Chester Theatre Group

The Chester Theatre Group at the Black River Playhouse will present the Tony Award winning satirical musical comedy “Urinetown: The Musical’ by Mark Hollman (music and lyrics) and Greg Kotis (book and lyrics).

Friday and Saturdays at 8pm: Feb 25 – Mar 19, Sundays at 2pm: Mar 13 & 20, 2011.

“Don’t let the title scare you off, If you love musical theater and off-beat humor, this show will make you laugh until you … er, laugh your head off!”

It is about a town facing a water shortage where the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices.Do the citizens rebel? You betcha! It not only pokes fun at local government, but, also the Broadway musical itself as a form.

The show played on Broadway for 2 and a half years (965 performances)  and won two Tony’s (Best Musical Score and Best Book).

The production staff includes:

• Director: Clifford Parrish
• Choreographer: Megan Ferentinos
• Stage Manager: Ellen Fraker-Glasscock
• Set Design: Steve Catron

Making up the cast are:

• Officer Lockstock: Scott Hart
• Penelope Pennywise: Melissa Loderstedt
• Bobby Strong: Brian Hall
• Little Sally: Elaine White
• Cladwell B. Cladwell: Michael Foley
• Hope Cladwell: Jill Cappucino
• Ma Strong: Martha Riley
• Soupy Sue: Christina Pirog
• Becky Two Shoes: Ericka Traugh
• Mrs. Millenium: Roxanna Wagner
• Barrell: Brian Vetter
• Hot Blades: Billy Brisley
• McQueen: Tom Schopper
• Mr. Fipp: Bob Longstreet
• Tiny Tom: Tariq Aly
• Robby: Chris Mortensen

Tickets are $24. Seniors (over 65) & Students (under 18): $22.  Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the box office at 908-879-7304.

SPECIAL PROJECT: Since Urinetown is a musical comedy satirizing a country in which the shortage of water requires everyone to “pay to pee” – the cast and crew of Urinetown have developed a special humanitarian project dubbed Pennies for Potties. Named by cast member Roxanna Wagner, who is heading up the effort, P4P is collecting money to to the international non-profit organization, Foundation for Peace, based in Ironia, NJ.

The Foundation for Peace has provided much needed emergency care to many materially impoverished countries. They are currently working tirelessly in Haiti by building schools, providing medical care and most importantly, building water filter and purification systems and latrines to stem the outbreak of cholera. Coin drops will be placed at the public rest rooms in the theatre through the run of the show. It takes $400 to build a latrine and the Urinetown folks are hoping to collect enough money to build two latrines.

For more information about Foundation for Peace, go to http://www.foundationforpeace.org/

Directed and Musically Directed by CTG veteran Clifford Parrish with Choreography by Megan Ferentinos, this Tony winning satirical comedy musical, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics. The unconventional plotline shatters audience expectations of a pleasant ending.

Audition Times/Dates:  Sunday,  Dec. 5 from 7 pm to 9 pm; Mon., Dec. 6 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm  No callbacks scheduled! Production Dates:  Opens Friday February 25, 2011 and runs Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm – Sundays at 2pm through March 20, 2011.  Location: The Black River Playhouse-corner of Maple and Grove in Chester, New Jersey.

Auditionees are asked to come prepared to sing at least 16 bars, with sheet music in the proper key.  An accompanist will be provided.  Readings will be from the script.  Please come prepared to move as dance audition will follow singing and readings.

Plot Breakdown:

In grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought has occurred. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices. Bobby Strong, the assistant custodian at the poorest urinal in town, decides enough is enough. With the help of the daughter of the CEO of the Urine Good Company, Hope Cladwell, Bobby ends up leading a rebellion which frees the citizens. 

 Character Breakdown: 

• Officer Lockstock (baritone)
• Penelope Pennywise (high belt)
• Bobby Strong (baritenor) 20s
• Little Sally (mezzo)
• Cladwell B. Cladwell (baritone) mature CEO type
• Hope Cladwell (soprano) 20s

The ensemble is made of 10 – 12 men and women, all of whom have characters, lines and singing. This is a very choral show, so those who enjoy choral singing will have a great time. 

If you have any questions, you may contact director, Clifford Parrish at (908) 696 0411 or on Facebook.

We’re very excited to announce our 2010-2011 season.

Mainstage Productions

Fiction

by Steven Dietz, Directed by Jeff Knapp

Auditions: Aug 8 and 10, 2010
Performances: Oct 8-23, 2010

Linda and Michael are successful writers, a happily married couple who thrive on the give and take of their unusually honest and candid relationship. But when they decide to share their diaries with one another, the boundaries between past, present, fact, fiction, trust and betrayal begin to break down.  No life, as it turns out, is an open book.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

by Richard Alfieri, Directed by Roseann Ruggiero

Auditions: September 26 & 28, 2010
Performances: Nov 19 – Dec 5, 2010

When a formidable retiree hires an acerbic dance instructor, antagonism and mistrust give way to civility, compatability, compassion and loyalty as they swing, tango, foxtrot and cha-cha together.

Urinetown

Music by Mark Hollmann, Lyrcs by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, Book by Greg Kotis; Directed by Clifford Parrish

Auditions: December 5 & 8, 2010
Performances: Feb 25-Mar 20, 2011

Don’t let the title keep you away from this hilatious musical comedy that satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and municipal politics (just to name a few!) The unconventional plotline may surprise you, but the singing, dancing,  jokes and pokes will have you laughing in the aisles and humming the whole ride home!

Mauritius

by Theresa Rebek, Directed by JayMills

Auditions: March 6 & 8, 2011
Performances: May 6-21, 2011

After their mother’s death, two estranged helf-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the holy grail of stamp collecting.  Philately proves to be more intriguing and far riskier than one might thing, as high-stakes collectors enter their world intent on making the rare find their own.

Grey Gardens

Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie, Book by Doug Wright; Directed by Mark Happel & Jeffrey Fiorello

Auditions: February 2011
Performances: July 1-24, 2011

The cult-classic turned smash Broadway musical recounts the story of the Bouvier Beales, the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy Onassis — oncebrght names on the social register who became East Hampton’s most notorious recluses.

Special Events

Comedy Workshop

Saturday mornings TBA, 9:30 AM – Noon

Kate Lyn Reiter brings back her Comedy Workshoip for Adults and the Comically Curious for a series of Saturdays.

An Evening of One-Acts

Performances: September 24-26, 2010

The Chester Theatre Group is proud to present two one-act comedies on September 24, 25 and 26 at the Black River Playhouse. 

Christopher Durang’s THE ACTOR’S NIGHTMARE, directed by Stephen Catron, will be familar to anyone who’s involved in theatre — you know the dream:  you find yourself on-stage, ready to perform, only you don’t know what the play is – you’ve never rehearsed  - you don’t know the plot, let alone the lines!   George finds himself on stage, uncertain of where he is or how he got there – suddenly he’s thrust on stage, it’s Hamlet?!? – a glamorous actress appears to be doing Private Lives by Noel Coward?!?  Beckett’s Endgame? A Man For All Seasons?!? This hilarious spoof is a classic!

Next up is Jonathan Rand’s CHECK, PLEASE, directed by Jeff Jackson. Dating can be hard. Especially when your date happens to be a schizophrenic, a bigamist, or a mime. CHECK, PLEASE follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse—until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel?