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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2016)
Seaside High School prepares to open musical ‘Urinetown’ English teacher takes over as director for spring productions Story by KATHERINE LACAZE EO Media Group Seaside High School’s spring musical “Urinetown,” a satirical comedy, explores socially rele- vant themes and simultaneously celebrates and pokes fun at mu- sical theater itself. The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. and will be per- formed through March 5 at the high school’s auditorium. “The whole point of the show is it’s about sustainability and choosing a way of thinking and a way of life that is moderate,” said LeeAnn Schmelzenbach, the director and an English teacher at the high school. The play also examines the idea that “all musicals are ridiculous and awesome.” Originally produced in 2001, the play features many styles of music, including jazz, contem- porary and traditional Broadway showcase. Greg Kotis wrote the script and Mark Hollmann pro- duced the music, with lyrics by Hollmann and Kotis. The plot centers on the futur- istic, dystopian city Urinetown, where people must pay to use public toilets because of a 20- year drought and a ban on private toilets. The Urine Good Compa- ny holds a monopoly over the enterprise of public amenities, including toilets. A young hero, observing the inequity between the rich and poor, leads a rebel- lion, assisted by a character sym- bolically named Hope. Although parents may be wary of the title, the show is fam- ily-friendly; there is no swearing or gambling, drugs or alcohol references. Some of the themes — such as the satirical critique of greed, the legal system, pop- ulism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and social ir- responsibility — may go over the heads of young audience members, but they will enjoy the comedy and music. “I think there’s something in it for everyone,” Schmelzenbach said. The cast includes 27 students, and the show includes about 12 to 15 additional students for tech and makeup. For the third year, Vanessa Rush, who teaches mu- sic and choir, is the musical di- rector. Rich Small is overseeing choreography. The show will be accompanied by a live band. Schmelzenbach is directing the musical in place of Head Secretary Lenore Morrisson, who has directed both the spring and fall plays for the past 11 years. Morrisson will still assist with the production by oversee- ing costumes, set, props, light- ing and other technical aspects. Schmelzenbach also is assisted by senior Joseph Harkins, who wanted to step off the stage and help direct this semester. Schmelzenbach, who joined the staff this school year, did musical theater in high school and worked backstage for a myriad of productions at the John and Orah Brandt Fine Arts and Convocation Center during her college years at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. The goal is to split the high school’s theatrical productions between two people, so neither gets burned out. Schmelzenbach anticipates directing the spring musicals for a while. “I’m going to do it until I can’t do it anymore,” she said, adding she’s already started sift- ing through ideas for next year, which shows she has “bought into this idea of directing.” Although Schmelzenbach has not directed before, this ex- perience has shown she has the ability and skill set to do so. “Urinetown” was recommend- ed to her by her best friend from college, who said he had the most fun acting while doing that show. When she read it, she was drawn to its darker humor and satire. She also liked that this was something new for the high school. “The deciding factor is that it requires a large cast,” she said. “That really made me excited about it. In high school, theater is supposed to be an experience everyone can enjoy, and I think that’s really true of this show.” Instead of having one star, eight people share the lead. The cast — which features two ex- change students, 17 seniors and several new students — fell into place smoothly following audi- tions in mid-December, Schmel- zenbach said. the individual ideas and creativi- ty students bring to their charac- ters during rehearsal. For more information about the show, contact the high school by calling 503-738-5586. The high school is located at 1901 N. Holladay Drive. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students, and $4 for high school students with their As- sociated Student Body card and elementary students. Annual Fundraiser Hosted by Sunset Park & Rec. Foundation and Seaside Rotary Foundation Sunday, March 6, 2016 FROM 2:00 TO 4:30 PM Seaside Civic & Convention Center 415 1st Avenue, Seaside, OR Thank You to the sponsors of A Sweet Affaire Submitted Photo by Susan Baertlein Seaside High School’s theater students are preparing to open their spring musical, “Urine- town,” on Friday, Feb. 26. Get your unconditional love here... riley cooper bradley zona, diva, buttons Photo by Katherine Lacaze Cast members from Seaside High School’s upcoming production of “Urinetown” practice a song during rehearsal after school Jan. 27. The students include (front row, from left) Annie Stafford, Nathanael Ward, Lucy Swenson, Daniel Kuszmaul and Chloe Kincaid; and (back from, from left) Chance Giguiere, Alison Zagata and Klara Bedrnova. “Most of the kids are in choir or band, and that really plays to our advantage,” Morrisson said. Using her skills as an English teacher, Schmelzenbach alerted her cast members to the meta- phors, wordplay and other liter- ary devices that make the play so rich. “It makes the show more in- teresting to them,” Schmelzen- bach said. 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