Urinetown
at Walnut Hills High School

Reviewed on February 15, 2020

Eva Schramm
School for Creative & Performing Arts
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 1

With porta-potties, self-commenting narration, and forbidden love, ‘urine' for a good time with Walnut Hills High School's production of "Urinetown".

Composer/lyricist Mark Hollmann and lyricist/librettist Greg Kotis' 2001 Tony Award-winning "Urinetown" is a smart, witty and irreverent spoof of musical theater and corporate greed. "Urinetown" centers around a terrible water shortage in a Gotham-esque city. A 20-year drought has made private toilets illegal, so all must pay to pee. The evil Caldwell B. Cladwell, CEO of Urine Good Company, has set a price for the use of public toilets. However, when he implements a fee hike, the good-natured Bobby Strong rallies his fellow citizens to take action. A comical revolt ensues, ultimately raising the stakes for Bobby and his particularly budding attraction to Cladwell's lovely daughter, Hope.

Walnut Hills High School produced a vocally strong production, exceptionally and energetically choreographed by student Matthew Eggers. The entire cast was animated and dedicated to their roles, leaving no chance of boredom. Their onstage presence, mixed with the comical script and the dynamic technical aspects, made their production beyond compare.

The immensely talented Oliver Vockell winningly portrays the kindhearted Bobby Strong as a valiant hero with an endearing heart. In the same vitality, Alex Kirk as Hope portrays attractive authenticity and dim-witted charm. Vockell and Kirk established an honest connection onstage and performed a memorable rendition of "Follow Your Heart," one of many terrific tunes in the score. As Cladwell B. Cladwell, Peter Godsey's characterization exuberantly reveals the role's evil intentions with personal flamboyance. Olivia Busche's vocal performance as Penelope Pennywise was beyond compare, as well as her adept acting ability. The marvelously expressive Molly Munn perfectly captures the innocence of the wiser-than-her-years Little Sally. Jack Giglia is remarkably sardonic as Officer Lockstock. With perfect comic timing, Giglia never failed to entice laughter.

The Walnut Hills High School Theater Department also shone when it came to the show's complex technical elements. Stage manager, Chloe Burwinkel's cues were timed to perfection as she never missed a beat. The sound crew, led by John Arora, created realistically funny effects that added to the comedy of the piece. The scenic design allowed for quick and efficient scene changes to differentiate from the poor streets and the fancy offices. Abby Schwartz's use of proper socio-economical costumes also conveyed the distinction between the classes. The use of random, funky props, created by John Paul Oberst and his crew throughout the show, added to the satirical aspects of the production while still being entirely functional and relevant.

Walnut Hills High School's production of "Urinetown" demonstrated undeniable talent, artisan technical aspects, perfect comic timing, and most importantly, reminded everyone that, "It's a Privilege to Pee."

Julia Van Schaik
Ursuline Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 10

Walnut Hills High School put on a satirical paragon of Greg Kotis' musical "Urinetown ," never missing a beat on comedic timing, nor an opportunity for some well-placed potty humor. The cast and crew took a musical of difficult social commentary and made it both fun and thought-provoking for their audience.

Urinetown was first performed on Broadway back in 2001 and exploits the revolutionary attitudes of those suffering in poverty, while also condemning the filthy rich for their less- than-stellar aid of the impoverished. The story is set in the mid-1900's in a parallel universe where one must pay in order to use public bathrooms. The musical focuses on the reactions of the poor who are losing loved ones to a place called "Urinetown". The musical's titular hero, Bobby Strong , loses his father to "Urinetown" and decides to fight the company at fault: Urine Good Company, with the help of unlikely idealist Hope Cladwell and his band of followers.

Walnut Hills made wonderful use of their large stage, with big dance numbers made up of talented dancers, as well as a large set. The overall energy of the show never slowed for a moment, even during intermission, and the dark themes of the plot were effectively received by Urinetown's audience.

