THE ROEPER SCHOOL
Educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world.
LAND USE STATEMENT
We acknowledge that The Roeper School rests on the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Anishinaabe, or Three Fires Confederacy. The 1807 Treaty of Detroit recognized these lands as belonging to the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot Nations. We at Roeper affirm the inherent sovereignty of tribal governments and thank them for their stewardship of this land in the past, present, and future. With our Native neighbors, Roeper will work to advance educational equity and promote a better future for the earth and all people.
NOTE TO THE AUDIENCE
Kindly refrain from recording or using any electronic devices during the performance as it is a violation of United States copyright law and an actionable federal offense. Let’s keep the magic alive for everyone!
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
This event is brought to you in part by generous donations to The Roeper School Annual Fund.
URINETOWN THE MUSICAL URINETOWN
MUSIC AND LYRICS
Mark Hollmann BOOK AND LYRICS
Greg Kotis
URINETOWN was produced on Broadway in September, 2001 by the Araca Group and Dodger Theatricals in association with TheaterDreams, Inc., and Lauren Mitchell.
URINETOWN
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE DIRECTOR’S
Welcome to Urinetown!
The Musical, of course, not the place. Yes, yes, I know, it’s not a very attractive title. You’re probably thinking “What am I about to watch?” or “Why did the RTC choose this musical?” Well, let me explain. Urinetown (the musical) is a political satire that looks at what would happen if we lived through a twenty-year drought and large, monopolizing corporations and politicians took advantage of the use of toilets. As you can imagine, this does not go over well with the lower class. But what can be done? Will a revolution bring down corporate greed? Will people ever be able to do their “business” for free again? Will the RTC do a happy musical next time? You’ll probably just have to wait and see.
So why did we choose this show? First of all, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that we are currently in the middle of a very polarizing election. While this show does not directly comment on the election or the candidates, it does satirize important social issues that correlate to what people will be voting for come November 5. And like a good satire, it provides comic relief to the strong feelings we have about what is to come. I should also note that I am writing this before November 5, and depending on what happens, this performance may hit us all in a very different way.
Secondly, Urinetown (the musical) is a bit of a musical theater history lesson all in itself. Urinetown references the political theater works of Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, and Marc Blitzstein. Brecht’s “Epic Theatre” style is seen throughout the entire show by breaking the fourth wall and reminding the audience that they are watching a play. Several songs sound like they came straight out of Threepenny Opera by Brecht and Weill, and the story line and cartoonish character names are reminiscent of Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock. The show references more modern musicals as well with an Act One finale not unlike “Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Misérables, and a villain song in the style of Jerry Herman.
So hopefully you can look past the stupid title and enjoy this hilarious musical. Oh! And don’t worry about the bathroom fee should nature call during intermission, it was already included in the ticket price!
Alex Pedica RTC Artistic Director
CAST & CREW
CAST & CREW
Bobby Strong
Luke Rogers
Hope Cladwell Stella Fenton
Caldwell Cladwell Brooklyn Pfeffer
Officer Lockstock
David Burnley
Officer Barrel Dante Steinhobel
Penelope Pennywise Bex Conway
Little Sally* ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Shayna Stebbins
Tiny Tom/Billy Boy Bill
Boy Cop 3
UGC Executive 1
Bryce Broughton
Josephine Strong Avery Fuger
Mr. McQueen
Boy Cop 2
Little Becky Two Shoes
Mrs. Millenium
Nawa Okwudire
Girl Cop Simran Shah
Hot Blades Harry
Old Man Strong
UGC Executive 2 Justice Broughton
Soupy Sue ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Lilly Brinn
Robby the Stockfish
Doctor Billeaux Liam Hoover
Senator Fipp
Boy Cop 1 Liv Mardiros
Little Sally U/S*
Swings
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Addison Webster
Brooklyn Brown
Naomi Fears-Williams
Crypt Gross
Stagehand Cub Murphy
Lighting Head
Sound Head Cosmo Steffke
Sound Assistant
Stagehand
Connor Kostecke
CAST & CREW PRODUCTION & PIT CAST & CREW
Director Alex Pedica
Music Director
Choreographer
Steve McGhee
Amy Cova
Technical Director Jake Turner
RTC Production Manager���������������������������������������������������������������Gloria Despard
Box Office Manager Leisl Must
Costume Designer
Rachael Parrott
Concessions Coordinators ��������������������������������������������Barb and Mark Rogers
Promotional Design Jack Williams
Bass Eric Ambros (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Bass (Sun) Roeper Student Andrew Emmert
Trombone
Saxophone
Jennifer Pacifico
Alex Sellers
Percussion Kim Unrau
Piano
Steve McGhee
RTC MISSION STATEMENT
The Roeper Theater Company is dedicated to actively promoting the Roeper philosophy by producing diverse, socially-conscious theater that celebrates the indomitable human spirit and encourages peace, justice, courage, and reconciliation.
