It was a lot of fun to come back to this title, this was our 2nd time producing this show. Urinetown is a special piece of musical theater and the department was looking for a show that would fit the roster of students taking the Spring '26 section of the Advanced Acting course. The idea was to put up a full main stage Spring musical by reheasing together as a group only during our class time (and during some selected Ac Networkings), the actors using pre-recorded rehearsal tracks for self-rehearsal, and not meeting after school for any rehearsals until tech/dress/show week. We also had an amazing group of Techinical Theater students/artists working on the production in their class. We knew that we would need to add a few more students to the production during the tech/show week, but the two classes together provided a very solid group of students for this experiment.
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Poster Design by Vivienne DeLorez
We spent roughly two and a half months of class time working on the production. This allowed us to get all of our ducks in a row.
The Spring Advanced Acting Class
(missing Cathal in this pic)
We presented three nights of the show for a live audience like we always do. The actors, our fabulous band and talented techicians rose to the challenges of the production and supported each other's learning in beautiful ways. This was a very unique group of students, with a wide range of experience in this kind of work; they were the PERFECT company for this very cool and unsual story.
The audiences had a great time each night with this show, and the actors had a ball with the larger than life characters. Our ultimate goal was to have our audiences left thinking about their place in the environmental conservation efforts a little more.
How did it begin?
CLASSWORK: We started with some quick dives into the most recent aesthetic movements and the actors presented short group research projects/lectures on Modernism, Post-modernism and Meta-modernism. These are very complex topics on thier own, but even with a broad ovrview we had a better understanding of the show's intentions. Trying to land the comedy (and dramatic moments) in this script required that we understand the author's path to the punchline.
The show is both a parody and satire; with quite a bit of farce. While showing the rediculousness of the character's choices, it simutaniously speaks on the very serious nature of the planet's situation and our impending water shortage/environmental doom.
Finally, before we could hold auditions we did a table read (where the actors switched around and read a bunch of different roles) and we listen to the original Broadway cast album. We also stopped and started a little to talk about plot, themes/metaphors, characters, the main conflict(s), options for staging the show in our space and the main story we are going to tell.
The AUDITIONS
Cuttings for the auditions were hung on the department walls and the actors were asked to pick 2 characters (max) they wanted to prepare. They were preparing to perform a short cutting of a song from the show using Youtube instrumentals in a closed audition.
We brought in the amazing Taylor Pietz to help with voice range testing and the help the students sing some of the music cuttings. It was awesome having a legit pianist and vocal coach in our space for this part of the process. It really helped the students show us the best of their abilities; a very important piece of the casting puzzle.
We held the actors in the White Box and one by one they would come into the Aud and we used the grand piano to voice test and the singers prepared cuttings from the score to go for specific roles.
Even the students who had no singing training or experience
did very well with our coach. Everyone could sing!
We could not have done this without Ms. Taylor Pietz. When we decided to pick this title, we knew we had enough actors in the class to pull it off. We also knew many of them could sing solo on stage as well. (many in the class had done a main stage musical or a B-way Revue with the department at this point). The show could have been cast a bunch of different ways with this acting pool, but by letting auditions do their thing, the process always finds the right actor for the role.
Thanks again Taylor
CASTING
Everyone did so well in the audition it didn't take Mr Schaefer long to make it all work out on paper. In the end we ended up with the perfect actor for each role. (We doubled up some lines in the ensemble) The best part is that everyone was given the opportunity to broaden their range as performers. We announced the cast and immediately handed out books and got started with the music, blocking and choreo.
THE CAST OF URINETOWN The Musical!
Myles Thompson Charlotte Snell Mimi Mueller
as Caldwell B. Cladwell as Hope as Ms. Pennywise
Ebba Grimm Simone Taylor Ginnette Hultz
as Mr. McQueen as Sr. Fipp as Ms. Millenium
Martha Poppen Clover Harris Colin Nicholl
as Booby Strong as Old Ma Strong as Old Man Strong (Tiny Tom)
Kori Stuber Eliza Thompson Charlotte Jennings
as Hot Blades Harry as Little Becky Two-Shoes as Soupy Sue
Jerimiah Lee Cathal Pursell
as Ofr. Lockstock as Barrell
Lucy Middendorf
as Little Sally
UNDERSTUDY or SWING? You decide...