Alex Kirk's portrayal of Hope Cladwell's naivety and hopeless romanticism was both fun and delightful in equal measure. Her counterpart, Bobby Strong , played by Oliver Vockell , had lovely vocals and true boyish charm, when he wasn't trying to start a rebellion against Urine Good Company.

Little Sally's sweet innocence and well-informed realism were played equally well by Molly Munn . Peter Godsey's Caldwell B. Cladwell incited many bouts of laughter during his short moments of levity. Jack Giglia's Officer Lockstock gave the audience insightful anecdotes and vital information in a playful way, even continuing through a short intermission song with Sam Frank's Officer Barrel .

The Poor Ensemble's grungy costuming contrasted well with the Urine Good Company's spotless dresses and suits, truly emphasizing the schism between the impoverished and the well-to-do characters. It spoke to Abby Schwartz , Sena Segbefia , Sadie Gray and crew's attention to the social commentary behind the scenes of the production. Set pieces were both creative and easily mobile, making for quick scene changes during blackouts, so that Walnut Hills' "Urinetown" never lost its realistic representation of the beloved Broadway musical. The show's marketing/publicity, made up of Piper Johnson , Grace Allen , and crew, added a clever touch to the performance through a nod to Hamilton on the cover of the playbill.

Walnut Hills High School performed a dark and difficult musical extremely effectively. They clearly connected with the subject matter and made a point to be true to their characters and the themes of hope and revolution within the plot.

Josie Palmarini
School for Creative & Performing Arts
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 2

Welcome to Urinetown! Well, not Urinetown the place, but rather Walnut Hills High School's production of "Urinetown" the musical, a performance during which you'll laugh so hard you'll pee in your pants, but pay for it during intermission.

As Officer Lockstock (Jack Giglia) makes very clear near the beginning of our story, "Urinetown" is not a happy musical. It is set in a place filled to the brim with despair, hopelessness, and crushed dreams, where supposed evil corporations reign, political corruption runs rampant, and, due to a mysterious drought, you must pay a fee in order to be able to pee or defecate in the "amenity" otherwise known as a toilet. And don't even think of trying to pee anywhere you're not supposed to, because if you do, you'll be captured by the police and carted off to Urinetown (the place), never to return again.

The hero of our epic is none other than Public Amenity #9's assistant custodian and everyman, Bobby Strong portrayed by Oliver Vockell. Vockell gave a really solid performance as Bobby, providing the audience with all of the heart, over-the-top heroic antics, and humor they could've asked for, as well as displaying some highly impressive vocal talents during several songs, such as "Look at the Sky" and "Run, Freedom, Run " Our young, plucky, upbeat ingenue-turned-rebellion-leader, Hope Cladwell, was portrayed by Alex Kirk. Kirk had spot-on line delivery and was hilarious until the very end. She, like Vockell, also exhibited some notable vocal talent in songs such as, "Follow Your Heart" and "I See a River." The onstage chemistry between the two actors, Vockell and Kirk, also felt deep-seated and dynamic.

Every good story has a narrator, and in the case of "Urinetown," we've got Officer Lockstock portrayed by Jack Giglia. Giglia had flawless comedic timing, and each of his aside discussions about the happenings of the show with Little Sally (Molly Munn) were extremely humorous and noticeably well- delivered. As well as being the shows all-knowing chronicler, Giglia also wrote and performed an original "Urinetown-inspired" song during intermission, entitled "I'm Just Happy to Pee Here," during which he sang and played the piano and Sam Frank (Officer Barrel) played the guitar. This original song was a nice addition to Walnut Hill's production and helped keep up the "don't-take-this-to-seriously" energy of the show as a whole. Officer Lockstock's sidekick was Little Sally, portrayed by Molly Munn, who, at the same time as posing important logical questions about "hydraulics" was lively and adorable. Munn also felt incredibly sincere and somber when singing the song, "Tell Her I Love Her" that pulled at heart-strings and made eyes well up with tears.

