It’s a new season, new group, and new inspiration for the prestigious Edina High School theater program as it kicks off its 2011-12 season. After the EHS Thespians’ 2010 fall production Anything Goes made its name as the first Minnesota school in over 40 years to be selected for a main stage performance at the International Thespian Festival in June, the EHS Thespians will open this fall with Urinetown: The Musical, a comical tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in the time of a terrible water shortage.
Urinetown: The Musical, directed by Tony Matthes, with music by Mark Hollmann and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, can be seen at 7:30 p.m. October 28 & 29 and November 3-5, with a matinee November 5 at 1:30 p.m. (Purchase tickets here).
To preview the show and get a grasp on expectations for the new season, I conducted a Q&A interview with Matthes:
BH: Why did you choose Urinetown: The Musical?
TM: This is a show I have wanted to do for at least five years now. I didn’t (earlier) because when it became public, it seemed like every high school was doing it. Now that some time has passed, I'm ready to take it on. It appeals to me because it pays homage to many great musicals within the structure of its plot. You'll see many moments that remind you of many great musicals. Its music and dance is very fresh and the story is very funny.
BH: What type of show can the audience look forward to seeing?
TM: This is a comedy, which satirizes West Side Story, Fiddler on The Roof, Kiss me Kate, Les Miserables and several other musicals. This musical won three Tony Awards on Broadway in 2001. You will see lots of wonderful kids having a great time telling a story and hear some wonderful music.
BH: With Anything Goes being so successful last fall, do you all feel any pressure with Urinetown: The Musical this fall? How (if at all) do the two shows compare?
TM: Every year is a new year with a new group and a new story to tell. What we do here at EHS is so much more than what you see on stage. It is as much about process as it is about product. I think if we serve our cast and crew, we will serve the show, and the end result is always magical. We try not to compare if we can because it takes away from the special little bond that each show creates. Each year is its own. This show has lots of young and new talent and kids that are ready to show what they have. For many in the cast, it will be their first leading roles.
BH: Without giving away too much, what's your favorite thing about or part of this show?
TM: I love the way we have tried to poke fun at some of the musicals we have done around here in the past few years. The script allows for that. If you have been to our shows, you should recognize choreography, set pieces, and props from other shows.
BH: Anything else we should know?
TM: Don’t let the name fool you. This show will have you laughing so hard you will…well, you'll laugh!
For more info on what Urinetown is and what you can expect in the EHS Thespians' production, check out their YouTube video.
