‘Urinetown the Musical’ @ Uptown Players

Photos by Mike Morgan Photography

—Car0l M. Rice

I was fortunate to see the original cast of Urinetown: The Musical on Broadway 25 (ish) years ago, and this outrageous satire of life, love, and pee immediately became one of my favorite shows. Since then I’ve seen touring, community, and even high school productions (well, my son was playing Bobby Strong...but I’d have gone anyway). While I’ve missed a few local versions here and there, I quite frankly try to see every production of Urinetown that I can and was glad that Uptown Players was able to fit me in on the Thursday night of their second weekend. Not just because I love the show, but because this is a production not to be missed!

Greg Kotis had the idea for Urinetown when he had to deal with pay toilets while traveling in Europe on an extremely tight budget. Kotis wrote the book and lyrics and Mark Hollmann supplied music and lyrics. The result is a “premise so absurd” (to quote Little Sally) that this hilarious satire seems perhaps even more relevant now than it did when it hit Broadway in 2001. The poor barely scraping by while the rich just keep getting richer? Yep, sounds like today’s headlines for sure.

It’s a simple story: boy meets girl but he’s from the wrong side of the tracks (or in this case, urinal) and the two fall in love—only to have a revolution tear them apart. One might think they’d at least get a happy ending...but no.

There’s a lot to laugh about on the way, though, and director Penny Ayn Maas has wrung every funny moment possible out of her exceptionally well-cast group of actors. They sing in perfect harmony and dance brilliantly, too, courtesy of music direction by Vonda K. Bowling and choreography by Gabriella Ayala Yarbrough. Kudos must go to David Saldivar for his spot-on fight choreography as well.

The entire production team has put together a seamless evening of entertainment, as Dennis Canright’s set design transforms easily between a filthy sewer and a posh and pristine office, beautifully lit by lighting designer Julie Hohman. The stark contrast between the rich and poor is accentuated by Suzi Cranford’s costume design and Michael B. Moore’s hair and makeup design. Several of the actors play multiple characters, and Cranford and Moore have melded their talents to ensure they look completely different in each role.

Bobby Strong is the hero of our story, played with valiant sincerity by Max J. Swarner. A typical “everyman”—inspired to try and change things for the better once he listens to his heart—this is a role than can easily go too big or too one-note, but Swarner finds the levels that make Bobby Strong interesting. His vocals are stunning, and his comic timing makes it impossible to look away. While all his songs were amazing, “Run, Freedom, Run!” alongside the poor gave new meaning to the term “showstopper.”

As the sweet, somewhat dim yet loveable Hope Cladwell, Emery Gray makes it easy to see why Bobby started a revolution over her. Her lilting soprano matches her noble bearing, and she manages to get past the dumb blonde aspects of the role to become a believable leader. She also manages to match “the poor’s” choreography while tied up—not an easy feat, but definitely a funny one!

Officer Lockstock is the narrator of our story, sardonically played by David Lugo, whose ability to squeeze every ounce of humor from his lines is unparalleled. He and the other cops make “Cop Song” something to remember! Lugo also has excellent chemistry with both his sidekick Officer Barrel, played with goofy enthusiasm by Ben Meadors, and the street urchin Little Sally, adorably portrayed by Taylor Nash. Nash often acts as a foil to Lugo’s narrator, and we quickly catch on that Little Sally’s probably the smartest character onstage.

As the “craven toilet maven” (as he is described by Senator Fipp) Caldwell B. Cladwell is gleefully portrayed by Brian Hathaway, who lets us know right off the bat exactly who he is: our villain, with absolutely nothing on his mind but money. Hathaway immediately succeeds in making us love to hate him, and he and his staff do this best in “Don’t Be the Bunny.”

Laura Lites comes across a bit young to be playing Penelope Pennywise, but she does a killer job with the role, especially in “It’s a Privilege to Pee.”

As Cladwell’s cronies, AJ Martinez is the perfect right hand man as Mr. McQueen; Mikey L. Abrams brings a big ol’ Texas twang to Senator Fipp; and Gena Loe, Logan Lowery, and Kayla Renee Jackson handle multiple roles with aplomb. Gerald Taylor II plays for both sides as both a UGC Exec and Robby the Stockfish (one of the poor) as well as a Cop.

“The poor” are made up of a wonderful ensemble consisting of Ralphael Agee as the none-too-bright Tiny Tom, Jessica Humphrey as the very pregnant and outspoken Little Becky Two Shoes, Donovan Marie Lawson as the excitable Soupy Sue, Linda Leonard as both Josephine Strong and Old Woman, Gabrielle Rollins as Billy Joe Bill/Cop, and Keith J. Warren as the first victim of Urinetown (the place, not the musical) Old Man Strong and the hot-headed Hotblades Harry/Cop. While the entire ensemble—rich or poor—worked as a unified team, each actor made their characters stand out, yet without stealing focus from the whole.

I’ve always thought that Urinetown: The Musicalbogs down a little in the second act, but the unbridled energy of the Uptown Players cast keeps everything moving smoothly and the pace most definitely UP.

While you might be thinking along the lines of Little Sally that “the title’s awful,” do NOT let that keep you away from this show. It is fabulous—the best version I’ve seen since the original Broadway cast! Come in with an open mind…and an empty bladder. You won’t regret it.

WHEN: July 10-19, 2026
WHERE: Kalita Humphreys Theater
WEB: uptownplayers.org