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Urinetown - Appreciation

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#1

Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:48am

WEEKLY FEATURE

To encourage feedback and to build community, I am going to feature a musical each week for APPRECIATION. It is open for POSITIVE comments where people to share their memories of the show and special experiences! This will serve as a FRIENDLY FORUM.

WEEK #3: URINETOWN

There is no better musical for a tenor to belt, in my opinion, than "Urinetown." Some of the most powerful and elpoquent lyrics ever written and meant for singing and for metaphoric messages were in this satirical hit.

Hunter's voice is just phenomenal and I truly believe this was his pinnacle role. Jennifer Laura Thompson was uproarious and, aside from her Glinda, this role was perfect! The entire show is just hands-down so much fun to watch. But the meaning behind it all... the political and social unrest. It's moves to a level BEYOND "Oh, that's deep." No, it goes so far beyond that that all we can do is laugh.

Some of the songs are just so beautiful, and there are so many distinct genre types. The gospel of "Run Freedom Run," the ballad of "Follow Your Heart," and the jazz of "Snuff That Girl"... it's so perfect. Thank goodness this show grew its wings Off-Broadway first. I adore this musical!

So what's your story? First memories of "Urinetown"?

Week #2: Sweeney Todd
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=870057
Week #1: Titanic
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=868946
#2

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:59am

I bought the OBCR on a whim a year or so ago, and hated it, finding it to be a poor immitation of "The Threepenny Opera," which is a pretty lousy show to be immitating anyway.

Well, flash-forward several months, and I listened to it again only to become obsessed with it. I swear, I couldn't stop listening to the thing. I especially love "It's a Privilege to Pee" and the act one finale. BRILLIANT. There are still some songs I don't like, but I consider it to be an awesome score. (I'm yet to actually see the show though...I hope it's as good as it seems).

Oh, and by the way, Jennifer Laura Thompson is a musical comedy goddess. It's a shame I missed seeing her live.
#3

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:03am

"But Daddy, bunnies don't drive cars!"

"Don't they?"
#5

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:17pm

A friend passed Urinetown on to me after learning of my deep-rooted Hunter Foster adoration, and told me "Listen to Run, Freedom, Run, and then try to resist falling in love with the show." She was TOTALLY right. And I'd give a small internal organ to play Little Sally. [AND I agree, JLT rocks!]
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
#6

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:24pm

Urinetown is amazing! Sutton's was great and Millie was great, but I really wanted Urinetown and Jennifer Laura Thompson to win the Tony's. That's a discussion for another day. A day that has actually passed long ago...

A rediculous, but absolutely hilarious show should be part of everyones life. And it's just so SMART! I mean, everyone LOVES seeing Officer Lockstock and Little Sally at the Easter Bonnett every year, because it's just so funny!


While it is rather difficult to catch the full effect of a Broadway show, especially a Musical Comedy such as Urinetown, I think that it is a great idea to read the Libretto if you can get your hands on it. Plus you get to read the story of how the show came to be! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane
#7

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:24pm

as to the little sally comment, magic... as would i, as would i.
#8

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:24pm

Love it. I've been familiarizing myself with The Threepenny Opera, and it's interesting to see the influences it had on Urinetown.
#9

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:31pm

This is one of the few I listen to on a regular basis. My favorite song has come to be "We're Not Sorry"...I'd love to play Hot Blades Harry one of these days! I also developed something of a crush on Jeff McCarthy after seeing this. He was very good and very sexy. I would have voted for Nancy Opel before Jennifer, but that's just me--I usually go for the older broad...
#10

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:35pm

Urinetown = beyond amazing.

I'd say more but it would end up being about 100 pages long. I get a little excited when this show comes up as a topic of discussion. Not that its in my top shows of all time list or anything... *smiles*

Edit: But I will say this...Nancy Opel was my least favorite member of the OBC. I will, forever, hold Carolee Carmello as the ultimate Miss Pennywise.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?

Updated On: 10/13/05 at 03:35 PM

#12

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:54pm

I remember really hearing about it in my AP Econ class. My teacher wanted to use it as an example (probably something that had to do with supply and demand? LOL).