"Urinetown" is a musical centered around economic and societal classes and pee pee and poo poo. The several environments in which the show takes place must feel either incredibly filthy and destitute or opulent and posh. The scenic designer, Gabrielle Chiong; costume designer, Abby Schwartz; hair and makeup designer, Reeya Dighe; and lighting designer, Iris LeCates, all did phenomenal jobs at shaping said environments. The costumes, the hair, and the makeup of the Poor Ensemble truly made them look desperate, hopeless, and grimy. The set, with its built in slide and graffitied walls, really felt like the "other" side of town and helped make you sympathize with the living conditions of the Poor Ensemble. The lighting, especially of the deceased characters, really helped bring the mood from happy to eery in an instant.

Walnut Hills' production of "Urinetown" provided us with all of the satirical whimsy, thought-provoking conceptualization, and potty humor a theatre-goer could ask for.

Maddy Kennebeck
Seven Hills School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 3

Welcome to Walnut Hills High School's production of "Urinetown ," where the premise is absurd, and the production is absurdly good. "Urinetown" is a musical satire that premiered in 2001, known for its unusual title, endless humor, and poignant social commentary on political and corporate attitudes towards ecological crises. From its endless energy to its crisp choreography, the Walnut show wows and delights with its execution of the raunchy source material, thanks to the efforts of its multi-talented cast and crew.

"Urinetown" twists and parodies the typical Broadway musical formula of a leading man standing up for the underprivileged. The story follows Bobby Strong , a young everyman who lives in a world where a terrible drought has made water scarce and to curb water consumption, the government limits urination. The citizens pay fees to use public-bathrooms and follow strict urination laws under fear of being shipped off to the mythical "Urinetown ." Strong empowers the people to revolt against the tyranny of Caldwell B. Cladwell , the owner of the Urine Good Company that runs the public bathrooms, reclaiming the freedom to pee, "wherever you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like, and with whomever you like."

An immediate standout in this production are the technical elements, whose level of detail and clean execution give the show a crisp, professional quality. The marketing and publicity team, comprised of Piper Johnson , Grace Allen , and Crew, embrace the satirical style and potty humor of the show in their advertising, parodying an image of Hamilton for their playbill and taking advantage of the show's performance on Valentine's Day for some truly inspired pee-pun valentines. The set is bursting with rustic detail, and the Walnut Hills build crew successfully designed and executed a multi-storied set that is a dynamic and entertaining playground for the performers. The show also wows with its dance numbers, with a special shout-out given to Matthew Eggers and Molly Munn who choreographed a number of the songs such as "Cop Song" and "Don't Be the Bunny" that are both hysterical and impressive.

The cast gives a number of strong performances, with great comedic timing and camaraderie that keep the musical cohesive and energetic through its runtime. Standouts include Jack Giglia and Peter Godsey , who play Officer Lockstock and Caldwell B. Cladwell , who both bring so much charm and talent to their villainous roles that it's almost impossible to root against them. The protagonists hold up their own too, with Oliver Vochshell , who plays Bobby Strong , and Alex Kirk , who plays Hope Cladwell , injecting life and killer vocals into their roles to make them a treat to watch whenever they're on stage. The other actors and ensemble perform fantastically, overshadowing the few sound issues and muted deliveries with their collective effort and dedication to the coordinated chaos of the parody.

Walnut Hills's production of "Urinetown" relishes in its unabashed wackiness and wit, doing the source material justice with the efforts of its dedicated cast and crew to serve up a one of a kind production. To paraphrase Jack Giglia's delightful original song, everyone in the audience at Walnut Hill's Urinetown is certainly just happy to pee here'.

Brooke Yates
Larry A. Ryle High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 4

For as long as any art forms have existed, parodies have served as a playful counterpart of their nature. Urinetown plays this role towards the expansive universe of musical theatre. A satirical show touching on important political issues, this production delivers an interesting take on timeless archetypes and employs dark humor as a means of insight upon our current social climate. With a show so insensitive and provocative comes many challenges, especially on a high school level. For instance, not only does this show poke fun at musicals constantly, it also celebrates them through inspiration and even some creative references. It requires drastic amounts of creativity to accomplish this. Luckily, Walnut Hills High School delivered.

