ISU Theatre’s “Urinetown: The Musical” blends musical mayhem and social satire

When water runs dry and peeing becomes a privilege you have to pay for, laughter might be the only thing left to keep you going. ISU Theatre’s darkly comic production of “Urinetown: The Musical” opens Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theater and invites audiences into a world of musical mayhem and social satire – where righteous revolutionaries, corrupt officials, and a very public restroom collide in an explosion of singing and dancing.

Class struggle meets slapstick comedy

With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis, “Urinetown: The Musical” premiered on Broadway in 2001 and became a cult classic. The dystopian story is set in a world of water rationing, where citizens must also pay for “the privilege to pee.” Young hero Bobby Strong brings the community together in a fight against control and oppression, as absurd human optimism battles mounting despair.

Cason Murphy, associate professor of theatre and the production’s director, said directing this show at Iowa State feels like coming full circle.

“Just out of my undergrad, I played the character Mr. McQueen in a Los Angeles production back in 2008,” Murphy said. “But as a director here in 2025, digging back into the script, I’ve realized that what felt like outrageous satire two decades ago feels strangely prescient today. It’s a mirror, and maybe a bit of a warning too, but wrapped up in some very catchy songs and wildly entertaining dance.”

If it all sounds quite chaotic, well, that’s the point.

“This production has a lot of stuff I haven’t seen in other productions of ‘Urinetown,’ but it’s all material I’ve wanted to see,” Murphy said. “We’re mashing up all kinds of references from the 1920s and 1930s: early Looney Tunes mayhem, Busby Berkeley spectacle, a little bit of Soviet Biomechanics theatre training, and a healthy dose of Brecht. Within a single hour, we might be unpacking class struggle and then perfecting a bit of slapstick with a live Foley sound effect. It’s chaos, but the best kind, and truly some of the most fun I’ve had at Iowa State.”

“Our students have been fearless in taking on the heightened style of the show, as well as the bold contradiction at the heart of our approach – how do you make audiences laugh (and laugh a lot) while staring straight into the absurd systems we already live inside?” he added.

ISU Theatre students embrace new creative challenges

With a large cast and creative team, the musical features many Iowa State students embracing new challenges on stage and behind the scenes. Devon TeKolste (’26 performing arts) is the show’s assistant director. After performing in many ISU Theatre productions, TeKolste said he enjoys the opportunity to be on the other side of the creative process.

“I’ve been extremely grateful for the cast and crew, as they are unafraid to make big choices, which in turn sparks my own ideas, which they welcome with open arms,” he said. “The collaboration with everyone involved with this show has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of directing as a career.”

Taylor Chiappetta (’27 apparel, merchandising, and design) is the assistant costume designer for the show. Chiappetta, who has a performing arts minor and has acted in previous ISU Theatre productions, is collaborating alongside Kelly Marie Schaefer, teaching professor of music and theatre and costume designer, to costume the 35-person cast.

Chiappetta said she is enjoying the creative freedom to costume the named characters who make up the show’s “poor ensemble” – Hot Blades Harry, Little Becky Two-Shoes, Robby the Stockfish, Billy Boy Bill, Soupy Sue, and Tiny Tom. To gather design inspiration, Chiappetta surveyed the cast on their perspectives of their characters’ economic status, job, and societal role.

“I wanted to make sure that all of my costumes were very recognizable and unique for each character, and how they are all functional in the everyday life of the individual,” she said. “Audiences can look forward to how well thought-out and detailed this show is. Every designer is so detailed and meticulous with every choice they make.”

The cast for the show includes students representing a diverse range of majors across campus. Zac Peters (’29 mechanical engineering) is a first-year student at Iowa State playing Bobby Strong.

“What I’ve most enjoyed is the amount of passion and intentionality the directors and program have put into this,” said Peters, who also has a performing arts minor. “Whether it was auditions, practice, or characters’ evaluations, there’s a level of professionalism and depth that has blown me away.”

Peters said he has enjoyed exploring the character of Bobby Strong.

“I’ve fallen in love with his witty ignorance and naive leadership that make him a charming yet powerful character in the scheme of the show,” he said. “[Audiences] should look forward to the comedic nature of this story that sparks discussion about the deeper issues, with a whole lot of singing and dancing, too.”

TeKolste said that while themes of community, corruption, and oppression are woven into the structure of the show, the storytelling is approached in ways that will have you laughing until you leave the theater.

“The cast and crew have been working themselves to the bone putting this production together,” TeKolste said. “Your support makes it all worth it, so come watch the show, don’t be afraid to let your laughter out, and cheer loudly! This team deserves it.”

Water resilience panel discussion on Oct. 30 brings together arts and sciences

Dig further into the show’s thoughtful themes at an ISU Lectures panel discussion on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall.

“Water You Waiting For: ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ and the Urgency of Water Resilience” is free, open to the public, and brings together interdisciplinary experts in the arts and sciences. The moderated panel will introduce the production, highlight Iowa State’s newly-formed Water Resilience Collaborative, and spotlight urgent water crises in Iowa and around the world.

The panel is co-sponsored by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, the Department of Music and Theatre, the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government).

Showtimes and ticket information

Showtimes are Nov. 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m. All performances will take place at Fisher Theater.

All tickets are general admission ($25 for adults; youth and ISU students free). Tickets can be purchased at the door, through the Iowa State Center Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), or any Ticketmaster. Free youth and student tickets can be obtained at the door or in advance (recommended) through the Iowa State Center Ticket Office. For more information, visit theatre.iastate.edu.

Content Advisory

The production contains thematic elements of oppression, class struggle, and environmental collapse, stylized violence and death (including executions and depictions of police brutality), some mature language and toilet humor consistent with the show’s satire, and moments of loud sound and flashing lights.

This production is recommended for ages 10 and up. Viewer discretion advised.