, Rebel
The Poor, Rebel
The Poor, Julie Cassidy, Rebel
Eugene Goh
Millie Bode
Je-Rard Cheong
The Poor, Rebel
Oscar Curry
The Poor, Ballet Blanc, Rebel Dancer
Frank Bite
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Matt Chan
The Poor, Ballet Blanc, Rebel Dancer
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
The Poor, Rebel
The Poor, Rebel
Michael Campbell
Jessica ChipperďŹ eld
Luke Doblin
Andy Bishop
Talia Folos The Poor, Rebel
Harrison Haintz UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Rey Ho
The Poor, Rebel
Jasmine Hosken UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Carson Howard Cop, Rebel
Amy Kim Cop, Rebel
Jaya Kirvan
Julian Lowrie
Sienna Regos
Conrad Thornton The Poor, Rebel
Connor Inston
The Poor, Rebel
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Tim Howard
Sara Laksassi
Cop, Rebel
Scientist
Nicholas Sarlos-Welsh Henry Shirrefs
Chiara Vague
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Fletcher Von Arx UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Scientist
Veronika Pirozek The Poor, Rebel
Jimmy Smith
The Poor, Rebel
The Poor, Rebel
Ben Wardlaw Scientist
The Poor, Rebel
Charles Lewis
The Poor, Rebel
Darcy Norman
Mackenzie Johnston Marcus Katsoulotos
Cop, Rebel
Alex Lew
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Hamish Monckton
The Poor, Jacob Rosenbloom, Rebel Dancer
Colin Jiang
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Cop, Rebel
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Cop, Rebel
Ballet Blanc
Ming Jin Low
Kiana Pourhossein
Isabella Spuria
Harry Watson
The Poor, Roger Roosevelt, Rebel
Kerry Sun
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Max Whittle
UGC Worker, Rebel Dancer
Mia Ylagan The Poor, Rebel
PRODUCTION TEAM Director
Musical Director Choreographer
Assistant Director/Production Coordinator
Mr Andrew Stocker Mr Ben Bishop Ms Miranda McDonald Ms Jessica Doutch
Technical Coordinator
Mr Stuart Feldt
Setting and P Properties Designer
Mr Mark Wager
Costume Designer
Costume Technician
Setting and Properties Design Assistant Costume and Properties Assistant
Set Builder
Lighting Technician
Hair Designer
Makeup Artist (Stage)
Makeup Artist (Photoshoot)
Guest Choreographer (What is Urinetown)
Mrs Jennifer Bennie Ms Breanna Handfield Mr Thomas Bevans Mr David Bennie Mr Paul Newton Mr Michael Zagarn Ms Kerrin Barker Ms Martina Lindsey Ms Rebecca Gason Mr Jack Migdalek
Poster and Production Photography
Mr Ken Nakinishi
Vocal Coach
Mr Curtis Bayliss
Poster and Projection Design Chorus Master
Bassist ((Snuff That Girl)
Rehearsal Accompanists
Mr Simon Barry Arman Cakmakcioglu Sam Parmenter Mr Nicolas Johnston Mr Mark Kerr Mr Greg Roberts
CGS Camera and Tech Crew
Mitchell Reid Hamish Canny Ravin Desai Maha Finn Mahaffy
Live-stream Editors Live-stream Audio Engineers
Ms Jessica Doutch Mr Stuart Feldt Mr Campbell Phillips Mr Nicolas Johnston Mr Ben Bishop
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to Reveal Productions, Kinetic Sets and Clear Systems. We would also like to thank the Authors; Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann for their permission to stream and Stuart Hendricks Managing Director of MTI (AU) for being our intermediary.
STREAMING IS PRESENTED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, Australasia (MTIA). All authorized performance materials are supplied by Hal Leonard Australia (HLA).