NL_071918

24 | July 19, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot LIFE & ARTS
newlenoxpatriot.com
Area theatre’s upcoming production features NL actors
Cynthia Freeman
Editorial Intern
Those in the mood for a
raucous laugh this weekend
are in luck, but they may
want to bring a change of
pants, just in case.
Curtain Call Theatre’s
production of “Urinetown,
the Musical” is a satirical
comedic musical with controversial
topics, such as
the legal system, capitalism,
social irresponsibility, populism,
bureaucracy, corporate
mismanagement, and civic
politics.
It answers the question:
What might happen if you
had to pay every time you
needed… to go.
The cast and crew have
been rehearsing since the
week before this past Memorial
Day from 7-10 p.m.
Mondays through Thursdays,
making it eight weeks
of fine tuning everything
about the musical that will
keep audience members
cross legged while laughing
out loud.
The entire production has
a total of 20 singers and
dancers, four production
people and another four people
in the music pit.
“What’s special here is
that we are a community
program so this is the first
year we brought back the
youth program for Summer
Stock,” said Producer and
Assistant Director Cheryl
Collins. “We did [“Urinetown”]
a couple years ago.
This is the first time we are
bringing on the musical here
in Mokena. Mokena has just
been so welcoming, we just
keep adding things to our
program.
“We’ve been [in Mokena]
for two years now. We
wanted something that the
kids would really like because
the kids here are 16-23
years old. We wanted to find
a piece that was different but
one that our audiences would
like and one that would hit
a note that the kids would
understand. Right now with
what’s going on in society,
this really is a fun story.”
Curtain Call Theatre has
been responsible for numerous
popular productions, but
the feeling among the cast
and crew of “Urinetown” is
that this one especially will
be a hit.
“This musical is extremely
hilarious and that’s
something I’ve always been
attracted to,” said Delaney
Schmidt, of Frankfort, who
plays Mrs. Millennium. “I
feel like I’m more of a dramatic
actress, but I really
do enjoy taking part in the
comedic style of acting and
all that. This play is just really
funny and it’s a specific
style in my opinion where
it’s politically driven. It
has a lot for everybody, its
kid friendly but also adult
friendly, too.
“I find it to be really
unique because you know
when you have a politically
driven satire or something
like that, it’s usually heavy
on making fun of one side
of the spectrum. This one
makes fun of all sides.”
Some of the participants in
this musical said they felt it
was special based on the fact
that the cast and crew have
become close over the years
through working on different
productions together.
“I feel like its special because
of the bonds you grow
with other people,” said Ben
Radeke, of New Lenox, who
plays Hot Blades Harry.
“You get really close to a
bunch of new people that
you never met before, or you
get even closer to the people
you already knew. It’s just a
really fun experience with
your directors and just a fun
experience in general.”
Even the ones who are
new to Curtain Call said
they could feel the welcoming
environment, and that
The cast of “Urinetown, the Musical” go through a dress rehearsal ahead of this weekend’s production. Shows are
scheduled for Thursday, July 19-Sunday, July 22. Photos submitted
If you’re going…
What: “Urinetown, the
Musical”
Where: Curtain Call
Theatre, 11112 Front
St., in Mokena
When: 7:30 p.m. July 19-
20; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
July 21; 2 p.m. July 22
For more information…
Web: ccctheatre.com
Phone: (708) 607-2281
helped them get the most out
of their abilities.
“I started out not knowing
anyone here. I came
into the production blindly
and I’m really excited to act
with a whole different group
of people because before
its like the same 50 people
in each production at high
school,” said Emily Petro, of
Tinley Park, who plays Hope
Cladwell. “There is a great
range of ages and everyone
is so talented and I’m excited
to work with all these
new people mostly.”
The majority of the performers
in this musical have
The cast rehearses a scene from “Urinetown, the Musical,” a play about revolution when a
company tries to profit off of one of life’s basic needs.
been acting for many years,
some since they were young
children. By being part of the
theatre they have all grown a
love for the performing arts.
“I think it’s special because
you get the experience
of being someone else for
that few couple hours and
you get to take people to that
different world also,” said
Rachel Egan, of Mokena,
who plays Soupy Sue.
“Urinetown” is scheduled
to run from Thursday, July
19- Sunday, July 22. Showtimes
are 7:30 p.m. for July
19 and July 20; 2 p.m. and
7:30 p.m. on July 21; and 2
p.m. on July 22.
For more information,
or to purchase tickets, visit
ccctheatre.com or call (708)
607-2281.