Three-Time Tony-Award Winner Urinetown Hits Los Gatos High School Stage

With a title like Urinetown, imagine what fun the actors at Los Gatos High School are having promoting the spring musical via Facebook, Twitter and email.

“Urinetown--you just know you've gotta go!" 

"The show's so funny, you might wet yourself!"  

"Sit back and relax, but don't get too comfy, you're in URINETOWN!"

Potty humor—and weird title—aside, don't miss this three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical which starts this Friday, March 8 at LGHS.

Urinetown is a tale of greed, corruption, and love set in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. The show takes place in a Gotham-like city, where a water shortage caused by a 20-year-drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. Harsh laws ensure that citizens must pay to urinate or risk being sent to the Urinetown penal colony.

Amid the downtrodden emerges Bobby Strong, a plunger-wielding hero who rallies the troops and leads a revolution. Will love and justice reign among the people's revolution for basic rights? Come see the show and find out. 

"With a title like Urinetown I didn't know what to think," said freshman Teenie Noskowski. "But the show has really grown on me." 

"Urinetown is really funny," agrees freshman Tessa Carroll, who with big bro Riley, comprises one of two brother/sister sets in this year's show (along with Sam and Molly Ball).

Along with the on-stage talent, many LGHS students have also helped behind the scenes. The orchestra is comprised of students with the exception of a professional keyboardist. Senior Zach Rezowalli serves as lighting designer, and student costume designers Felicity Rich-Michael and Kaitlyn Papka, were integral in creating the "sewer chic" costumes.

In addition, the tech wizards in charge of running the sound and light boards, spotlights and microphones are all students.  

For a handful of veteran thespians, Urinetown marks their finale bow in the Prentiss Brown theatre. Seniors Rodd Farhadi ("Bobby Strong"), Serena Koo ("Hope Cladwell") and Dana Cullinane ("Penny Wise"), have won numerous awards in the Bay Area, and plan to major in drama and or musical theatre in college.

Lane Lyle, who plays "Little Sally," jokingly describes stage fright in her cast bio, which couldn't be further from the truth. Lyle has notched at least 13 shows in her LGHS performing belt, in addition to writing and filming top notch videos and trailers for school shows and events. "Realizing this is my last show is bittersweet," says Lane. "I’m really excited, but every once in a while, I’ll hit a moment during rehearsal when I realize this is the last time I’ll ever participate in an LGHS production."

If you do come to the show, note the brand-new toilet in the theater lobby, but please do hold it in! In a clever fundraising twist, the pristine commode will be used to collect donations for Water.org, a nonprofit launched by actor Matt Damon.

Damon's recent "toilet strike" was hilarious, but the millions of people who lack clean water and basic sanitation is anything but funny. For that reason, audience members will be asked to generously “Fill the Can” with their spare change. 

Urintown shows are March 8-9 and 14-16 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee also scheduled for March 16 at 2 p.m. Reserved seats are $15, general admission is $13 an student tickets are $7.

To purchase tickets in advance, visit lghs.net or call 408.354.2730. Tickets may also be purchased at the door one hour before showtime.