The student's inspiration for the show shined through effortlessly in many ways. Choreography, for instance, derived from iconic musical numbers throughout history. Whether this was very apparent like the nod to Chicago in the Cop Song, or more subtle like the West Side Story feel to Snuff That Girl , it was clear that musical influence was taken to heart. This does not, however, mean that the creativity stopped there. Some very original takes to the show include the functioning slide aspect of the set, and the adorable props - Nothing says freedom quite like a bedazzled plunger flag waving in the sky! Sound and lighting were not lost either. In fact, the sound hardly faltered at all throughout the production, which is a great accomplishment for high school theater, and lighting was very appropriate, adding gorgeous depth to scenes both comedic and intense. Marketing and publicity also managed to be entertaining and thoughtful through a sweet Valentines themed touch. Needles to say, the crew elements of this show were a tremendous success.

The tech was not the only grand achievement, however. The cast delivered something equally as important: Energy. With a show as goofy as this one, energy is key, especially in the ensemble. Walnut Hills did not disappoint there. Many of the featured actors also stood out just through their energy and comedic delivery alone. Particularly memorable examples include Derrick McHale as the subtly entertaining Senator Fipp, and Sam Frank as an ironically suave Officer Barrel . Sam Frank's police partner Officer Lockstock , performed by Jack Giglia , also contributed wonderfully to the overall show. He even created his very own intermission song that was just as hysterical as his performance interaction with both props and orchestra. Aside from just comedic talent, vocal expertise was prominent as well. Peter Godsey as Cladwell harnessed both these skills particularly well, along with his daughter Hope , played by Alex Kirk . Her mother figure Penelope Pennywise played by Olivia Busche brought phenomenal vocal ability that outstanded, representing the beginning of the show perfectly. Of course, acting and singing are not complete without wonderful dancing. Matthew Eggers not only played an integral role in many scenes, but also, with the help of immensely talented Molly Munn as Little Sally , choreographed the show. Eggers and his dance partner Grace Kelly Fulton provided the show with a never before seen concept of gorgeous dancing that flowed expertly through the songs with such grace it made you want nothing more than to forever Follow Your Heart .

As you can see, Urinetown was not a show to miss. The contribution of everyone to the overall unique and strange concept communicated beautifully. It truly was a Privilege to See.

Charlotte Shores
Randall K. Cooper High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 5

If urine town, be sure to check out a number-one hit occurring at Walnut Hills High School . With a stream of questionable puns and sarcasm that flows freely, their production of "Urinetown" was truly golden.

"Urinetown" takes place in the dystopian future, which couldn't be much odder, where water must be rationed, and it is truly a privilege to pee. Caldwell B. Cladwell , the tyrant of the Urine Good Company , and Penelope Pennywise keep citizens in order by demanding a fee to pee. Bobby Strong , an assistant janitor, acts as the protagonist when he leads a revolutionary riot at Amenity #9 after his father (Joseph "Old Man" Strong) is sent to the dreaded "Urinetown" for urinating on the sidewalk. While fighting for the freedom to pee, the satirical musical grapples with the dominance of corporations and the consequences of social irresponsibility, while in the style of Broadway musicals.

The production, as a whole, brought forward a breathtaking amount of enthusiasm and cohesion, especially during extensive dance routines such as "Run, Freedom, Run!" and "Urinetown ," where movements were fluid and crisp. The comedic timing and vocal capability of each actor were enthralling and remarkably well-rehearsed.

Oliver Vockell effortlessly brought Bobby Strong's rebellious nature and unsuspecting courage to life while leading high-energy numbers with soothing and rich vocals. Alex Kirk , in the role of Hope Cladwell, articulated outward sweetness and optimism as Caldwell B. Cladwell's daughter and later, illustrated formidable vengeance as she exposed her father's injustices. Peter Godsey, whom she played off well, was a star in his own right. With a gleeful money-grubbing persistence to exploit the poor, Godsey displayed crisp diction and body movements in the role of Caldwell B. Cladwell .

