
Urinetown
Company
University of Missouri
Year
2024
Scenic Design, Musical Theatre
Category
For the 2024 production of Urinetown at the University of Missouri, the scenic design embraced the show’s satirical edge and dystopian themes, creating a world that felt both oppressive and exaggeratedly theatrical. The set served as a visual metaphor for societal decay, utilizing industrial textures, stark contrasts, and layered urban elements to highlight the divide between power and the people.
Architectural decay and looming structures defined the space, reinforcing the sense of control and desperation at the heart of the story. Functionality played a key role in the design, with dynamic set elements that allowed for fluid shifts between locations while maintaining a sense of confinement—echoing the show’s themes of restriction and rebellion.
Balancing bleak realism with heightened theatricality, the design underscored Urinetown’s biting humor and political satire, creating a world where the absurdity of corporate greed and social control was as visually striking as it was narratively compelling.
About
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Based on the Screenplay by Patricia Resnick and Colin Higgins
Director and Choreographer Brandon V. Riley
Music Director Derrick Enyard
Scenic Design by Brandon PT Davis
Costume Design by Marc W. Vial II
Lighting Design by Vincente Williams
Sound Design by Eliza Brooks
Photos by Rebecca Allen
About