Skylight Music Theatre Announces Cast, Creative Team for Hilarious Tony Award-Winning Musical Urinetown
Ray Jivoff directs outrageous satire of legal system, social irresponsibility, corporate mismanagement and musical theatre itself. May 18 – June 10, 2018 in Skylight’s Cabot Theatre
Milwaukee, Wis. (April 5, 2018) — Skylight Music Theatre Artistic Director Ray Jivoff today announced the cast, creative team and band for Urinetown, The Musical, running May 18 through June 10 in Skylight’s beautiful Cabot Theatre.
Winner of three Tony Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, bureaucracy, politics, corporate mismanagement— and musical theatre itself.
“Once you get past the title – which even the authors make fun of in the script – this is a hysterical and highly entertaining Broadway show,” said Jivoff, who will direct the production for Skylight. “Urinetown has become extraordinarily popular for good reason — it is a true original that reinvigorated the very notion of what a musical could be.”
The story takes place in a Gotham-like city, where a 20-year drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets, regulated by a single malevolent company that charges admission for this basic need.
“In a smart yet audacious way, the show forces us to think about what would happen if there were a drastic water shortage and a corrupt billionaire controlled the fate of the people,” said Jivoff. “At the same time within this tale of greed, revolution and hope, there is side-splitting humor and a classic ‘boy meets girl’ love story.”
A Musical that Pokes Fun at Musicals
While tackling the dark and outrageous circumstances, Urinetown also pokes fun at itself and at the musical theatre genre. Theatre buffs will enjoy catching references to everything from West Side Story and Les Misérables to Threepenny Opera.
Author Greg Kotis had the idea for Urinetown, The Musical when he was a student traveling though Europe and encountered pay toilets. Kotis wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics with Mark Hollmann, who also composed the score. The show debuted at the New York Fringe Festival and then became an off-Broadway hit in 2001, the same year it moved to Broadway. It received 10 Tony Award nominations and ran until 2004.
The New York Times called the show “exuberantly satirical…another great musical that makes us laugh at tyranny.” Variety described it as “audacious…crisp, sharp and clever.”
This is the first time Skylight has produced Urinetown. The musical has been presented worldwide on professional stages, at colleges and in high schools. Jivoff will direct a cast of 18 and work with a creative team including music director/conductor David Bonofiglio and choreographer Ryan Cappleman.
Urinetown, The Musical
May 18 – June 10, 2018
Directed by Ray Jivoff
Music by Mark Hollmann
Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis
Book by Greg Kotis
Originally produced in 2001
The Urinetown creative team, cast and band:
Creative Team
Stage Director…………………………………………………………………………………………… Ray Jivoff
Music Director/Conductor………………………………………………………………….David Bonofiglio
Choreographer……………………………………………………………………………….. Ryan Cappleman
Scenic Designer……………………………………………………………………………… Brandon Kirkham
Lighting Designer……………………………………………………………………………. Holly Bloomquist
Costume Designer………………………………………………………………………….. Karin Kopischke**
Sound Designer………………………………………………………………….…………..Megan B. Henninger**
Production Stage Manager……………………………………………………………….. Daniel J. Hanson*
*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
**The Costume and Sound designers represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829
Cast
Officer Lockstock……………………………………………………………………………………………. Rick Pendzich
Penelope Pennywise………………………………………………………………………………………. Amber Smith
Bobby Strong………………………………………………………………………………………….. Henry McGinniss*
Hope Cladwell……………………………………………………………………………………………. Rachael Zientek
Little Sally…………………………………………………………………………………………………… Kaylee Annable
Caldwell B. Cladwell………………………………………………………………………………. Steven M. Koehler*
Mr. McQueen………………………………………………………………………………………………….. David Ferrie
Senator Fipp…………………………………………………………………………………………………… Doug Jarecki
Officer Barrel……………………………………………………………………………………………………. Tim Rebers
Joseph “Old Man” Strong/Hot Blades Harry……………………………………………….. Michael Stebbins*
Josephine “Ma” Strong/Old Woman…………………………………………………………. Rhonda Rae Busch
Tiny Tom/Ensemble…………………………………………………………………………………………. Zach Woods
Billy Boy Bill/Ensemble………………………………………………………………………………. Nathan Marinan
Robbie The Stock-fish/Ensemble/Dance Captain………………………………………………… Kevin Sievert
Soupy Sue/Ensemble………………………………………………………………………………………… Jenna K. Vik
Little Becky Two Shoes/Ensemble……………………………………………………………………… Haley Haupt
Ensemble……………………………………………………………………………………………………. Shawn Holmes
Ensemble……………………………………………………………………………………….. Ashley Marie Rodriguez
Band
Bass……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Tom McGirr
Reeds……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Ron Foster
