Urinetown Makes a Splash in California`s San Pedro - the Port Town of Los Angeles
Released on: July 18, 2008, 11:42 am
Press Release Author: Sally Lodge, Media Liaison
Industry: Entertainment
Press Release Summary: The world\'s \"#1\" musical comedy, flushes into San \"PEE-dro\" for the first time. \"To pee, or not to pee - that is the question!\" - To learn the answer get your tickets now for Urinetown The Musical presented by The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at Warner Grand Theatre, opening Thursday, July 31, 2008.
Press Release Body: The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at San Pedro\'s Warner Grand Theatre will present Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis\'s Urinetown The Musical, winner of three Tony Awards. Evening performances will take place at 8 p.m. on July 31, August 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9. Matinees will be offered at 2:30 p.m. on August 3 and 10. All performances will be held at Warner Grand Theatre - 478 W. 6th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731.
Tickets range in price from $5 to $20.00 (A Wine Tasting Package is also available for only $25 which includes the performance) and can be purchased by calling The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at (310) 929-8129, in person at San Pedro businesses such as Sacred Grounds Coffee House, Williams\' Book Store, Off The Vine, The Corner Store, and fINdings Art Center or by visiting therelevantstage.com. Group discounts are available. Patrons are encouraged to bring canned goods to the theater for distribution to those in need.
The idea for Urinetown was born in the spring of 1995 when Greg Kotis, traveling in Europe, encountered pay-per-use toilets at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. It was then that the musical\'s central idea hit him: a Gotham-like city where all the toilets were controlled by a greedy, crooked corporation with no concern for the poor, bladder-oppressed masses.
According to Kotis, the show \"was created in a spirit of defiance against what\'s typically offered up as stage worthy in America today.\" The result is pure, hilarious and innovative entertainment. The show parodies many popular musicals and theater conventions and playfully pokes fun at itself. Urinetown is also rich with social commentary about the American economy, the division between rich and poor, and the way we abuse the environment we depend on.
In 1999 Urinetown got its start when the New York City Fringe Festival was looking to add more musicals to its lineup. \"Urinetown\" became the hit of the festival, and its success led to a commercial production. Flush with the talents of an all-star creative and producing team, \"Urinetown\" took home Tony Awards in 2002 for best director, best original score and best book of a musical.
TRS\' revival of Urinetown will be a departure from other productions of this same work - featuring new staging and choreography. Rather than the traditional depression era setting of the 1930\'s, this Urinetown will be set years in our own future.
Ray Buffer, founder and artistic director of The Relevant Stage Theatre Company is the director of Urinetown. The choreographer is Kristin Taylor. Kristin\'s love of dance lead her to New York for a while where she worked with Noah Racey the Assistant Choreographer for the 2002 Best Musical of the Year Thoroughly Modern Millie. The musical director and conductor is Chip Colvin. He is currently working towards his Masters in Collaborative Piano at The University of Southern California. Costumes have been envisioned by Kara McLeod. Set design is by Brooke Corpus.
The cast includes: Carie Millard, Daniel Gordh, Daniel Thomas, Felix Sotelo, Emily Melton, Sam Cavanaugh, John Downey III, Natalie Kollar , Dayna Price, Alpha Takahashi, Michael Heatherton, Brian Chapman, Kenny Taylor, Tristan Nieto, Elizabeth Tarantino, Rhiannon Franck-Thompson, Kaitlyn Tice, Elena Muslar, and Mercie Maes.
Members of the media who would like to attend the performances need only send an email to pr@therelevantstage.com and tickets will be held for you at will call for the performance of your choice.
About The Relevant Stage The Relevant Stage is a new, non-profit theatre company performing in residence at The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, CA. The Warner Grand Theatre is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. TRS\' mission is to produce plays, musicals, operas, and mixed media productions that challenge hearts, engage minds and expose truths. TRS tells stories about the world we live in with the goal of stimulating discussion of socially relevant topics through entertainment.
Proudly sponsored in part by San Pedro Magazine | The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs | Warschaw Gallery | San Pedro United Methodist Church | and Individual Contributors
Web Site: http://therelevantstage.com
Contact Details: The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at Warner Grand theatre 478 W. 6th Street San Pedro, CA 90731