From the good people who brought you Grease – the Banff Communty High School version, of course – comes the dark comedy Urinetown.
Yes, once again, volunteer high school thespians and musicians are logging long hours to offer the communty a real song and dance at The Banff Centre’s Margaret Greenham Theatre.
Urinetown, penned by Mark Hollmann and Greg Koltis in 2001, is a tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. After a government-mandated ban on public toilets, citizens are forced to use public facilities regulated by a malevolent corporation.
For the cast of 15 actors, five musicians and a large stage support group, Urinetown is a labour of love that’s seen them putting in three rehearsals a week since November.
Under the guidance of BCHS music teacher Shane Nizinkevich and stage director Joe Bembridge, Urinetown is the second musical theatre offering by high school students. Last year’s Grease was a sellout hit and Nizinkevich expects no less this year.
“It’s super exciting, we’re getting more complex with these shows,” he said. “Grease was more song and dance, but this is more of an artistic piece, an interpretation. We’re taking it dark, with a scary, eerie darkness.”
The musical, he said, is suitable for students 12 and over. Urinetown takes over the Greenham stage for three shows, March 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the high school.
“The casting call was wide open for the school,” said Nizinkevich, “and we’ve got from Grades 8 to 12 in this one. Almost everyone from Grease, who hasn’t graduated yet, is back for this one.
“And it’s a real community show. Botega is doing the hair, Dr. Hurst is making braces, Nan Hughes is vocal coaching, Elissa Sunderland is doing costumes and Bev Reiner has been our rehearsal pianist. We’ve had so much help.
“It’s a big time commitment for these kids, but they’re keen and dedicated. It’s amazing how busy Banff kids are, but they still find time for this.”
For Adrianna Stratton (Hope Cladwell), a Grease veteran, signing up for Urinetown was an easy decision. A member of the Banff Dance Academy, Stratton said last year’s musical offering, “was a lot of fun. At the start, I thought, oh dancing, but then I really got into it.”
For Yuuka Kakeo (Hot Blades Harry), the production, “sounded like fun, so I thought I’d go for it. We all sang and he (Nizinkevich) picked the character that would best represent us. For me, it allows me to be somebody else – I don’t usually get to kill people.”
Sidrean Okeymaw (Little Becky Two Shoes), “a First Nations newbie who just moved to Banff,” said, “being new here, I wanted to find something to do after school. I’ve never been in a musical, but it’s what I thought it would be; a lot of fun and a lot of work. To be someone you’re not is a lot of fun.”
The twins, Kelly Smith and Kate Lawless (Billy Boy Bill and Robby the Stockfish, respectively), both appeared in Grease. “But last year we were background dancers and this year we have bigger parts,” said Smith. “Some of the rehearsals have been really tiring, but they’ve been really good. Eight hour days can be tiring.”
“We knew the commitment, though,” said Lawless, who admitted to some nerves. “I’m comfortable in something like a Christmas show, but when it’s in front of 300 people…”
On Friday (March 15), the entire production moves from rehearsals at Banff Elementary to a residence at The Banff Centre, whose staff is “going full on for us,” said Nizinkevich. “They ask what you want, they don’t say what they don’t have. The staff there is fantastic. This musical has music, a drama component and singing. We don’t have a theatre program, or a choir, so this is our big project.”
Other cast includes Eric Russell, Lydia Hong, Sierria Haniak, Irene Poole, Aliza Carroll, Mykyla Parslow, Samantha Bell, Andy McDonald, Jess Orchin, Gabe Kan, Amy Murray and Emmett Robinson Smith. Musicians are: Emily Earl, Nanako Emori, Daniell Kan, Josh Hong and Riku Wada.
