Better Urinetown Website? Chicago photos?

[MrMarkCharlieBrownCohen]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 6:09pm

Is there a better Urinetown website or publicity photos of the new Chicago production anywhere?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 6:10pm

You said better website? Where is the "less better" one?

[MrMarkCharlieBrownCohen]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 6:15pm

The old one from the Bway show. It has a link that suggests info about the Chicago production but it's a lousy link to Ticketmaster.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 6:17pm

Here's a pic from Playbill

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/98468.html
Updated On: 3/18/06 at 06:17 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 11:40pm

Yeah, I don't know what's going on. The advertising for this production here in Chicago has not been very good at all.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 3/18/06 at 11:47pm

I havn't seen any advertisement for this show at all (no commercials or newspaper ads), except for playbill.com

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:21am

At first I thought that was a neck brace around Hope's neck.

[MrMarkCharlieBrownCohen]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 11:13am

That explains why I just tried for tickets to next weekends shows and found some. I expected it to be sold out, having just opened. But if they aren't really advertising...

I'd love to get inside some producers heads sometimes and figure out why they aren't advertising like they should. There are so many options (even if you don't have a lot of $) all it takes is a little creativity.

Other pics must exist if they took the "neck brace" photo.

Has anyone seen the show?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 11:36am

Ever since I've been writing reviews for BWW's Seattle section, I've been amazed at how some companies don't even bother to contact the press, or do much to promote their show. It's quite baffling sometimes, especially when the shows are pro.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:35pm

A friend of mine asked me if I had seen it yet. "Yet? Has it even opened?" They really are not promoting this very well at all.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:41pm

It starts previews today (3/19) so my friend was wrong.

[chimikey]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:13pm

I just saw the urinetown television spot! It's cop song and it's hillarious. It's amazing that Comcast would sponser a show like Urinetown!

[Chicago74]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:31pm

I've seen ads in the Tribune and in Time Out Chicago. I walked by the theatre and the marquee looks awesome! The show is still in previews. I'll be on the look-out for the TV commercial. LOVE the Cop Song!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 6:58pm

awww, Chicago, any pics of the marquee?

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 8:18pm

::delurks::

Previews started last Wednesday...I went to the second preview, on the 16th, while I was home on break. I love Urinetown, so I was excited to see it to begin with, but it's great. I loved it and laughed harder than I have in a long time (and before anyone brands me with the scarlet "S" for "shill", I paid full price for my ticket and don't know anyone in the production). The set looks very similar to the Broadway/Tour set, as does some of the choreography and costumes, but I don't think it's a carbon copy (except maybe the set). They also added new references to Wicked, Spelling Bee, and (maybe--at least my friend and I thought it was) Spamalot.

The entire cast is immensely talented and give great performances (the only person I had any reservations about was Tamara Spiewak [Hope], who needs to project--even though she was miced, I had trouble hearing her until "I See a River"). They're very funny (loved Michael Buchanan [Bobby]). I was especially fond of Jon Frazier (Officer Lockstock). He takes the role and runs with it.

If you're in the Chicago area, I reccomend it. I'm hoping to go again when I'm home for Easter.

MrMark, I think the picture on Playbill is from a different production. Tamara Spiewak and Michael Buchanan played the roles opposite each other at a different theatre. When I saw the show, Hope had curly brown hair, and I believe her dress was different (possibly with a sweater).



Updated On: 3/20/06 at 08:18 PM

[thez914]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 8:49pm

I just saw the show Saturday and there were at least 20 empty seats.

RentBoy...the marquee is black with the title in white...nothing special.

I was shocked at how similar this production was to the Broadway show - especially the set (I wish the performances were at the same level...) Not that this should happen, but is it possible for a theatre to endure any punishment for copying the set/blocking of a broadway show? I posed this question in another thread (search for "Copying Broadway" if you're interested), and got few responses. It seems a little uncouth, but it seems like there's no avoiding it.

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:24pm

The set was the first thing I mentioned to my friend when we went. I would think that if it was a problem, MTI would tell them to change it (did they--or Hollman/Kotis/anyone else involved with the original production--have any say in what went into this production? It could be that someone wanted it like that. I have no idea, but since the production is linked on Urinetown.com, I wonder. I'm just throwing out random ideas. Maybe it's a simple answer and they just got permission.). I suppose you also have to ask, how much can you do with the set? I'm looking through Google images, and from what I can tell, a lot of the amateur productions look fairly similar. Sorry to hear you didn't like it as much.

[thez914]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:36pm

commasplice...I was wondering the same thing about there being some involvement with the original production team. I actually enjoyed the set very much and think it even improved on the original Broadway set (I loved the huge vent and the ladders on the sides). I just wonder if anyone actually TRIES to prevent this from happening.

And I actually did enjoy this production. It's funny that you say you had reservation about Hope: I saw the understudy for Hope, and although she wasn't terrible, she left a lot to be desired. But then again, I'm comparing her to Jennifer Laura Thompson who was perfection in the role. I will say that Bobby (Michael Buchanan you say) and ESPECIALLY the girl who played Little Sally were phenomenal. And the Wicked spoof really made me laugh. But I didn't catch the other references. Care to enlighten me?

[commasplice]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:03pm

I'm sorry, my mistake! (I misinterpreted "(I wish the performances were at the same level...)") I would have liked to have seen the u/s (maybe I'll get her next time I go; I'd like to compare)--I felt like Tamara Spiewak was playing Hope as dumb rather than naive, which I don't care for (at least in Act 1--I liked her much better in Act 2). I really enjoyed Christiane Noll on the tour, but I do agree that JLT is almost impossible to top. I loved the woman playing Little Sally as well. It's a shame Michael Buchanan won't be staying very long.

During "Run Freedom Run", Bobby does the Magic Foot, and at the end, I felt like his riffing/carrying on was rather Lady of the Lake-esque (I'm listening to my OBCR right now and I know that's done to an extent there, but I thought Michael was reeeeally dragging it out there and it reminded me of Sara Ramirez. I know it's debatable, though.).

[thez914]

Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:05pm

haha...I'll have to remember those references when I see it again.

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 12:00am

I am currently in rehearsals for a production of URINETOWN and it was actually brought up today at rehearsal....the beauty of URINETOWN is that you can think of things anyway you want. For instance at the end of PRIVLEDGE TO PEE when Pennywise throws Mister Strong to the ground, one person thought of that as a Jekyll and Hyde moment. To another person it could be totally different. get what im saying? hehe

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 12:03am

could have been another Wicked reference, since Wicked and Spelling Bee are both playing in Chi-town.

[thez914]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 12:06am

I just remembered there was another reference (during "Act 1 finale" I believe) to Evita, where everyone brought out banners and signs in the style of "A New Argentina." I laughed.

Though I must say, the Wicked parody they do in the Chicago show is priceless. I wouldn't be surprised if more productions use it after seeing this show.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 1:28am

"Not that this should happen, but is it possible for a theatre to endure any punishment for copying the set/blocking of a broadway show? I posed this question in another thread (search for "Copying Broadway" if you're interested), and got few responses. It seems a little uncouth, but it seems like there's no avoiding it."

You posed this question? The New York Times posed this question a few months ago.

kmc

[thez914]

Posted: 3/21/06 at 2:52am

Whoa KJ...I said I posed the question IN A THREAD. and if you would have checked out the thread, you would have seen I was prompted by a book...never did i claim to be the originator of the idea or the argument, just intrigued. that's all :)