January 17, 2017 | By Stephanie Kulke
EVANSTON --- “Urinetown: The Musical,” the Tony Award-winning musical set in a dystopian metropolis with a terrible water shortage, will be presented by the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 10 to 26 in the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, on the Evanston campus.
Northwestern’s premiere production is directed by alumnus and Jeff Award-winning director Scott Weinstein (“Into the Woods”).
A post-show discussion with the director and cast is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23.
A 20-year drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens of Urinetown must use public amenities regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he has had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom.
This hilarious satire, skewering capitalism, bureaucracy, populism and the Broadway musical art form itself, features music by Mark Hollmann, book by Greg Kotis and lyrics by Hollmann and Kotis. “Urinetown: The Musical” nabbed top honors at the 2002 Tony Awards for best book of a musical and best original score.
“Urinetown: The Musical” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. There is no performance on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Tickets are $25-$30 for the general public and $6-$10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets are available on the the Wirtz Center website, by phone at 847-491-7282 or by visiting the Wirtz Center box office in the Barber Theater lobby at 30 Arts Circle Drive.
The Wirtz Center is a proud partner of the League of Chicago Theatres Chicago Theatre Week. A limited number of discounted $15 tickets are available for performances Feb. 10 to Feb. 19 with code THWEEK. The discount is not valid with other offers and is subject to availability.
The Wirtz Center is a member of the Northwestern Arts Circle, which brings together film, humanities, literary arts, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.