Irreverent Musical Satire, URINETOWN THE MUSICAL, Comes to Houston in a Brand New Production at The Kaleidoscope!

Houston (January 2016) –Don’t let the title fool you; Urinetown is not a pipeline straight to dirty toilet humor! Urinetown is a satirical and cerebral look at how greed and corruption can impact a community. Most of all, Urinetown is a hilarious evening of theatre that indulges in making fun of itself. The ten-time Tony nominated show (2002 winner of Best Score, Best Book and Best Direction), also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. Bayou City Theatrics brings the absurd musical comedy to The Kaleidoscope January 8 through 24, 2016.

In a Gotham-like future-city, a 20-year draught has caused a terrible water shortage and led to a government enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use regulated public amenities, and are charged admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. In the turmoil, a hero arises amidst the people and plans a revolution to lead them all to amenity freedom! With score by Mark Hollmann and book by Greg Kotis, Urinetown is one of the few truly original musicals, not based on existing source material. After its premiere at the New York Fringe Festival in 1999, the outrageous musical was an instant hit with fringe audiences, who also applauded the show’s hilarious references to classic musicals such as West Side Story and Sweeney Todd. Word of mouth spread quickly, and the show was picked up for an Off-Broadway run in 2001. Praised for reinventing what a musical could be, Urinetown was catapulted into popularity by its outrageous perspective, modern wit, and ability to produce unbridled laughter.

Bayou City Theatrics brings gut-wrenching laughs to the stage with a leading cast of some of their most revered performers: The doe-eyed and gullible Hope Cladwell is played by Nicole Norton (Philia, A Funny Thing Happened..., Betty Schaefer, Sunset Boulevard), and Colton Berry (Jamie, The Last Five Years, Lt. Cable, South Pacific, Bat Boy, Bat Boy The Musical) fills the shoes of the unsung hero, Bobby Strong. Wielding the plunger and counting the change at “Amenity Number Nine” as Penelope Pennywise is one of BCT’s returning favorites, Heather Hall (Mama Morton, Chicago, Madame Thenardier, Les Miserables, Velociraptor of Science, Triassic Parq). Will Ledesma (Senex, A Funny Thing Happened..., Max, Sunset Boulevard, Arvide, Guys and Dolls) masterfully steps into the role of the greedy toilet-miser and fee collector, Caldwell B. Cladwell. Jayson Kolbicz (Miles Gloriosus, A Funny Thing Happened..., Luther Billis, South Pacific) and Mallory Bechtel (Brooklyn, Brooklyn the Musical) form the unlikely narrative duo of Officer Lockstock and Little Sally, respectively. The cast is completed by Houston performers Michael Castillo, Nathan Costella, Anna Drake, Vincent Evangelista, Luke Hamilton, Michael Morrison, Penny Rieger, Victoria Riley, Emily Sitton, and Jordi Viscarri.  

Urinetown runs January 8 through 24 at Bayou City Theatrics’ downtown theater, The Kaleidoscope, located at 705 Main Street, Suite B (entrance on Capitol). Performances areFriday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are available at www.BayouCityTheatrics.com as well as at the door, although BCT encourages purchasing tickets in advance to secure seating in their intimate venue. Convenient cash parking is located less than one block away at the corner of Capitol & Fannin, in the SAKS’ garage. Questions may be directed to BCT@BayouCityTheatrics.com or by phone at 832-817-8656.