Anyway, flashforward to that summer (2003)...and I had to a chance to see the tour on a pay-what-you-can night. I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I was especially blown away by the voice of the actor that played Bobby (IMO, his vocalization at the end of Run, Freedom, Run was so much better than Hunter Foster's).

And other random memories...
the "flashbacks" with the spray cans (we used that in a show a year later!)...the slow-mo fight in the bg in Act 1 Finale...the 'bunny'...and so much more! I only wish I got a "Don't be the bunny" shirt at the time. re: Urinetown - Appreciation
#13

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:59pm

this show si one of the smartests shows I have come across. it is so funny, and the music is awesome! i got into it after seeing JLT in Wicked, and the rest is history.

And of cousre this musical had the funniest line with the best delievry by an actress: But the music's so happy! :)
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#14

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:01pm

One of the smartest shows we've seen on Broadway.

I love it SO much -and what brilliant performances!
-Anyone want to turn anarchist with me?

"Bless you and all who know you, oh wise and penguined one." ~YouWantItWhen????
#15

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:01pm

My University is putting Urinetown on this year. I'm so excited for the dirt-cheap tickets (one of the perks of University theatre). I love the cd, and I can't wait to see it live!

Jera
"It's not a problem, it's just a challenge, it's a challenge, to resist temptation."
#16

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:04pm

I saw the show at the Tony Awards, fell instantly in love with it, bought the CD and truly came to appreciate it as one of the best musicals written in recent history.
Saw it the week before Spencer left
Saw it again a year later with almost all of the original cast again (Spencer was back, as was Hunter in between Little Shops, but now I had Carole and Amy instead of Nancy and JLT) and it was even better the 2nd time
I cried the day it closed
I played Little Sally, one of my dream roles, last summer in one of the first regional productions of the show and had the time of my life.
#17

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:18pm

never had a chance to see it. but i love the OBC recording. it makes me so happy. "follow your heart" is one of my favorite songs.

i wrote a paper for AP literature on this show actually! it was about how it's an example of a post-modern art. by writing the paper, i discovered even more so how clever and intelligent this show really is.

i want them to bring it back to broadway. it only closed because of the tearing down of it's theatre. i don't see any reason not to bring it back!
#18

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:21pm

I'm auditioning for the song this Sunday. If I got in, it would be the best thing to ever happen to me :)
#19

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:25pm

good luck!!

i'd love to be in this show! i've performed "follow your heart" twice and was an ensemble member in "run freedom run." just doing those numbers was a blast. i can imagine that doing the entire show would be even better!
#20

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:35pm

Random Urinetown story: I had just gotten the cd like 2 years ago and so I was at the airport waiting for my plane, just sitting there listening to Don't Be the Bunny, and in walks this huge green bunny (well a guy in a suit..)and it reallllly freaked me and I thought he was gonna like come up to me and start singing the song or something and then I remembered it was Easter. But it was still really cool.
#21

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 7:52pm

BEST.SHOW.EVER.

OK, I'm exaggerating a little, but I love UTown! I saw it about fourteen times, with the original cast and just about every major replacement. The OBC was perhaps the best ensemble ever put together, though I have high praise for Victoria Clark, Carolee Carmello, Luther Creek and Charles Shaugnessy, too.
#22

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 8:01pm

Loved URINETOWN...Seeing Carolee as "Pennywise" was a true highlight. Did anyone see their new musical THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT? Ken Mandlebaum mentioned in a column a few weeks ago that is might be coming to Broadway next season. Also, didn't they just do another reading of another new musical they had written!?! Lots of love to the URINETOWN guys : )
#23

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 8:37pm

I'm seeing a local production Saturday night. Can't wait to come back with joyous comments!
"what have we learned? Don't smoke... don't do drugs and don't sing 'Defying Gravity'." -CATSNYRevival
#24

re: Urinetown - Appreciation

Posted: 10/13/05 at 9:19pm

auditioning waitress... you mean the writers or the producers?? i'm interested in hearing about this reading!

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