April 25, 2012

This May, the Theatre Program and the Drexel Players will present the Tony-Award winning comedic satire, Urinetown, The Musical, directed by Maucking Bird Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Peter Reynolds. Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity'smost basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom. Praised for reinvigorating the verynotion of what a musical could be, Urinetown produces gales of unbridled laughter with its outrageous perspective and wickedly modern wit.

Urinetown will play at the Mandell Theater (33rd & Chestnuts Sts) on May 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th at 8 PM, and May 6th and 13th at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $5 for students, professional staff, and faculty with a Drexel ID. You may purchase tickets at www.drexelplayers.com or by visiting the Mandell box office Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11 AM to 3 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday 3 PM to 6 PM, April 30th-May 11th.

Urinetown, The Musical, Drexel’s largest musical production in recent history represents a collaboration for Drexel with Temple University’s Head of Musical Theater and Assistant Chair, Peter Reynolds, who helms the production. Reynolds is also the Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Mauckingbird Theatre Company (www.mauckingbirdtheatreco.org). Reynolds has worked with Act II Playhouse, Media Theatre, Hedgerow Theatre,Villanova Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company in their collaborations with Philadelphia Young Playwrights, and the Lenape RegionalPerforming Arts Center in New Jersey.

Presenting Urinetown, The Musical, are the Drexel Players, a student-run organization that works in conjunction with Drexel University's Performing Arts Department to produce quality theatre and provide service for the community. The Players produce three mainstage shows each year: a musical, a play, and a professional show as part of the Mandell Professionals in Residence Project. Students participate in all aspects of theatre performance and production including: acting, directing, design, costumes, lighting, sets, sound, publicity, and box office. Auditions occur in the spring and the beginning of each fall term for incoming students.