The Gospel of Musical Theatre

7.4 Urinetown!

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We’ve got the Lutherans to thank for this one.

It’s the worst-ever name for a musical, but Peter & Nathan think that 2001’s Urinetown, with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis, is worthy of your attention – and some sustained theological reflection.

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We talk about:

  • The show's origin story (thanks, Lutherans!) and its unfortunately timed Broadway debut on the heels of 9/11.
  • The politics of Urinetown – capitalist overlords versus the people's revolution, all painted in broad, satirical brushstrokes. Are there any responsible political figures in this show?
  • What is Urinetown? A prison for malefactors? A way for the powerful to prey on the vulnerable? Death? Despair?
  • "Following your heart" – What does that mean? And what if whatever your heart seems to be telling you turns out to be wrong?
  • The power of music (particularly Gospel music) to move us to action. Who "should" be singing this music, and who is it for?

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    You’ll hear:

    • "Too Much Exposition" / "What is Urinetown?" – satirical take-downs of conventional musical theatre tropes
    • "I See A River" / "Run Freedom, Run" / "Follow Your Heart" – Urinetown asks some complicated questions about love and justice. And the music is pretty dang good.

      • You’ll hear Hunter Foster, John Cullum, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jeff McCarthy, Spencer Kayden and the Original Broadway Cast from the 2001 recording.

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      Check out some of our all-time favorites!

      • Phantom of the Opera
      • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
      • Jesus Christ Superstar!
      • Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
      • West Side Story!
      • Yentl!
      • Frozen!
      • Barbie!

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        The Gospel of Musical TheatreBy The Gospel of Musical Theatre
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