Sunset Theatre Company is ecstatic to be presenting its 20th production at El Camino College. We are extremely thankful to be able to work with the wonderful children that make up our company. The energy and enthusiasm that shines from each of their faces on stage is what makes what we do so rewarding. From our oldest veteran to our youngest newcomer, Sunset strives to create a family based on trust, friendship, collaboration, respect, laughter and love. We pride ourselves in being different from other children's theatre companies. We insist on being innovative in the opportunities we offer our students, to continue to offer them cutting edge theatrical education and to offer them professional training. We are proud to say that every teacher that works for Sunset (Michigan and California) has a bachelors degree in their field and/or a masters degree. Whether its voice, acting, or dance, your child is working with a professional. Sunset Theatre Company staff, along with being top educators in their fields are also professional artists. Our teachers continue to work in their fields as performers, thus allowing them to continue to grow and pass their knowledge on to your children. Our heart, soul and love for the theater goes into every production we work on. We hope you see our passion, education and spirit instilled in the performances on stage today.
Urinetown, the show so many of you are saying, "Is that really the title?" is a brilliant and fun show in the style of Bertolt Brecht. But casual musical theatre audiences, especially those who mainly go to high school productions, are used to being spoon-fed their plot with a nice moral message on the side, and Urinetown makes no such attempt. Without some serious thought and reflection, a viewer could easily walk away fully impressed with the talent, vaguely inspired by some of the content, but having gleaned no moral message at all, and in fact some other audience members may not really know what is going on most of the time due to the catchy songs and humor that hit you from all angles. Resource conservation is a leading theme of Urinetown, albeit a nuanced theme that parodies itself. In the mythical dystopian setting, water is so scarce “that private toilets eventually became unthinkable.” This central conceit of the show, as well as a considerable amount of necessary exposition, is in fact spoon-fed to all of you in a self-aware and hilarious way by the narrators, Officer Lockstock and Little Sally. So, listen carefully and see what you can catch, learn or maybe be inspired to google (Hail Malthus).
There is something very brave in Urinetown; you may notice it when you catch yourself singing “Run Freedom Run” in the shower. It’s sort of a challenge. The ending, dares the audience to believe in hope, justice, equality, and love at the risk of not getting the desired outcome. Can we fight for these things in our lives knowing our work may all be brought to rubble in the end? In that regard, Urinetown asks one of the bravest and most important moral questions imaginable. Ask yourself, Am I willing to do what is right, even if my accomplishments never add up to anything tangible? In a postmodern, cynical world, it’s a question that demands to be heard and considered. Because, remember, “Urinetown is YOUR town if you’re hopeless, down, and out.”
We are ever thankful for the opportunity you give us to work with your children. Being able to contribute to their growth as performers and watching them rise to all challenges is truly why we do what we do. If you are watching the show today and are inspired to get on stage, we hope to see you walk through our studio doors!
This show could not happen without a special thanks to: Bridget Gerson, Debbie Jones, Kristin O'Brien, Monica Cdebaca, Saskia Chen, Nancy Adler, Bryan Bates, Andy Wolski, Brad Zagwill Photography, and lastly, Dresden, for allowing us to believe in hope, justice, equality and love, because he is always worth the risk!
