CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTION INFO. LETTER TO THE EDITOR BUY! PHOTOS GAS PRICES PLAY! TV LISTINGS EMAIL UPDATES  Add to My Yahoo!
 
Advertisement

ARCHIVES

Currently
52°
Fog
Click for more Weather Info

MARKETPLACE

Place an ad
in print and online, 24/7






Advertisement


ARCHIVES

PCPA opens ‘Urinetown, the Musical’

Buy a Photo!

Vanessa Ballam as Hope Cladwell (center foreground), Sung Min Park as “Urinetown” hero Bobby Strong (brandishing plunger), and other members of the cast perform a scene from the musical.

PCPA Theaterfest will end its 2007 summer season with a tale of greed, romance and a revolution over public toilets woven together in the comic “Urinetown, the Musical.”

The song-filled satire runs through Aug. 26 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, then transfers to the Solvang Festival Theater running in repertory with “The Real Thing” Aug. 31 through Sept. 23.

The musical’s hero, Bobby Strong, is opposed to greed and big business’ machinations over the common folk. A 20-year drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets, thus making citizens pay for public amenities — which are regulated by a single corrupt company. So it is up to Bobby to lead a revolution over toilet facilities.

The Tony Award-winner for its cheeky satirical score by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann, and book by Greg Kotis parodies musical moments from other groundbreaking shows.

The songs include such irreverent gems as “Don’t Be the Bunny,” “It’s a Privilege to Pee” and the title tune. The musical is rated “Pee-G,” according to a recent press release from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.

Resident Artist Roger DeLaurier, who returns to PCPA right from the Utah Shakespeare Festival after directing “The Matchmaker,” stages the musical satire. DeLaurier’s summer stage credits for PCPA include “Light Up The Sky,” “Enter the Guardsman” and “On Golden Pond.” He has directed productions for Oregon Shakespeare Festival, California Shakespeare Festival and The Great American Melodrama.

PCPA alumnus and Equity Guest Artist Michael Jenkinson stages the dances, as well as playing Officer Barrel. As an actor, Jenkinson appeared in PCPA’s “Dames at Sea,” “My Way” and “Brigadoon”; while as a choreographer he has done “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “Guys and Dolls” and “My Fair Lady.”

Advertisement

Resident Artist Callum Morris is the musical director. Morris’ credits include “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Dames at Sea” and “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”

Guest Artist Sung Min Park, who made his PCPA debut in “Kiss Me, Kate,” undertakes the role of Bobby Strong.

Opposite Park as his love interest, Hope Cladwell, is Resident Artist Vanessa Ballam, who appeared this summer as Gwendolen Fairfax in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Erik Stein, Equity Guest Artist, returns to PCPA to play Officer Lockstock (a role originated by PCPA alumnus Jeff McCarthy). Stein’s previous PCPA productions include “Enter the Guardsman,” “Wonderful Town” and “Crazy for You.”

Great American Melodrama favorite Billy Breed, who made his PCPA debut in “Kiss Me, Kate,” plays Mr. Cladwell, while Equity Guest Artist Lucinda Hitchcock Cone (”Company in Concert,” “The Importance of Being Earnest”) undertakes the role of Miss Pennywise.

Equity Resident Artist David Studwell (”Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “A Little Night Music”) and Guest Artist Polly Firestone Walker (”The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” “Bullshot Crummond”) play Bobby’s parents.

Collaborating with DeLaurier on the unique environment of “Urinetown the Musical” are Set Designer Heidi Hoffer, Costume Designer Frederick P. Deeben, Lighting Designer Colleen Dowling, Sound Designer Matt Carpenter and Equity Production Stage Manager Christine Collins.

Tickets for the Santa Maria shows cost $16 to $27.50 for adults, and $10 to $17.50 for students and children.

In Solvang, tickets cost $19.50 to $30 for adults, and $15 to $18.75 for students and children.

Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in either theater.

Seniors receive a discount off the regular adult price. For senior pricing, call the box office at 922-8313.

For tickets, visit the Marian Theatre box office from 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; or the Solvang Festival Theater box office from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; or call 922-8313; or purchase tickets online at www.pcpa.org.

Groups of 15 or more can book tickets and receive a discount. For group sales, call (800) PCPA-123 or e-mail groups@pcpa.org.

The 2007-2008 season opens Nov. 8 with “The Sound of Music” in the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.





SEARCH ARTICLE ARCHIVES

  
Advanced Search





Translate to another language

Lee Central Coast Newspapers

Santa Maria Times Lompoc Record Times Press Recorder Adobe Press Santa Ynez Valley News El Tiempo

Letter to the Editor | Comment about Website

Contact The Santa Maria Times
Main Phone: 805-925-2691
Toll Free: 1-800-404-0009

Copyright © 2008 Lee Central Coast Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.
All Lee Central Coast Newspapers pages are designed for Firefox 2.0 and Internet Explorer 6 or 7 with screen resolutions set at 1024x768 or higher.
Click here for our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use applicable to this site.