This year’s musical is …. Urinetown!  This show will be playing in the auditorium at Hingham High School on Thursday, November 15th, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 16th, at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, November 17th, at 8:00 pm. Students and senior citizens get tickets for $10.00, while adults pay $15.00 per ticket.

The music and lyrics for the show were written by Mark Hollmann and the book was written by Greg Kotis. The show premiered on Broadway on October 30, 2003, eventually closing on January 18, 2004.

The summary of the show, as written on Broadway.com, describes, “A terrible water shortage has crippled the Gotham-like town that serves as the setting for Urinetown. In a mad attempt to regulate water consumption, the government has outlawed the use of private toilets. The citizenry must use public, pay-for-use amenities owned and operated by the corrupt and iron-fisted Caldwell B. Cladwell. The privilege to pee is expensive, draining and dangerous. Anyone who refuses to pay to pee is immediately and without question hauled off to Urinetown. What is Urinetown? Nobody knows, for those who are sent there are never heard from again. But it’s really a love story and there’s a revolution all before the end of Act I. Will the revolution succeed? Can true love be found in Urinetown? All these questions and more are answered in Urinetown.”

When asked about how she picks a new show every year, drama teacher Ms. Sisk, who is also the director of the show, said, “Every year, for every show, I scrounge around to find the ‘right’ show, for all three mainstage productions.  Sometimes the right show falls into my lap, and other years it takes months to make a decision. I basically think about two things: what has this group of students done in their time here at HHS and I look to bring them something new, the other thing is a show being the right “fit” for the kids I suspect will be auditioning.  Think about it: could a director choose Hamlet as a play if s/he can’t imagine a couple of actors being able to pull it off? While there is so much contemporary in society that matches Urinetown, I can honestly say that there was no ‘agenda’ in choosing it. I knew the cast and I would have a blast doing it….and I haven’t been wrong so far!”

Though Ms. Sisk is the director of the show, there are many others who have equally important roles. Mr. Christopher Landis is the music director, Ms. Campbell is one of the choreographers along with Mrs. Fish, and many, many other wonderful people have helped bring this production to fruition.

The lead male character of Bobby Strong is played by sophomore Aidan Murphy, and the lead female role of Hope Cladwell is played by senior Casey Hussey. The cast also includes many other wonderfully talented actors and actresses.

In an interview, Casey Hussey shared, “My favorite part about Urinetown is the community aspect that is necessary in order for the show to run smoothly. We’ve had a lot of fun in rehearsals and have learned to trust each other onstage and off and work off our ideas. My character specifically gets lifted up in the air and carried around, and also tied up and gagged for half of act two, but I never felt worried because I trusted everyone. We really are like a team. This continues to be my favorite part about every show I do. The bonds that the cast and crew make during rehearsals is so special and unlike any other.

As for the actual show, my favorite songs are ‘The Cop Song’ and ‘Why Did I Listen to that Man.’ ‘The Cop Song’ is so cool and fun and visually very impressive. I’m not even in that number but every time they do it I go out into the audience so I can watch. And ‘Why Did I Listen To That Man’ is a very fun number to be in because it really furthers the plot and lets all the characters in it expand their opinions and give the audience a closer look at our minds and emotions in the midst of the most intense part of the show. I’m so excited, it’s gonna be so good. I can feel it.”

There are so many catchy and musically pleasing songs in this show; it’s must go to the musical and experience the show. If you have a chance of going to the high school and watching this musical, definitely do.

As Carmen Cusack, a musical theatre actress, once said, “I believe there’s no reason why we couldn’t be entering a new age of musical theater if we continue to nurture young talent, take risks, and give them a playing field.”