High school's "Urinetown" offends NH prudes- Page 2

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:20pm

I helped a high school put together a musical revue of recent comedies with a sequence on Urinetown that included "It's a Privelege to Pee" and "Run, Freedom, Run." The audience (in Utah) seemed very unsure when the sequence was introduced, but bought into the joke very quickly. Many commented to the cast that it was the highlight of the evening for them. This was a sort of a trial run, as the director was considering doing the show next year and wanted to see how it would be received.

As anyone who's seen it can tell you, there is absolutely ZERO questionable material in the show. I had an email conversation with Greg Kotis about the show a few years ago and he told me the show is so squeaky clean (no profanity, no sex, no vulgarity) because he considers himself a bit of a prude. Obviously these people protesting the production have not seen or heard a word of the actual script.

[darkmist115]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:57pm

ughh.
that's ridiculous.
just DEAL.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:46pm

I asked the director of the musicals at my highschool if we could do Urinetown, but he said he would prefer to keep his job... so we are doing Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie and such.

Too bad, because I think that I could make a great Hope.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:34pm

The fact that they're publicly announcing that they're changing the script isn't such a bright idea....can't they get fined/lose the rights if they do stuff like that?

And...yes, it's insane that this is causing such a fuss.

[jsand25]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:40pm

For the record, I am from NH, and this town performing Urinetown is in a low population countrylike area, and does not reflect the progressive people in the rest of the state!!!

Thank you!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:30pm

I think that doing Urinetown is offensive for high schools. When I KNOW they don't have a girl walking around with a high G to belt (or mixy belt)"Privilege to Pee" and they plan on doing it anyway, that's more than offensive!!! THAT'S JUST WRONG!!!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:48pm

*COUGH*

http://www.profile.k12.nh.us/admin.htm

[BroadwayThoughts]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:03am

What I find quite ironic is that this show can be considered, by some people, a metaphor for the right of free speech. I know of high schools in the US that have done far more "risky" shows than Urinetown. I.E. Equis (The story of a boy who has dreams of having sex with a horse).

I think part of the reason it wasn't so popular in NYC was because of they were scared of the title and no one knew how great of a show it actually was.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 4:06am

They should be more concerned about getting sued for illegally producing Mamma Mia.

Speaking of schools doing Equus... http://www.theonion.com/content/node/44683

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 4:20am

Just tell Hansalik to "Piss Off".

[tourboi]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 8:37am

As far as MAMMA MIA rights...They're not available, and if this school keeps doing shows illegally they may be facing lawsuits.

As for URINETOWN offending. Please! I went to high school in NH and I encountered similar problems. My school wouldn't let me direct JOSEPH for fear it might offend some. Say what? JOSEPH!? Sure, its based on a bible story...but its not really that religious. Anyway...NH can be a "funny" state.

[mabel]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 9:02am

*sigh* As a native New Hampshire resident, this really saddens me. I didn't have a chance to read the article, because I have to run, but I'll come back to it later tonight.

<----Misses Urinetown everytime I walk by 43rd St.

Very sad indeed.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 9:38am

Hey, New Yorkers:

Who's up for a BWW FIELD TRIP to New Hampshire this spring? I'd love to be in the audience at this production!

Updated On: 1/27/06 at 09:38 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 10:04am

"The public knows that it's not the building that's going to educate our kids, but it's what's inside," she said.

The carpet?

[Sing a Song With Me]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 10:35am

This is pretty standard fare, I think. Most places eventually seem to find a musical/play which offends someone.
The really interesting thing is that they're going through with it, which says something for the people who are in charge of the decision.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 10:40am

These mothers who have nothing better to do with their time need to get jobs and let other people do theirs.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 10:55am

I laughed out loud when I read the comment about Joseph being offensive--but alas I have heard it before! I was in a production of it a few years ago and two older ladies walked out during the Pharoah's number. A friend of mine who was ushering asked them why they were leaving and they replied, "Elvis was NOT in the Bible!"

However, it was not the first time either. While I was doing Forum we got a letter from a patron who said the show was so offensive that they left during the first five minutes. I kept trying to think of which part of "Comedy Tonight" was that offensive?? Another time an angry patron wrote a letter to the local newspaper which was published. It denounced the recent production of Gurney's play Sylvia as being lewd and inappropriate for the community theatre. They went on to complain about the profanity and how all the shows at the theatre should be "family" shows.

C'est la vie

Updated On: 1/27/06 at 10:55 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:12pm

Hey, this'll piss off the prudes a little more:
Tough S-H-I-T!
It's a brilliantly funny show, it's not really dirty, with the exception of the pee-concept. Big deal.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 5:05pm

Someone email the school this thread.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 5:08pm

And yet when they did it at my old high school this year...nobody really cared.

Funny. I never thought the Kansas school system was known for being forward-minded.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 5:21pm

We should all attend opening night and give everybody a standing ovation.

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 5:45pm

This thread makes me sad.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 9:47pm

"It's centered around the right to pee."

If THAT is what they truly think theshow is about, then they don't deserve to see it anyway. I mean, my mother had interest in seeing it because she thought it would be about something totally different, but then our tickets for another show fell through and told me I could choose any show and she would go see it. I chose Urinetown so she gave it a chance and now it's one of her favorite shows.

Goes to show, people....hard to keep an open mind sometimes but it's worth it when you give shows (or anything in life, for that matter) a chance because you may not only be pleasantly surprised.

[StageWhore]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 10:24pm

Lorelai, maybe they don't deserve to see it... but the students involved certainly deserve an audience.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 1:02am

I love how when they metion the offensive aspects of 'Dark of the Moon', they neglect to mention the rape that occurs in a church.

I just saw the first ever regional production of Urinetown...it was one of the best performances I have EVER seen...I can't even begin to IMAGINE how the Broadway version (which I never saw) was better.

working on my review as we speak...