Similarly, the supporting actors and actresses tackled their roles with excellence, making even the smaller characters stand out. Jack Giglia expressed dexterity as he shifted between a bold policeman who enforced UGC's Strict Laws and the narrator as Officer Lockstock . His captivating presence was only enhanced by the repartee between himself and Officer Barrel , especially during their amusingly poignant intermission piano and guitar performance. In addition, Olivia Busche , as the shrill Penelope Pennywise , exhibited powerful vocals as she dominated "It's a Privilege to Pee ." Likewise, Little Becky Two-Shoes , played by Clare Brennan , expertly conducted her solos with powerful vocals.

With over one hundred and thirty props, the Props Crew (John Paul Oberst , Nia Stefanov , Aaron Tossey , and crew) impressively excelled in their attention to detail with every prop, especially the iconic bedazzled plunger that appeared in the Finale . The Hair and Makeup Crew (Reeya Dighe and crew) added to the unkempt appearance of the Poor Ensemble by teasing actors' hair and giving the appearance of a missing tooth. With a mix of warm and cool lighting, the Lighting Crew (Iris LeCates , Olive Leonardi , Rafael Ramirez and crew) was able to easily match the mood of each scene.

As cheesy as it may sound, "When you gotta go, you gotta go" to Walnut Hills High School's production of "Urinetown ."

Sydney Willis
Larry A. Ryle High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 6

Never has a show ever made a bathroom trip during intermission an absolute must- well, except for "Urinetown," that is. From the potty mouths of the characters to the inevitable pee jokes throughout the show, the production, put on by Walnut Hills High School, was in no way soiled.

The rather smelly comedy of "Urinetown" takes place in a city facing a devastating water shortage. Because of this, a company by the name of Urine Good Company was born, run by the antagonist of our story, Mr. Caldwell B. Cladwell, in order to manage the amount of, well, waste produced by the people. Any and all citizens are forced to pay to use the public amenities around town, and it is prohibited to pee anywhere else. If that law is broken, they are sent to "Urinetown," which means being killed. The poor suffer because of it, and a boy by the name of Bobby Strong decides to form a revolution and fight against Cladwell and the rich, and finds himself in Urinetown because of it. This story may be a comedy, but at the same time, it is full of love, death, and a deeper political message that sticks with you, even after the curtain closes.

Walnut Hills, without a doubt, did an exceptional job of portraying this show and bringing it to life. From the lighting to the energy to the choreography, every aspect of their production was number one, specifically, the actors themselves.

The setting of a play is definitely an important element, but the true stars of the show were, well, the stars of the show. Not only did the entire Poor Ensemble keep up a wonderful energy throughout, but each and every character never let a lack of passion and eagerness to tell the story show.

One particular girl who stunned with the power of her voice was none other than Penelope Pennywise, portrayed by the talented Olivia Busche. Her vocals in "A Privilege to Pee" were something to remember, and her energy was great.

Although there was constant comedic relief from every character, Officer Lockstock and Cladwell never failed to elicit laughter at every moment. Lockstock, played by Jack Giglia, was the narrator of the story, a police officer who performed the killings of townspeople. Despite his dark character, Giglia was hysterical and always managed to keep things fun and light. Cladwell, played by Peter Godsey, was not only funny but full of constant energy and able to go from funny old man to evil and cold like it was nothing. They were phenomenal!

One more thing that cannot go without being mentioned was the choreography. Every move in every song was in sync and effective. The most memorable were the sequences of dance between Hot Blades Harry (Matthew Eggers) and Cladwell's Secretary (Grace Kelly Fulton). They were beautiful together, and it was a sweet edition to a great show. Eggers, the student choreographer, did a wonderful job.

All in all, "Urinetown" has always been a show to be remembered, but this production was truly one that will not be forgotten. It was 'A Privilege to See!'