We found out the weekend before opening that one of our actors was being offered an amazing opportunity to travel to Memphis on the PPIF tour, so we piveted, and brought in Miriam Yau to learn the role of Senator Fibb to cover Simone for two of the performances. This allowed Simone to go on this amazing tour with our staff and her peers. It also gave another performer (Miriam) the opportunity to play a role in a main stage production (she just had to learn it at warp speed).
Miriam Yau is amazing and did a spectacular job filling for us! This was not an easy track to learn; musically is it some of the most challenging to learn. There was also a great deal of dialogue, blocking and choreography. She did it all in just a few days - A REAL PRO!!!
as Sr. Fipp
(Thurs and Fri night)
THE REHEARSALS
The Process was simple. Everyone worked together when we were together, and when we weren't there was an expectation that everyone would continue to work on music and memorization on their own.
In class, we kept blocking/staging the scenes/songs until the entire show is staged (this took us until tech weekend). We filled in days with song/choreography practice as well (which was recorded and shared), but polishing was happening right up to our Wed (preview/opening).
Our department's layout allows for mulitple scenes and songs to be in rehearsal at once, which is good and helps smaller groupings for more productivity.
The show is a puzzle and we just had to put the pieces in place...
STAGING and MUSIC and DANCE
We used the music reherarsal tracks provided to us to learn the individual music parts. It was operated from the actors phones but there was definitely a learning curve. Many of the actors were in choir and ACA and would offer assistance, helping others gain a better understanding of sheet music. In the end, the experiment taught everyone something; the new singers got a crash course in finding their vocal part in the musical chord and some music terminology. The veteran singers were given the opportunity to test their knowledge of music theory when making the adjustments for our group of actor/singers.
The music was the biggest challenge for many in the class, and we had to give ourselves grace as we found our way with this score. Many of the actors needed all of the time we were given to learn all of it by deadline; needing the class rehearsals for ear training with the other people singing their part.
Martha, Jerimiah, Cathal and Lucy blocking the night street scene
that leads into the "Cop Song" in the Black Box
The Black Box was used to stage most of the show; we had a stage already set up that gave us a fairly close representation of our set's "bridge". The actors still had to envision the full set as we worked through the blocking, but it was close enough.
This allowed us construct some of the stage pictures, establish levels with our group of 17 and figure out all of the character's entrances and exits. There were only two wagons in the show, so the set changes were rather simple for the most part and they didn't burn up much rehearsal time.
Myles Thompson (Cladwell) immediately took the ensemble into the White Box to learn/develop the choreo for the song "Mr. Cladwell". He sang lead on the song and also took on the choreo that the ensemble was going to do behind him. It was fun and he had "the staff" moving all over the space with their clipboard props. The final look felt "old" Hollywood musical.
Mimi Mueller (Pennywise) really stepped up as a vocal director on the show and pushed the cast to learn the challenging music. This was an essential piece to the success of the show in the end; students taking on leadership roles in the production. The entire class pushed each other, setting a high bar for themselves and the final show.
Getting off book was difficult. We didn't get as mush repetition as a group as you may normally get in an after school rehearsal. It is easier to lock in your lines when you get repetition with your scene partners in a rehearsal. Time was tight with this rehearsal process and asked the actors to really move quickly and work a lot on their own.
Lyrics tied to choreo tend to be memorized a little faster cause you can attach the words to the dance.
That extra physical "muscle memory" piece helps a ton!
Mimi working on music with the cast
The White Box inherited one of the old electric piano's from the music department that we use for rehearsals. This has allowed many students to practice some direction and leadership with their peers.
Teaching music to teenagers is very tough, and the learning that took place during this experiment happened on both sides. The students in leadership roles really learned about collaboration and compromise. They had to allow space for failure. My new singers learned about personal-responsibility and sacrifice of personal time. Self-rehearsal is the most over looked skill and yet it is the most important for a singer's success; it just isn't very glamorous...just a test of the performer's level of grit.
Martha Poppen (Bobby) was also an actor who took on Choreography. Martha choreographed multiple songs in the show. All of her numbers were show stoppers! The Cop Song was one of the first she started putting on its feet so that Cathal and Jerimiah could spend time getting it polished. We worked on the "Cop Song" in the auditorium because we had the entire cast in the number and had them all going into the voms with flashlights.
There was not a lot of time to stop in a rehearsal so we just kept world building in conversations outside of rehearsals and then applying it. There was continuous character building with this cast. It was fun to watch it come to life.
The mirrors have proven to be a game changer with our dancing in shows!
