Urinetown: Adding Some Footwork

This week, rehearsals for Urinetown: The Musical got the actors up on their feet.

Choreographer Stefan Sittig lead the cast through several dance rehearsals, where they learned the moves to two of the show's major numbers.

Last week I took you behind the scenes of a music rehearsal for the song "Mr. Cladwell."  This week, they added some footwork to that number.

"Mr. Cladwell" kickline

As you may remember, in the show, Cladwell owns the Urine Good Company (UGC), which regulates toilet use in the drought-stricken community at the center of the musical.  While the poor struggle to make enough money to pay the fee to pee, Cladwell and his cronies live in luxury.

In this song, members of Cladwell's staff kiss up to their boss, celebrating his great wealth and power (which they subsequently also get to enjoy). They compare him to a "toreador" and "god" and also describe him "perfect" yet "unpretentious."

Urinetown cast rehearses "Mr. Cladwell"

The number also serves as a tool to introduce the character Hope, the daughter of Cladwell.  She eventually falls in love with the young revolutionary, Bobby Strong, who tries to take down Cladwell.  As you've guessed ... crisis ensues.

For the number, cast members were required to form a big pinwheel as a cast.  They also did a large Rockettes-esque kickline.  Pretty intense stuff, and yet they learned in under 3 hours.

Check out this video of the big kick-line finale:

Cast members also worked on the "Cop Song," where the audience learns about the fate of those who fail to pay the fee to pee.  Infused with blacklight glowing effects and stage combat, the number promises to delight.

Mr. McQueen tells Hope about the Urine Good Company

The UGC staff surround Mr. Cladwell

Two numbers in, they still have a long way to go, but the cast is off to a good start!

Urinetown is a joint production of the GW Department of Music and the Department of Theater and Dance.  It is directed by Muriel von Villas with music direction by Patrick O'Donnell.  The show runs Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. More info about tickets can be found here.