Urinetown

Creative Team

 

Book by Greg Kotis / Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis / Directed and Choreographed by Paul Finocchiaro / Music Direction by Jamie Reed / Scenic Design by Brandon PT Davis / Costume Design by Cami Huebert / Lighting Design by Savannah Bell / Sound Design by Austen Yim / Okoboji Summer Theatre / 2021

Abstract

“Urinetown: The Musical,” one of the first productions I worked on after the pandemic, provided a unique opportunity to delve into themes and aesthetics that deeply resonate with me. Set in a dystopian future where a water crisis forces citizens to pay for the right to urinate, the story presents a satirical yet sobering exploration of power, greed, and rebellion. Bobby Strong, the protagonist, leads the charge against the corrupt Urine Good Company, resulting in a darkly comedic battle for basic human rights.

For this production at the Okoboji Summer Theatre, I drew heavily on the styles of Brechtian theatre and German Expressionism, particularly films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. These influences guided my departure from the familiar steampunk aesthetic often associated with Urinetown. Instead, I aimed for a minimalist, impactful visual style that enhanced the play’s satirical edge. The set was dominated by stark, angular concrete textures and sharp lines, creating an oppressive atmosphere reflective of the characters’ grim reality.

Lighting played a key role in the storytelling, with carefully chosen elements such as hanging Edison bulbs and the ever-present ghost light serving as more than just sources of illumination—they carried symbolic weight, representing the thin line between control and freedom. The cold, industrial palette and fragmented lighting patterns further emphasized the distortion of society within the play, mirroring the grotesque absurdity of the world on stage.

By channeling Brechtian distancing techniques and the harsh visual language of German Expressionism, I sought to immerse the audience in a fractured, oppressive landscape while also encouraging them to critically engage with the narrative. The set was designed not only to serve the satire and humor of Urinetown but also to provoke thought about the parallels between its dystopia and our own world.