Richard Fleeshman, Jenna Russell and more are going to have to pay to pee! The Broadway alums (Fleeshman starred in Ghost the Musical on Broadway, and Russell garnered a Tony nomination for Sunday in the Park with George) are set to lead the U.K. premiere of Urinetown The Musical. Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis’ satirical musical comedy about a near-future drought and its dire consequences will begin performances on February 22, 2014 at London's St. James Theatre, where it will have an official opening on March 11. The production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, is scheduled to play through May 3.
The action in Urinetown takes place in a city where a corporation owns all toilets, so people must pay to use them. Aggravated by this system, Bobby Strong (Fleeshman) organizes a rebellion against Urine Good Company, a main holder of toilets, and its president Caldwell B. Cladwell. When things heat up, Hope Cladwell, the boss' daughter, must choose between her boyfriend Bobby and her father.
Fleeshman (Bobby Strong) and Russell (Penelope Pennywise) will be joined on stage by Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs Millennium), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue/Cladwell’s Secretary), Rosanna Hyland (Hope Cladwell), Julie Jupp (Old Woman/Josephine Strong), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague (Male Swing 1), Jo Napthine (Female Swing 2), Matthew Seadon-Young (Robbie The Stockfish/UGC Executive 1) and Jonathan Slinger (Officer Lockstock). The role of Caldwell B. Cladwell and additional casting will be announced shortly.
Urinetown ran on Broadway from 2001 until 2004. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, and won for Best Book, Best Score and Best Direction. The London production will feature choreography by Ann Yee, set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Adam Silverman, sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin and musical supervision by Alan Williams.
Learn more about Urinetown in the video below.