- November 23, 2024
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Bobby Strong (second from left) played by Troy Brightson Ph. D. gets the citizens to rebel against the owner of the Urine Good Company, Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile (top). Photo by Michele Meyers
Officer Barrel played by Isacc Jordan strikes a pose before the curtains open at the dess rehearsal for "Urinetown." Photo by Michele Meyers
Urinetown music director Melissa Cargile runs through the music with the cast at dress rehearsal. Photo by Michele Meyers
Joseph Strong played by Stephen Andrews (front right) begs Penelope Pennywise played by Mariah Snow to let him use the toilet for free. Photo by Michele Meyers
Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile and his daughter Hope Cladwell played by Agata Sokolska-Li dance in the show "Urintetown" at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile and his daughter Hope Cladwell played by Agata Sokolska-Li dance in the show "Urintetown" at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
Little Sally played by Sunnie Rice asks Officer Lockstock why they can't think about hydraulics in "Urinetown." Photo by Michele Meyers
Officer Lockstock played by Zach Goodrich and Officer Barrel played by Isaac Gordon dance in the show "Urinetown" at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
The "Urinetown" cast dances during the dress rehearsal at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bobby Strong played by Troy Brightson Ph. D. and Hope Cladwell played by Agata Sokolska-Li try to figure out what they are going to do as her father Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile (top, center) looks at them disapprovingly. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bobby Strong (front) played by Troy Brightson Ph. D. gets the citizens to rebel against the owner of the Urine Good Company, Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile (top). Photo by Michele Meyers
Citizens rebel against the owner of the Urine Good Company, Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile (top). Photo by Michele Meyers
The "Urinetown" cast rehearses at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
The "Urinetown" cast rehearses at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
Caldwell B. Cladwell played by Danny Crile in the show "Urintetown" at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bobby Strong played by Troy Brightson Ph. D. and Hope Cladwell played by Agata Sokolska-Li sing about their feelings in the musical "Urinetown." Photo by Michele Meyers
What do two cops named Lockstock and Barrel, Pennywise the urinal proprietor, a revolutionary named Bobby Strong and the Urine Good Company have in common?
They are all part of the musical comedy “Urinetown,” opening at the Daytona Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 24.
The story unfolds during a 20-year drought, which was followed by the government’s ban on the use of private toilets. The Urine Good Company takes advantage of the situation and begins charging for the use of public toilets. Urinetown is the mysterious destination people are taken if they do not pay to use the public facilities. Hometown hero Bobby Strong starts a revolution after his father cannot pay to use the public toilet and is taken away.
Director Dan Mills debuted his skills at the Daytona Playhouse last season and was invited to return to direct “Urinetown.”
“I directed 'The Drowsy Chaperone' and I just loved it,” he said. “They asked me back and I was glad they did. It’s an unusual show that makes fun of lots of things. It satirizes economic systems. It satirizes politics, a little bit. It satirizes Broadway. I think it satirizes itself. There are times when it just stops and explains itself. It’s a hilarious, very unusual show.”
Mills directed his first award winning show in high school and has loved it ever since. He went on to get a degree in theater at the University of Southern Maine and estimates that he has directed a couple hundred shows. A few of his favorites are “Peer Gynt”, “Scapino” and “Murder in the Cathedral.”
I directed “The Drowsy Chaperone” and I just loved it. They asked me back and I was glad they did. It’s ("Urinetown") an unusual show that makes fun of lots of things. It satirizes economic systems. It satirizes politics, a little bit. It satirizes Broadway. I think it satirizes itself. There are times when it just stops and explains itself. It’s a hilarious, very unusual show.” - Dan Mills,"Urinetown" director
He moved to Daytona Beach Shores two years ago and began building sets for the Daytona Playhouse.
“I went in to build sets one day and they said, “Oh, do you act?”, he said. “ I told them yes but my real passion is directing.”
The “Urinetown” cast is a combination of seasoned veterans, returning performers and Troy Brightson, who is making his show debut as the lead character — Bobby Strong. At the other end of the spectrum is Mariah Snow who plays Penelope Pennywise and brings over 31 years of experience.
“It’s the craziest, strangest, most wonderful show,” she said. “I have fallen in love with the character. I knew after listening to the show, who I would like to be cast as based on the vocal. Based on her song, I knew I wanted to be her.”
Snow did not realize the complexity of Pennywise’s character until she got into the role. She believes Pennywise straddles the classes between the rich and the poor—representing the middle class.
“I think I’ve always gone for characters that would challenge me vocally because that is my love,” she said. “But I have lucked into some very complex characters and that has helped me grow my acting.”
Snow owns Mariah’s Music and Arts in Ormond Beach where she teaches voice, piano and acting. She also does a lot of audition preparation for people of all ages and at all different levels. Her most recent student is Warren Prince who is 95 years old. Four of Snow’s students are performing with her in “Urinetown” — David Bowers, Anneisa Andrews, Eric Richard and Rebekah Davis.
“I feel like this is such a creative cast,” she said. “Dan is wonderful about allowing people voice their opinions and ideas. So much of the intricate details of this show come from people being allowed to explore.”
The role of Little Sally is played by Ormond Beach resident Sunnie Rice who is returning to performing after a 17-year hiatus. Rice grew-up dancing, singing and acting. In 2005, she moved to Florida to attend college and needed a job to pay the rent. She applied for a job at Disney and was asked to audition. She got the job and worked in entertainment with the company until 2006.
Currently she is the human resources director for Everglades Boats and is a competitive skydiver. Last year, she had a shoulder injury and took a break from skydiving. After watching her daughter on stage with the Children’s Musical Theater, she decided to get back into performing. “Urinetown’s” message resonated with her, so she auditioned.
“I think what it boils down to is there is this great divide between the rich and the poor,” she said. “There’s no meeting in the middle. One’s not willing to give anything up and one just wants to take it all because they’re angry because they’ve been without. That’s what I get out of this. Why can’t we meet in the middle? Neither way is going to work on its own. ”