Kori, Colin, Charlotte, Eliza and Lucy working with Martha on the Choreography for the number "Snuff That Girl". It has a lot going on and Hope is tied to the chair the whole time. The dance was amazing and the actors did an awesome job...the favorite dance move from this song is the "squirrel hop" they all do in unison. Eliza even had to tap solo (for the 1st time in her life!).
This is a number that put the characters front and center. The song and the lyrics gave the actors the license to play. The characters became exaggerated without becoming false, and the actors found truth in the middle of the most rediculous moments. It is the brilliance of the script and score, but also a testiment to the work of the actors in this cast.
It was important to put a lot of trust in the material. The actors really gave themselves over to the heighten sincerity and exaggerated expression...and it worked! The scenes had great energy and the story had depth of emotion when needed.
PRODUCTION MANAGER / STAGE MANAGER
Charlotte Jennings was put in the role of Stage Manager at the very beginning of our process, and she was essential in bringing the show to an audience. She was the hub of communication between the cast and production teams; organizing the group to make sure rehearsals were happening/productive. Charlotte was also in the cast and played the role of Soupy Sue.
(This was her first main stage role and first time singing in a musical!!!)
SCENIC DESIGN
2nd Hour Technical Theater Class spend a good amount of time at the start of 2nd Semester learning about interior and exterior designing for the stage. This prepared them for this design, which has them creating an abstract set that allows for scenes to be interior and then scenes to be exterior without changing the structure completely.
Scarlette hand painted the "UGC" logo on the desk
The Inspiration Boards
We drew on the chalkboards and used pictures
from Google Images to build an inspiraption board.
The floorplan
The frontal elevation
(This is a rendering of our set that was sent to a theater in Hannibal, MO
and they will be using the design for Annie Summer of '26)
The 2nd Hour Technical Theater Class
was responsible for the set construction and dressing for this production.
Leah, Ella and Connor working on set dressing
Charlotte Runge was applying the layer of newspaper to help create a dystopian landscape.
Kareema and Lexi worked together a lot in class and always brought laughter and smiles!
This project was ultimately a sculpture challenge. We knew the shape we needed and we had all of the puzzle pieces in stock. We just had to set it all up with legs and step units so it all lines up right. The Tech Theater students did an amazing job with the main structure.
We used several power tools to build the structure while also pulling most of the pieces from stock. The platforms and step units were all from stock, but the railings and the fake metal pieces we built to fit from scrap wood and bottle caps.
The actors move in during 3rd hour...
The Cast working on "Mr Cladwell"
Once we got to move into the Auditorium and the cast got to play on the structure, everything changed and the show began to find its feet. The cast had a lot to figure out in a short amount of time. We also began to bring in outside students to start working on other technical elements of the show.
Lucy is in the house memorizing between scenes
The Technical Theater class worked out of the Black Box and once something was about 80% complete, then they would take it into the Aud and attach it to the set. Having the scene shop connected to the theater is also a game changer.
A Little History...
That wasn't always the case. For decades the Theater Department would have to be a mobile scenic shop that would travel from the old Little Theater on the South end of the campus. When the show closed, it would then have to be taken back. Any of our main stage auditorium shows had all of it's production elements carried from the other side of the building. This included costumes, props. make-up,...everything. It was a lot of extra work on the team.
Since moving the department into the center of the campus and taking the old music department as our new space, behind the auditorium, we have become much more productive in our work. Our department resembles a real repertory layout. Everything is within reach and easy to return to stock once a show closes. We spend less time at strike these days.
THE ARTISTS!!!
The design Fable drew for the sewer scene
Fable then built (with some help) and painted our sewer unit.
The sign looked like it was actually glowing.
Connor, Myles and Vivi working on the laudry lines
Vivienne and Leah working on adding texture with various fibers
We decided to keep the paint job simple and use the new stage lighting system and added set dressings to create texture and visual interest for the audience. The production was working very hard to keep costs a minimum, we wanted to make as much profit as we could. We gathered cardboard boxes, old newspapers, laundry rope and bath towels.
We crunched, ripped and tore everything up and the designers cleverly placed/hung the pieces of trash and fabric fibers around to create the "worn/aged" look for this story's varied locations in town. We kept the color pallette of the dressing materials in more warm tones, like the costumes, so that it pops off the grey metal color of the set. Once it was all complete and we put the stage lights on it, the set looked great!
BONUS: We also added some practical lighting fixtures hung over the set to build dimension on the actors and we added two fog machines to put atmospherics onto the some of the scenes. This proved to be very helpful in creating the dry and dirty world the script is asking for; especially in the "Secret Hideout" sewer scenes.
