Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Running to Places Theatre Company is rounding out its fifth season by bringing in energizing freshness to Urinetown, running at the State Theatre August 17 – 19. Despite its hard-to-market name, this hilariously self-aware satire holds the potential to be their most entertaining show yet due to several influencing factors. For starters, the play itself is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.

Founder and Co-Artistic Director Joey Steinhagen takes on the role of “Caldwell B. Cladwell,” the villainous head of a corporation so controlling of a limited water supply that folks have to pay to use the…ahem…facilities.  The production showcases the talents of guest choreographer Steven Moore, who has pushed the already accomplished cast in new and exciting ways.  Notably, R2P is also working hand-in-hand with the State Theatre to explore ways to cool the audience while waiting for a major push for air-conditioning to commence.

"If you’re in town while we’re running at the State, you’re not going to want to miss this landmark show in our company’s history,” declares Co-Artistic Director Gail Belokur.  “The show itself is superbly funny, smart, and political.  Layer on top of its strong foundation the talented direction Joey provides, his presence as a performer, the complex, energizing choreography Steve has created, and the excellent work done by the rest of the artistic team and you have a Running to Places show unlike any you’ve seen before.”

The artistic team also boasts the returning talents of Mike Wade (Resident Music Director), David Arsenault (Scenic Designer), Tyler M. Perry (Lighting Designer) and Carolyn Koppel (Costume Designer). “The play was inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, and the artistic team has done an amazing job of bringing that founding concept to every aspect of the production,” Steinhagen shares.  “The rehearsal room and production meetings are alive with collaboration. I cannot recall a Running to Places show with this much back-and-forth of ideas – creating an end product that has exceeded our initial hopes in significant ways,” adds Belokur.

Providing strong performances under this artistic leadership is a veteran Running to Places cast.  Champions of the people “Bobby” (Austin Brecht) and “Hope” (Sari Koppel) are joined by the conflicted “Ms. Pennywise” (Allie Young) and a host of poor-turned-rebels including “Hot Blades Harry” (Anthony Nigro), “Tiny Tina” (Keara Byron), “Becky Two-Shoes” (Caroline Sendek), “Soupy Sue” (Ilana Wallenstein”),  “Roxy the Stockfish” (Amanda Wagner), and Bobby’s mother “Josephine” (Mollie Duell).  In the other corner, we find Cladwell’s support team—the staff of corporate monster Urine Good Company.  These roles are played by Running to Places alumni, returning to support their theatre company and leader, as “Officer Lockstock” (Jeremy Pletter), “Officer Barrel” (Cole Tucker), “Mr. McQueen,” (Anya Gibian), “Senator Fipp,” (Talia Hollander), and “Ms. Millennium” (Shauna Belokur).

“We’re not saying this is a show about fracking,” says Steinhagen, “but if people in this area have been having long conversations about water and what rights corporations and the people have regarding it, they might be ready to go to the theatre and laugh their heads off about it all for the night.”

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