Mark Hollander, a zealous and somewhat unstable salesman
If you judge a script by how successfully it executes its premise, then the script for Urinetown: The Musical is a flawless masterpiece. It takes perhaps the most unappetising, absurd premise in musical theatre history—a dystopian future where private toilets are banned and citizens must pay to pee at a monopolistic utility company—and turns it into a razor-sharp, self-aware, and wildly entertaining takedown of capitalism, musical theatre tropes, and the very nature of storytelling.
The Broadway production, directed by John Rando with choreography by John Carrafa, featured an original cast that included Hunter Foster (Bobby Strong), Jeff McCarthy (Officer Lockstock), John Cullum (Caldwell B. Cladwell), and Jennifer Laura Thompson (Hope Cladwell). The show was a critical darling, earning 10 Tony Award nominations and winning three: Best Book of a Musical (Greg Kotis), Best Original Score (Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis), and Best Direction of a Musical (John Rando). It also won Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Book and Outstanding Music, among many other accolades. urinetown the musical script
Urinetown: The Musical features a satirical script by Greg Kotis that deconstructs traditional theater through a dystopian lens and meta-theatrical, Brechtian techniques. The story focuses on a water-deprived society forced to pay for public amenities, sparking a revolution led by Bobby Strong against the ruthless, monopolistic Urine Good Company. The script is widely studied and performed for its sharp political commentary, ensemble-driven roles, and clever parodies of musicals like Les Misérables .
The genius of the script is that within 90 pages, it cycles through the rise of a populist rebellion, the moral corruption of power, and a catastrophic twist ending that explicitly warns the audience to . Mark Hollander, a zealous and somewhat unstable salesman
The rebels sing about their hopes and dreams for a better future in the song "Revolution." Meanwhile, OGRABBEH becomes suspicious of the rebels and starts to crack down on them.
The music is a crucial part of the Urinetown script. The songs, which range from pastiches of Kurt Weill to gospel anthems, are not just interludes but are fully integrated into the storytelling. Here is the complete song list from the show, as presented in the original Broadway production, which gives you a sense of the script's musical scope: Cladwell), and Jennifer Laura Thompson (Hope Cladwell)
| Song Title | Act | | :--- | :--- | | Urinetown | Act I | | It's a Privilege to Pee | Act I | | Mr. Cladwell | Act I | | Cop Song | Act I | | Follow Your Heart | Act I | | Look at the Sky | Act I | | Don't Be the Bunny | Act I | | Act One Finale | Act I | | What Is Urinetown? | Act II | | Snuff That Girl | Act II | | Run, Freedom, Run | Act II |
We begin at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town, overseen by the formidable . The audience meets the hero, Bobby Strong , an earnest young assistant at the facility. Officer Lockstock establishes the rules for the audience, explaining that "Urinetown – the place – is a mythical place they won't see until Act II, but Urinetown – the musical – is starting now".
As Leon and Claudine begin to work together, they meet a cast of characters, including CALEY, a cheerful but brainwashed Urine Town employee, and LITTLE MISS MUCUS, a precocious and adorable six-year-old girl who becomes a symbol of hope for the rebellion.