The 2nd Hour Tech Theater Students on the finished set
LIGHTING
Colin Nicholl (Old Man Strong / Tiny Tom) was the Master Electrician and put together the lighting plot and design. The plot was kept pretty simple (cause he was also in the show) but the new lighting system in the Auditorium allowed us to do exactly what we needed made the han and focus job pretty easy. The hardest part of this job was getting all of the light cues levelled and timed out right for our Board Op (Mira Thies) to run on the night of the show.
Colin working on stage with the new DMX Fresnels
We also added follow spots for all of the Lockstock monologues and most of the soloists in a song. This allowed us to saturate the stage with color for the rest of the ensemble. We really stayed in amber and blue for the daytime & night time scenes, but used the other bright jew tones for the musical numbers. There were alot of cues...
It helped that everyone got along and supported each other,
even in the moments of high stress they stuck together
The wacky characters that started to arrive in rehearsal were really fun to watch!
We knew we were on the right track.
Miriam stepped in for Cathal on Sat of tech weekend
and practiced the Cop scene/song with Jerimiah
...timely huh?
SOUND
We were super fortunate to have Russell Hoskins join the department on another production. He joined the team to run the mic levels for us. He had worked on a previous show we had done in the Black Box and was our sound effect guy, but this time we needed him for the mics. The new digital board is difficult to manage and we needed a computer guy.
It was a big cast and a lot of microphones to hook on them each time.
The Cast was asked to stand in order to run mic checks
Cathal on the top of the Bridge
Kori is waiting for their turn to test their mic
We ended up taping the mics onto the faces of the actors.
It was an idea that Simone and Miriam had from working on GCPA shows
Selby Caldwell took on the role of an additional Stage Manager and was brought into the production to assist with being on book for the last line call rehearsals, but also to handle the organization of scene changes, and backstage traffic. She also brought her climbing skills into the room...
She and her dad also set up the repelling gear
for Bobby's death scene at the beginning of ACT II.
Selby belayed Martha each night from the top platform.
Trajan (stage crew), Selby and Emily (Follow Spot) hanging out backstage
Each scene change was charted and mapped for the techies to follow.
All of the color coding matches the spike tape on the stage floor.
Kashti Grimm also joined the team on Follow Spot
Once everything was in place and the techinicans all knew what to do, we started to see the show come together in the space. We had some hiccups with mics (as always)
but the show was finding it's groove!
The lights were cued and recorded without the actors (which is tough to do)
Colin had to make small adjustsments all the way up to opening night to get the levels all set.
The lighting plot and instruments gave us a lot of different moods and looks for the show!
PROPS
Charlotte Jennings had done props for previous shows and took on the props tables to make sure we had everything we needed. Several of the cast members built some of their props, or we pulled them from stock. The Props tables were on both sides of the stage and there were props hidden in the structure of the set as well.There were a significant number of hand props in this show and almost every actor had to manage a prop or two...or three. The songs also had props that required each actors to have a matching prop. This is a fun way to build stage pictures. "Mr Cladwell" had clipboards that spelled out C.L.A.D.W.E.L.L. for the audience when they were all lines up in the kick line. Tech Theater made several of the protest signs for the end of ACT I and had fun with the sayings. We did end up purchasing several props for this show, but ultimately we made or pulled most of them.
Masen back on the kit from playing with us for SIX
BACKSTAGE BEFORE THE SHOW 
Bobby and Old Man Strong
Miriam (Senator Fipp) played the corrupt Gov't Official
Ebba (McQueen) added comedy
The staging was a lot of fun and the actors really added nuance to each moment,
Charlotte (Hope) and Martha (Bobby) singing the duet "Follow Your Heart"
"When will I see you again?"
Lucy as (Little Sally)
Keep your head down Little Sally...
Lockstock and Little Sally act as the narrators and break the fourth wall often
LOOK TO THE SKY!!!!
"See how we can be from the chains he gave us?"
Don't ask why...
It's the sky...
From every hill there's a steeple...
Everyone is moving so damn slow...
Welcome Back!
When you're hopeless Down and out!
The "Secret Hideout"
Run Freedom Run!
The actors did a great job with the broad comedy when the show asked for it...
Follow your heart...Oh Bobby!
Take one of these and one of these...
Grab a mop and bucket Mr. Barell
Take him away!
I kept the water in the ground and the pee off the streets!