MUSICAL NUMBERS MUSICAL
Prelude
Urinetown
Act 1
Full Company
It’s a Privilege to Pee Pennywise, Ensemble
It’s a Privilege to Pee (Lockstock’s Reprise) Lockstock, Ensemble
Mr� Cladwell ��������������������������������Cladwell, McQueen, Hope, Billeaux, Ensemble
Cop Song
Lockstock, Barrel, Cops
Follow Your Heart Hope, Bobby
Look at the Sky Bobby, Soupy Sue, Tiny Tom, Josephine, Ensemble
Don’t be the Bunny
Cladwell, McQueen, Fipp, Ensemble
Act 1 Finale Full Company
15-MINUTE INTERMISSION
Act 2
What is Urinetown?������������Little Becky, Hot Blades Harry, Cladwell, Bobby, Little Sally, Lockstock, Ensemble
Snuff that Girl
Hot Blades Harry, Little Becky, Tiny Tom/Billy Boy Bill Soupy Sue, Robbie the Stockfish, Ensemble
Run, Freedom, Run Bobby, Ensemble
Follow Your Heart (Reprise) Hope
Why did I Listen to that Man? Pennywise, Fipp, Lockstock, Barrel, Hope, Bobby
Tell Her I Love Her
Little Sally, Bobby, Ensemble
We’re Not Sorry Little Sally, Hot Blades Harry, Josephine, Soupy Sue, Billy Boy Bill, Ensemble
I’m Not Sorry
(Reprise) Cladwell, Pennywise
I See a River Hope, Little Becky, Josephine, Ensemble
A NEW ADDITION A NEW ADDITION
WELCOME, RACHAEL PARROTT
Rachael is excited to join Roeper Theater for her first show as Costume Designer. She is a costume designer and sewist, having studied at the Northern College of Costume in York, England before moving on to do several seasons as a stitcher in the costume shop at Detroit Opera. Between opera seasons, Rachael works with several local theaters and high school theater companies, including the Ringwald Theater, Troy High School, and Cranbrook School. In her down time, she’s probably hemming a pair of pants or recreating 18th century dresses. She’s thrilled to have the chance to collaborate with the Roeper kids and bring their characters to life.
SENIOR BIOS SENIOR BIOS
BEX CONWAY (PENELOPE PENNYWISE)
Bex (they/them) is extremely proud to be a part of Urinetown as Penelope Pennywise! They’re extremely proud of the entire cast and crew and grateful for their experience in Roeper theater.
Bex has been doing theater for the past 12 years and Roeper has been an integral part of their pursual of theater as a career. Through opera and community theater, the support from family and friends, and especially teachers, has been invaluable.
Bex would also like to highlight their work as an animal rights advocate and encourage members of the audience to help out at the local shelter Animal House of Southeast Michigan, which currently operates out of a PetSmart in Royal Oak and still helps more than 500 cats a year find homes and be rehabilitated. Bex is known among the Roeper community as the theater kid with 20 foster cats so their work as a foster is incredibly important.
Bex would like to thank Steven and Alex who have been by their side the past year or so and supported them with colleges and expanding their theater experience.
CLARA GROSS (TECHNICAL CREW)
Crypt (they/them)—Stage Manager for 2.5 years. Glad to be a part of things; very sad to leave. Keep on keeping on everyone. You’ll do great. . . even if I’m not up there in the booth calling the cues.
DANTE STEINHOBEL
Dante—who has, up to this point, used so many names he’s lost count—has been an on-and-off member of the RTC for about four years. Playing minor roles in the Roeper production of Cabaret and working tech crew for Songs for a New World, Dante’s been in and out of the throes of theater since he got the chance to hang out with the cool drama kids. Having now graduated to being a cool drama kid himself and having asked the other cool drama kids for good adjectives to work into a small biography, Dante’s been described as a laidback yet passionate funnyman
with a shrewd eye and a knack for picking out rather stylish coats. Many also comment on his exceedingly handsome face, as it is one of his greatest selling points. He also has great taste in music and correct opinions on everything. Pleasantries aside, he’s excited to perform, and he looks forward to being blinded by stage lights for your viewing pleasure.
BEHIND THE SCENES TECH WEEK BEHIND THE SCENES
BRAVO! BRAVO!
We’re so proud of you, Bryce! Congrats! Love, Mama & Dad
Don’t be the bunny, Justice! Break a leg! Love, Mama & Dad
Good Luck, #1! Love, Papa · Break a leg, Stella! Love, Ga
WHOOO’S SHEEE?! Love you, Stells! XO, Mom & Trev
Stella, you’re our shining star! We’re so proud! Luv, GeGe & Grandpa
We are so, so proud of you! Dad, Mom, Sabriella & Parker!
Congratulations Shayna and the Entire Cast of Urinetown
Luke, we are so proud of you! Love, Mom & Dad
Congrats to the Cast & Crew! The Rogers Family
Lilly – We are so proud of our Soupy Sue! Love, Mom, Dad & Tori!
We are so proud of you, Connor Boyu! Break a leg! Love, Mom & Dad
Liam, break a leg! Love, Mom and Dad
We love you, Bean! To the moon and back.
B – Congrats on your senior show! What an amazing journey!
B – You shine on stage! We can’t wait to see what you do next!
Ur in good company! Congrats, Avery! Love, Mom, Dad, and Michael
Break a leg, Cub! We are so proud of you. Love, Mom & Dad
“The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.” — RENT
Proud of you Clara, keep creating beauty in the world. Love, Mom and Grandad
Cast & Crew – Wishing you a world filled with peace and joy . . . follow your heart!
— Alex, Steve, Jake, Amy, and Gloria
Adam Derington
Susannah Nichols
Michelle Stamler