Trombones and Euphonium…………………………………………………………………………. Kyle Samuelson
Drum and Percussion………………………………………………………………………… Michael “Ding” Lorenz
Biographies
Ray Jivoff (Stage Director & Skylight Artistic Director) has been working at Skylight since 1990, when he appeared in Girl Crazy back at the “old space” on Jefferson Street. In 1999, he joined Skylight staff as Education Director and started Enlighten, Skylight’s education program, which includes the Partner School Program, which offers music theatre education to students in 8 MPS schools; two touring shows-The Standard Songbook and KidsWrites and The High School Musical Celebration. As an actor, shows at Skylight include La Cage Aux Folles, Animal Crackers, Adding Machine, Guys and Dolls, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and The Producers. He directed Hair, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and Sing Me a Story at Skylight; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, Revised and The Sum of Us at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre; West Side Story at UW Milwaukee and Anything Goes, Little Shop of Horrors and Into the Woods at Marquette University.
David Bonofiglio (Music Director) holds a BFA in piano performance from Cardinal Stritch University. Selected credits as music director: Little By Little, Scrooge in Rouge, A Cudahy Caroler Christmas, and Jesus Christ Superstar for In Tandem Theatre; Sunday in the Park with George for Windfall Theatre; Short and Sweet: A CabaRAY with Ray Jivoff at the Skylight Cabaret. As cover piano/conductor: Once On This Island and La Cage Aux Folles for Skylight Music Theatre. As keyboardist and programmer: Powder Her Face, Les Misérables, In the Heights, and La Cage Aux Folles for Skylight Music Theatre.
Performance Information
Performances of Urinetown are May 18 to June 10, 2018 in the Cabot Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee.
Tickets & Box Office
Tickets are $30 – $75 (plus tax and fees) and can be purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, 158 N. Broadway, or by calling (414) 291-7800. Box Office hours are Monday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. The Box Office window is also open two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may be purchased online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org.
Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more by calling (414) 299-4964 or emailing morganh@skylightmusictheatre.org
Special Events
Skylight Insights. In-depth discussions with directors and special guests take place one hour before every Wednesday and Sunday performance.
BeOut. A preshow celebration for LGBTQ members and supporters will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 6 p.m. Tickets include pre-show appetizers and talk by Michael Johnston. Limited availability. Call Skylight Music Theatre’s Box Office at (414) 291-7800.
ASL Performance. Urinetown will be interpreted in American Sign Language on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets for this performance, call Skylight Music Theatre’s Box Office at (414) 291-7800 and mention ASL performance for seating in the appropriate section.
For more information visit www.skylightmusictheatre.org, email info@skylightmusictheatre.org or call the Box Office at (414) 291-7800.
Skylight Bar & Bistro
The Skylight Bar & Bistro is located on the second floor of The Broadway Theatre Center. It is open two hours before each performance in the Cabot Theatre and features gourmet dining and fine wine by Indulge Wine Room. Reservations for full table service are recommended and can be made in advance at www.skylightmusictheatre.org/bistro or email Skylight@getindulge.com or by calling (414) 291-3773. Counter service is available without reservations.
Parking Vouchers on Sale
Purchase discounted parking vouchers from the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office for use in the Historic Third Ward parking garage at 212 N. Milwaukee Street (one block east and one block north). Vouchers can be purchased for $5 during normal box office hours. Vouchers are valid between 5 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. for evening performances only. Voucher sales stop 30 minutes before showtime and are not available during intermission. No refunds.
About Skylight Music Theatre
Skylight Music Theatre’s mission since 1959: To bring the full spectrum of music theatre works to a wide and diverse audience in celebration of the musical and theatrical arts and their reflection of the human condition. Skylight presents productions “Skylight Style” – bringing fresh approaches or interesting twists to music theatre works, creating meaningful connections, not only between the characters on stage but with the audience as well. The beautiful, intimate Cabot Theatre allows audiences to feel close to the powerful emotions on stage.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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