I see a river flowing for justice...
Can we do a happy musical next time?
The river is inside of you...
That was our show...
Curtain call
The props table SR
**************************************************
This was a dream team of a band that came together right at the last minute for this show.
Hank Yau was at the helm of the ship for the last time on one of our productions, and he inspired everyone to lock in and and play their hearts out. They were amazing!
Hank took on the role of Pit Director on this one and
didn't have to work as much with the cast in the earlier parts of the rehearsal process.
He was able to put his focus on getting the band ready.
Charlie's first show and Teague's second
The band wore all black and we put them on stage and within the set structure
The Cast, Band and Crew of "Urinetown the Musical" WGHS Spring 2026
Charlotte would get everyone gathered in the Whitebox about 10 minutes before curtain
for pep talks and warm-ups.
The Production has to get warmed up and FIRED UP!
Box Office Staff sold a lot of tickets during the run!
Poppy helped organize the house team...and the ushers
We also had some snacks sold for a fundraiser by Mason and Daniel Madison.
The Programs
Mrs. Forderhaus had a reading contest and we ave away free tix!
Senior Display Case and the Library Display Case had full marquees for the show.
With headshots and all of the show info.
We used the hallway monitors to put a slide up about the show and we also had the cast wearing yellow shirts with the show logo to get word out to the student body.
Mr Schaefer also walked through the cafeteria with a mega-phone to drum up business:)
Mr Schaefer hanging the banner on the front steps of the school.
SHOW PICTURES
ACT I PICS!!!
Jerimiah (Lockstock) opens the show with a monologue,
bringing the audience into the story and the opening number "This is Urinetown"
Lucy (Little Sally), Martha (Bobby Strong), and Mimi (Ms. Pennywise)
kicking off the first scene.
The Poor people need to have their morning pee!
Colin (Old Man Strong), Clover (Old Ma Strong), Eliza (Becky Two Shoes)
and Charlotte (Soupy Sue)
You'll get Urinetown!
On with the show....
That's Mzzzzz...Pennywise to you!
It's a Privilege to PEE!!!
Myles (Mr Cladwell) brought our show's villian to the stage each night!
Oh the money will come through Senator as long as we have the votes...
Hope darling, welcome to UGC!
with his foppish characterization of the executive assistant
all of the characters had a real objective they were fighting for in the story.
Mr Cladwell!
Did you hear him scream?
"The Cop Song" was a hit!
To Urinetown!
It's a hard, cold, bumble of a journey...
Tumble of a gurney...
Jerimiah and Cathal brought the hip hop energy of this number
Martha's Choreo was perfect and the audience loved it each night!
Let me listen closer...
The chemistry between the two characters was wonderful - heartfelt and funny!
Charlotte's (Hope) last show with the department as a Senior
"She really loves him huh?"
Lucy brought a sincere and a not-so-innocent and ironic maturity to the only kid in this town.
It was great having Lucy in her first main stage musical with the department.
Lockstock and Little Sally act as the narrators and break the fourth wall often
in order to teach the audience the next lesson.
"Bobby, what are you saying?"
What if the law is wrong?
You are wrong Mr Strong!
...you and you're socialisic throng!
THE ACT I FINALE
Quick into the Amenity...they can't get us in there!
It is the anthem of the people.
ACT II PICS
When you're hopeless Down and out! Get the Rope! String her up!
Kori (Hot Blades Harry) did a great job making this character sinister and a little off...
We never knew what he would say next.
Also Kori's first musical...and they danced too!!!
Let's snuff that girl
Eliza (Becky Two-Shoes) gave this character a wicked edge
and being pregnant added to the humor everytime her character was on stage.
Eliza also got the one tap solo in the show
(...and it was her very first time tapping in front of an audiene)
Martha taught her the routine:)I didn't say to start a revolution...
The facial expressions they made throughout the show were priceless!
There's a great big Cladwell on your tail!!!
It's an awful lot of cash Bobby!
Why did I listen to that man?
Why did I listen to that crook?
and a couple of these!!!
Ginnette (Ms. Millenium) was a wonderful addition to the corp gang.
She always brought some real attitude to the moment!
Cathal made a great sidekick to Lockstock.
Barrell was just eager enough to get himself in trouble...
Death is Urinetown?
I'm not sorry, just unsound...
Anyway!
A new age of ....."HOPE!
Hail Malthus!
THE ECHO article after the show closed
LOCKSTOCK SAYS,
"GO SEE A MUSICAL!"
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