First Parish Players to debut with Urinetown
By GuestSubmitted by Kathryn Maurin
With the goal of offering young people an opportunity to be actively involved in a safe, fun and productive environment, the newly created First Parish Players will debut its first summer musical performance of Urinetown: The Musical at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton from August 9-12.
Geared toward performers ages 16-25, the cast members are residents of several towns on the south shore, including four Canton High School graduates.
“In Canton there is a lack of opportunity for teens and young adults to engage in activity beyond what is offered at the high school,” said FPP co-founder Elizabeth Cole Sheehan, a longtime Canton resident. “We believe local high school and college students would appreciate a drug- and alcohol-free cultural experience and the chance to engage with people their age.”
According to Music Theatre International, “One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.”
Set in a dystopian society, Urinetown suffers a stark water shortage caused by a 20-year drought that has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. This corporate rule inspires the town’s hero, Bobby Strong, to plot a revolution against the ruling rich.
The musical satirizes the legal system, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics while it parodies musicals by using wit, metaphor and plot twists. The characters Bobby Strong and Hope Cladwell were both included on New York Theatre Monthly’s list of “The 100 Greatest Roles in Musical Theatre.” In Canton’s production, the characters will be played by Nick Paradiso and CHS graduate Willow Jayne Anderson.
First Parish, built in 1825, has housed theatrical performances in years past. The upper parish hall, built in 1878, provides an ideal setting for theatre productions with its small stage and large seating area. Sitting empty for several years, the stage will once again be lit up and alive with entertainment.
The FPP production of Urinetown will be performed by area students under the direction of Caitlyn McKiernan, with musical direction by Jose Merlo and choreography by Alycia Jean Robinson.
Urinetown was written by Mark Hollmann (music and lyrics) and Greg Kotis (book and lyrics). It debuted on Broadway in September 2001 and ran for four years, winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score.
All funding for this production is being raised by the players. They began with a clothing sale and have also held a car wash and giant yard sale. A Performer Showcase is planned for this Saturday, July 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets to the showcase are $10. The players would also like to invite the public to its glamorous Masquerade Ball on August 4 from 8 p.m. to midnight. The cost is $20 per ticket and attire is formal/black-tie optional. See www.firstparishplayers.webs.com for more information.
Urinetown performances are August 9 to 11 at 7 p.m. and August 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 each. Though the production is family friendly, it is not recommended for small children. The players are looking forward to sharing their talents with the community at large.
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