"Urinetown: The Musical” is Fort Lewis College’s most recent production put on by the theatre department. The musical premiered last Friday, Nov. 3.

“Urinetown” depicts a town with a severe water shortage problem, Ginny Davis, director of the musical said.

The town revolts when the government adds fees to public toilets, she said.  

In 2001, Greg Kotis, playwright of the musical, returned from a vacation abroad where he was forced to pay for public toilets, Davis said.  He then was inspired to write this musical with the central theme of regulation versus deregulation, Davis said.

Ian Noble, FLC senior anthropology and spanish major, who plays male lead Bobby Strong, feels this musical hits each side equally hard, he said.

“It has a lot to offer conversationally which I feel is very refreshing.”  Noble said

"Urinetown" is not a typical musical, Hallie Denman, senior music business major who plays supporting female Penelope Pennywise, said.  Pennywise is the middleman between the government and the town people, Denman said.

“The toughest part about playing Pennywise has been getting to know her,” she said.

Denman has acted on five other shows with the FLC theatre group, she said. The show itself is fun throughout the whole performance, she said.

Each character has a meaningful story, and each character has an energy brought to life by the performer, Denman said.

Davis also believes this play is unique because unlike most musicals that use a chorus sparingly, almost every scene has a chorus part, she said.

Also unlike other musicals, this show is featuring an open and free question forum, Noble said. The forum will be focused on the effects of government regulations and deregulations, he said.

This Talk Back forum will be held on Nov. 11 directly after the 2 p.m. Sunday matinee show, Davis said. It will feature State Rep. Barbara McLachlan, she said.

McLachlan is the representative for Southwest Colorado. She is in charge of representing what the people of this district want and need, Davis said.

The forum aims to allow the community to open a casual dialogue between themselves and their officials, Davis said.

Urinetown plays from Nov. 3 through Nov. 5, then the next week from Nov. 8 through Nov. 11. The show is free for students, $18 for adults and $10 for seniors and non-FLC students.

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