Lexie Kemble
Mercy McAuley High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 7

Walnut Hills High School's Theatre Department took the hard, cold tumble of a journey for their musical, "Urinetown ," approaching this comedic satire with creativity, talent, and high energy to develop an impressive and professional-quality production.

"Urinetown," written by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, first premiered on Broadway in 2001, heavily satirizing capitalism and monopolies, as well as human degradation of the environment and unawareness of the impact of consumerism. This musical is set in a world where Urine Good Company has established Public Amenities for restroom usage of all people due to a twenty-year long drought. UGC's sparkly set and expensive attire juxtaposes the grimy, destitute people of Public Amenity #9 , commenting on economic disparities and private businesses taking advantage of underserved communities. If the people of this town do not pay to use the Public Amenities, they are sent to the mysterious "Urinetown ." The people of Public Amenity #9 revolt against UGC and CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell due to an increase in the price they must pay to pee, and this insurrection is led by lovers Bobby Strong and Hope Cladwell. "Urinetown" also parodies the stereotypical musical through comedic narration by characters Officer Lockstock and Little Sally .

Jack Giglia's performance as Officer Lockstock was hysterical; from perfect comedic timing to impeccable physicality, Giglia flawlessly shifted from being a police officer in the story to narrating the musical outside of the story. Giglia led the other officers in "The Cop Song " with sufficient vocals, and his energy was matched by his partner, Officer Barrel (Sam Frank ). Another remarkable performance was that of Olivia Busche as Penelope Pennywise, warden of Public Amenity #9. Busche's dominant and aggressive delivery became even more impressive with her fierce belt and crisp vocals in "Privilege to Pee." Busche's authoritative facial expressions and well-executed accent developed a strong and consistent performance.

The "Poor Ensemble " was exceptional, and their stage presence combined with pained and angry facial expressions and powerful vocals in "Privilege to Pee," "Urinetown," and "Run, Freedom, Run!" This set this production of "Urinetown" far beyond the threshold of high school theatre. Each member of the Poor Ensemble performed as a specific character making specialized and unique choices, but working together to energetically tell the story as an ensemble.

The set was brilliant, creating the dingy and grungy town through a double-level metal scaffolding-like structure with the dirty Public Amenity #9 centerstage. The set of Urine Good Company flew in through quick transitions to build a more majestic, wealthy, and powerful place. The set crew (Gabriell Chiong, Heather Cochran , Clayton Bickel,and crew) made excellent use of the given space and was smart in distinguishing the UGC scenes from the Public Amenity #9 setting. The sound crew (John Arora , Gabby Burns , Kaylyn Mitchell , and Reagan Warvel ) was also highly impressive, handling very few sound malfunctions and utilizing well-applied sound effects such as flushing, zipping, and echoing to add comedy to the performance through technical facets.

The Walnut Hills Theatre Department did an absolutely phenomenal job with this performance of "Urinetown," filled with comedy, sharp dancing, well-developed characters, and professional-quality vocals. It's true--this hard, cold journey was humorous and entertaining, and "we're not sorry" we witnessed "Urinetown."

Samantha Flerlage
Mariemont High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 8

With comedic timing and title, the production of the musical "Urinetown" did not disappoint at Walnut Hills High School. The cast's dedication to their characters and the unique story itself was evident in their strong performance that left laughter rippling across the theatre.

"Urinetown" follows the story of a dystopian society in which people must pay to use the restroom, due to a water shortage. It traces the uprising against the company charging people to use their restroom as well as follows the doom looming over those who do not comply with this law: going to the unknown, inescapable "Urinetown."


The cast of "Urinetown" stunned with comedic numbers like "It's a Privilege to Pee", mixed in with heartfelt, rebellious numbers like "Run, Freedom, Run!" Walnut Hills High School demonstrates what it meant to have a truly driven, energetic, and motivated ensemble with their ensemble of the poor driving large dance numbers and complex songs.

