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The Road to Urinetown

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2024
The Road to Urinetown

The Making of a Musical

Beginning with a weeklong intensive during Winter Break and culminating on the big Athey Center at Palmer Auditorium stage, the cast and crew of the Theater Department’s production of “Urinetown: The Musical” put a lot of hard work into a fantastic Spring 2024 show, which ran March 1-3.

for students sing for the music director — L-R: Sopranos Ellie Best ’27, Lauren McCoy ’27, Cate Hashemi ’26 and Brielle Blood ’24 rehearse the musical’s opening number with Music Director Jill Brunelle in Tansill Theater on the second day of a weeklong intensive in mid-January.

Intensive theater

two student actors read their script books. — A week before the end of Winter Break, the cast gathered back on campus for intensive rehearsals with the play’s musical director, choreographer and director. Here, Julia Toyer ’27, left, and Miya Lasher ’27 follow along in their scripts during an early reading.

A student take a photo with a smart phone of another during vocal rehearsal. — Erin Flanagan ’24 captures the moment as Ian Albanese ’24 stands with fellow tenors to rehearse a section of the opening number.

cast members rehearse choreography — Ellie Best ’27, front, with Jonah Hane ’26, back left, Julia Toyer ’27 and Giuseppe Piccirilli ‘25, right, join the rest of the cast rehearsing the opening number with Emily Brankman ’26 (not pictured).

Musical cast performs finale move during rehearsal. — The cast rehearse the finale moment of the opening number choreography with Emily Brankman ’26.

Cast sings and dances in big X formation in middle of stage — The cast rehearses the choreography for the opening number.

At the start of the spring semester, regular rehearsals moved to Oliva Hall

Student actors rehearse scene — The cast rehearses the Act I “Don’t be the Bunny” scene in Oliva Hall in Cummings Art Center.

Rehearsals continue

actors lay on floor with hands and feet in the air — Brielle Blood ’24, foreground, rehearses the “Don’t be the Bunny” scene with other members of the cast.

Director gives instruction to actor — Director Tess Cruz ’16 works with Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26.

group of actors gather around script book — L-R: Cast members Brielle Blood ’24, Bailey Regan ’27, Finley Regan ’27, Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 and Erin Flanagan ’24 check a detail in the script.

two actors make notations in script books — Amanda Brady ’25, left, and Julia Toyer ’27 makes notes in their scripts.

three actors rehearse scene with scripts in hand — Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, center, works with Ellie Best ’27, left, and Finley Regan ’27.

actor strikes pose, looking left, during rehearsal — Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, foreground, rehearses.

five actors all make dramatic facial expressions — L-R: Cast members Cate Hashemi ’26, Amanda Brady ’25, Julia Toyer ’27, Lauren McCoy ’27 and Mia Jurkunas ’24 rehearse an Act I scene.

Time to get technical

costumer fits actor in ghost sheet costume — Associate Professor of Theater and costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco helps Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25, who plays Officer Barrel, with his ghost sheet.

By the middle of February, the technical aspects of the show are beginning to come together, with set consruction, costuming and lighting all taking shape in and around Palmer Auditorium.

man sitting at computer in dark — Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and production manager Samuel Biondolillo keeps tabs on the cast and crew from the back of the house during a tech week rehearsal.

two stage crew paint a set — Jem War ’26, left, and Clementine Elorriaga ’26 get started painting a newly constructed set piece on the Palmer Auditorium stage.

costumer works on collar of dress on actor — Professor Notarfrancisco fits costumes for Cate Hashemi ’26, who plays Old Ma Strong, as Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 awaits his fitting.

stack of costumes with notes pinned to them — Costume pieces are labeled for further work.

costumer on left looks off stage while adjusting actor's tie — Costume crew co-head Beth Marsh ’24, left, looks to costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco, not pictured, for feedback on the fit and finish of the ascot on Kian Miranda-Rodriquez ’26.

actors stand on stage in costumes — The cast parade their costumes for director Tess Cruz ’16, costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco and the rest of the costume crew (not pictured).

