New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 10:16pm

The American Theater Company in Chicago just announced a crazy ambitious new season, featuring the debut of the new musical from Urinetown Creators Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman. And if you thought Urinetown had a bad premise.....

CHICAGO PREMIERE!
FROM THE WRITERS OF URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL
YEAST NATION: THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE
Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis

The Tony Award winning creators of the Broadway hit Urinetown return home to Chicago to premiere the strangest story ever to be musicalized. The year is 3,000,458,000 B.C., and the Earth’s first life forms, salt-eating yeasts (yes, yeasts), float in the brine of the primordial soup, under the rule of a dim-witted tyrant. As resources deplete and fear provides land, the faith of one single-celled dreamer changes their society forever, and out of chaos and destruction a new world emerges. Artistic Director PJ Paparelli directs one of the most non-political and slightly amusing evenings of musical theatre in America. Here come the Yeasts!


Chicago Tribune Theater Blog

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 10:34pm

For real? has anyone seen this, i know there were a few reading. It sounds, interesting.....

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 10:49pm

Brilliant.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:15pm

I was stunned to hear about it- I think they must have announced it Yesterday- but there is no date or any other information on the site. This is a teeny tiny theater company- and theater for that fact. I saw a show there a few years back- I don't think it seats 150 people.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:17pm

Couldn't they write a happy musical this time?

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:32pm

Hmmm... I'm somewhat intrigued.

I love me some Kotis/Hollman hilarity! =) Updated On: 1/26/08 at 11:32 PM

[commasplice]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:41pm

YES! (Plus, Speech and Debate! Woohoo.)

Was this supposed to be the first part of their 'trilogy' (with Urinetown as the middle piece), or is this unrelated?

EDIT: Search function to the rescue! Yes, it is: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=872292#1516444 Updated On: 1/26/08 at 11:41 PM

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:45pm

I do believe this is the first one in the trilogy.

[kyle.]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 12:03am

I saw their scaled down, very intimate version of Oklahoma! a few months ago. It was great! And the theatre is wonderful!

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 6:19am

Any dates announced yet?

Jeff

[massofmen]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 1:14pm

i saw this show. It's almost the exact same story as Urinetown with YEASTS instead of people.

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 1:54pm

Cool. Have to make a trip to Chicago for this.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 2:01pm

Joeky99 - you obviously haven't seen many "Off-Loop" productions. For the Chicago area, 150 seats is hardly "teeny tiny". There are theatre companies that get all sorts of rave reviews and major funding that seat 50 to 75.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 2:24pm

Omigod, I would die to see this.

[massofmen]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 3:42pm

i didn't say it was good.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 3:45pm

well...it does sound interesting, no?

Updated On: 1/27/08 at 03:45 PM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 5:39pm

YES! It's such a ridiculous concept that it's brilliant!

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 5:48pm

I'm with massofmen. It's essentially the same show. Same structure, same characters. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable, but it seems like URINETOWN redux.

Great song in it though: "Little Sister".

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 8:03pm

Oh Jon- you misunderstood me- I just meant that I thought it a small theater to debut a new work by these guys- I'd think that they would be headed toward Broadway with any new show and could sell out a much larger place.

And I see plenty of off-off-loop theater. I was at the Athenaeum last weekend to see Last 5 Years with about 15 people in attendance.

[massofmen]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 8:45pm

yes. exactly what i was thinking when I saw it. I also saw a reading of "man in the white suit" and again, same plot. Corrupt man, taking over the world, daughter trying to be good, finds prince to help stop daddy, wackiness ensues from supporting characters.
It seems like Mr. Kotis and Mr. Hollman think they found a formula for success with Urinetown (even though it barely recouped on Broadway and the tour almost lost money, though regionally I think they are doing fine) and keep trying to replicate it. Don't get me wrong I loved Urinetown. But I think l loved Urinetown not for the plot, but for the execution of it. The Brechtian style and the genius of actors like Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Opel and Mr Cullum brought that show to the heights of what it could do. I don't see it happening with the Creative tems latest exploits: Yeast Nation and Man in the White Suit.
But I guess, if it aint broke....

[teddyp2]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 9:16pm

Jon, for f-sake lose the attitude, you constantly attack folks on crap you know nothing about and please stop using Karen Z's photo to represent yourself, she is a dear friend and loathes you using her image.