Actor Oliver Vockell gave in outstanding performance with emotional vocals and energized acting while playing rebellion leader Bobby Strong. Vockell's love interest, Alex Kirk, also gave a phenomenal performance bringing a new twist to her character, Hope Cladwell. Additionally, Olivia Busche, playing Penelope Pennywise, drove the plot with her audacious vocals giving a new level of confidence to her character.

Both Peter Godsey as Caldwell B. Cladwell and Molly Munn as Little Sally didn't fail to disappoint with their strong deliverance of their characters and obvious dedication to the stage. Coming in with perfect comedic timing was Jack Giglia, playing Officer Lockstock, as he created his own audience-involved intermission song that gave his character both additional humor and a unique twist.

Behind the scenes, transitions, sound, and lighting smoothly progressed, provided the performance with effortless transitions. Additionally, student choreographers Matthew Eggers and Molly Munn put in hours of work to create spectacular dance numbers that embraced the stage. The magic on the stage was also brought to life by more crew members including the hair and makeup crew as well as the costume crew who gave a clear divide between the poor and destitute and the wealthy.

Giving a creative twist on an unusual musical, Walnut Hills High School gave a exemplary performance with lively vocals and intricate dancing that amusing the crowd with underlying comedy in their performance of "Urinetown".

Lucy Lawler
Saint Ursula Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 9

To pee, or not to pee: that is the question. Walnut Hills' production of "Urinetown" explores the chaos and comedy of a world without water.

Written in 2001, "Urinetown" is a satirical musical rooted in dystopia. In response to chronic drought, a corporation called "Urine Good Company" has seized control of all bathroom activities. Led by the corrupt Caldwell B. Cladwell , UGC demands payment to pee; if one refuses, one runs the risk of being exiled to Urinetown . When worker Bobby Strong incites rebellion, commotion ensues. As tensions build, it becomes evident that Urinetown is more startling and sinister than anyone thought possible.

WHHS Theatre Department delivered a brilliant production. The cast and crew were undoubtedly dedicated, embracing the musical's silly nature and dark humor.

Oliver Vockell was purely potent as Bobby Strong . The actor conveyed charm and charisma, capturing the dashing demeanor of a classic hero. Vockell's voice matched the character's surname, and his echoing vibrato (featured in songs like "Look at the Sky") commanded attention. Alex Kirk's portrayal of Hope Cladwell was similarly impressive. The actress was pretty in pink, projecting a perfect image of sweetness and naiveté; However, Kirk's sugary disposition slowly melted away, reflecting the show's underlying themes.

The entire cast exuded consistent energy. Jack Giglia (Officer Lockstock ) and Molly Munn (Little Sally ) delighted with their direct narration. Giglia and Munn mastered the Brechtian Effect, and their comedic chemistry heightened the show's hilarity. Olivia Busche's performance as Penelope Pennywise was one to watch. The actress was clean and confident, and her raspy belt was expertly utilized in "It's a Privilege to Pee ." Peter Godsey , who played Caldwell B. Cladwell , was the definition of a lovable villain. Matthew Eggers and Grace Kelly Fulton were a dynamic dance duo, and their contrary characterization illustrated the discrepancy between rich and poor. As a whole, the ensemble created an unbeatable atmosphere that was definitely "number one."

Of course, the crew also breathed life into "Urinetown ." Matthew Eggers doubled as Student Choreographer, constructing six explosive and energetic numbers. The lighting crew, led by Iris LeCates , was extremely proficient, illuminating every inch of the curved proscenium. Select colors also created uniformity: green light indicated memory sequences, while a reddish-orange hue accompanied tense situations. Abby Schwartz , lead of costumes, exhibited vast attention to detail: strong lines added a cartoonish feel, and main characters were exempted from the principle color palette. Finally, the sound was rich and resounding, just like the show's societal commentary.

So… to pee, or not to pee? Walnut Hills High School's "Urinetown" addressed this query, and also explored the timeless conflicts of corruption, control and climate change.