RHS Drama Club and it's honor society, Thespian Troupe #6662 are extremely grateful for the assistance, the financial and emotional support, and the love from the following:
District 234 Board of Education, Mrs. Gina Costellano, Dr. Jen Kelsall, Mr. Tom Parrillo & The District 234 Board Members, Friends of Our Thespians (FOOT), the RHS Parent's Club, Illinois Thespians, RHS Student Council, Megan Cantos, Maggie Molnar, Joe Ringelstein, Pam Mundy, the Ridgewood High School National Honor Society, Mrs. Patano and the Class of 2023, Mrs. Ringelstein and the Class of 2024, Mr. Guzy and the Class of 2025, the RHS Art Club and Mrs. Sarah Machaj, Coach Tony and the RHS Field and Track team, Mrs. Laubenstein and the RHS Scholastic Bowl Team, the entire RHS Maintenance Staff, Pat Rossi, Jim Dudek, Tom Sticha, Dave McCormick, Sir Speedy Printing in Edison Park, Alicia Smith, Robert St. John, Norridge Police Department, Colleen Poull, and all of the faculty, staff, family members, peers, students, and community members who have and continue to support us! We thank you!
Director's Note
I’ve been wanting to direct Urinetown since I first saw it, nearly twelve years ago. I thought it was brilliant. Its satire, parody, and dark humor was exactly the kind of extracurricular educational theatre piece I knew I wanted our students here to experience. But, then, there’s that pesky title. I have attempted, multiple times, to bring up the idea with our students and each time it was met with, “Ewww, gross. No way.” Until, finally, I was able to set this season and select the show for our spring musical. That choice, however, did not stop the “Is this really the show we’re doing(s),” or the “Can’t we choose something, I mean anything else(s)?” In fact, I believe there were even adults that couldn’t, and probably still can’t believe that this is the musical. And if I’m being honest here, that is part of the allure. Yes, the title is awful. Yes, the premise is ridiculous. And most importantly, yes, it is gross. But it is not the reason to produce it. Rather, this show offers an incredible opportunity to really teach students about satire, parody, and even something defined as Epic theatre. Not to get too academic here, but for the sake of understanding the why, I think it’s an important point. Overall, in a piece of Epic theatre, the playwright has a desire to get the audience to see the world the way it is. This is why you have actors acknowledging that they are in a play, talking directly to you, the audience, and, most importantly, getting you to think and reflect. You’ll be challenged. You’ll laugh. You’ll like the happy music. You’ll be disappointed. And, hopefully, you’ll reflect. On what, exactly? Well that’s the reason to watch the show! Just know that next time, we might just consider doing a happy musical.
