A familiar word seldom said in “polite” company, is the attention-getting part of the title of a Tony Award-winning musical satire staged by California State University, Fresno’s University Theatre beginning May 2.
“Urinetown: The Musical” is a warning against rampant consumerism and a reminder of the power of concerted action.
The play is set in a town where a 20-year drought has caused a desperate water shortage. A greedy company, whose deceit and corrupt activities have given it control of all the water and public toilets, is charging outrageous fees. If you gotta go, you gotta pay. And if you go elsewhere, you can be banished from the town. That all leads to a rebellion, a love story and a tongue-in-cheek revue of musical theater from Sigmund Romberg to Andrew Lloyd Webber.
University Theatre’s Brad Myers directs an energetic cast of more than 30 and Scott Hancock leads a live orchestra. Dance numbers are choreographed by Royce Matthews.
The principal student players are Kelly Sanchez, Sarah Lofgren, Miles Gaston Villanueva and Darren Tharp.
Performances are May 2-4 and 6-10. Curtain is at 8 p.m., except May 4, when the performance begins at 2 p.m.
Ticket Prices: $17 (general); $15 (Fresno State faculty, staff and Alumni Association members, seniors 60 and older and non-Fresno State students); $10 (Fresno State students). No one under 5 will be admitted.
Tickets are available online at www.csufresno.edu/Theatre or from the University Theatre Box Office near the north entrance to the Speech Arts Building (5201 N. Maple Ave.), which is open 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone: 559.278.2216.
For more information, call Pamela Dyer 559.278.7512 or e-mail pamd@csufresno.edu.