People sitting in theater seating in medical masks. — Director Tess Cruz ’16, front right, costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco and the rest of the costume crew look on as the cast parade in costume across the stage.

actors dance around on stage in big x formation — The cast rehearse the opening number for the first time on the big stage.

Behind the scenes at the final dress rehearsal

Actor laughs while showing crazy hairstyle to friend over video call — Julia Toyer ’27 shows off her coiffure to a friend via video call while Lilly McGee ’27 affixes her microphone.

musicians warm up backstage — L-R: Band members Kay Hansbrough ’25, Claudia Hart ’26, Enrique Lopez ’26, Cade Fogdall ’26 and Dexter Willett ’20 warmup for the final dress rehearsal.

costumer sews shirt backstage — Costumer Allie Ziegler ’27 makes last minute repairs to a costume shirt.

music director leads actors in vocal warm up backstage — Music director Jill Brunelle leads the cast in a vocal warmup.

director and stage manager speak to cast on stage — Stage manager Cece Bianchi ’24, right, and director Tess Cruz ’16 speak to the cast as they prepare for the final dress rehearsal.

actor gives thumbs up — Lauren McCoy ’27 gives a thumbs up to the sound crew after her mic check.

actors put on makeup in a dressing room — Cate Hashemi ’26, Lauren McCoy ’27, Erin Flanagan ’24 and Maggie Sendlenski ’26 apply makeup.

audio tech helps actor with microphone — Lilly McGee ’27, left, mics-up Ian Albanese ’24.

stage crew play game on computer backstage — L-R: Crew members Connor Ryan ’24, Roman Munichiello ’27, Lilly McGee ’27 and Allie Ziegler ’27 take a break to complete The New York Times puzzles.

crew member curls hair of actress in dressing room — Amelia Newstadt ’27 curls the hair of Ellie Best ’27.

Showtime! ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ takes the stage

actors perform on stage — During opening night at the Athey Center at Palmer Audiorium, Brielle Blood ’24, as Penelope Pennywise, confronts those in line at Public Amenity #9 during the “It’s a Privilege to Pee” scene in Act I.

On with the show

group of actors to right applaud two actors to left — Hope Cladwell, left, played by Ellie Best ’27, is introduced by her father, Caldwell B. Cladwell, second from left, played by Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, to the rest of the Urine Good Company team, (from left) Maggie Sendlenski ’26, Jonah Hane ’26, Bailey Regan ’27, Jo Duckett ’25 and Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25.

Row of well-dressed actors perform a kick-line. — L-R: The staff of Urine Good Company, Jonah Hane ’26, Maggie Sendlenski ’26, Jo Duckett ’25, Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, Bailey Regan ’27, Kate Rubel ’24, Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 and Ellie Best ’27, dance through “Mr. Cladwell” during opening night.

an actor holding a teddy bear sings with other actors in the background, also singing — Miya Lasher ’27 as Little Sally.

actor in spotlight sings with more actors in background — Ian Albanese ’24 sings with the rest of “the poor” on opening night.

Two actors, one on left in suit and pink ascot, one on left in pink sweater and skirt, gesture knowingly to each other — Kian Miranda Rodriguez ’26, left, and Ellie Best ’27 as Caldwell B. and Hope Cladwell.

two rows of actors on two levels of the stage with arms raised — The cast performs on stage.

group of poorly dressed actors menace actor in pretty pink skirt and sweater — “The Poor” menace their hostage, Hope Cladwell, played by Ellie Best ’27.

Actress in ratty flowered dress sings with angry facial expression — Amanda Brady ’25 as Little Becky Two Shoes.

That's a wrap!

Actors on stage take a final bow at the curtain call — The cast takes their curtain call at the end of the performance.

March 20, 2024

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