The Road to Urinetown
The Making of a Musical
Beginning with a weeklong intensive during Winter Break and culminating on the big Athey Center at Palmer Auditorium stage, the cast and crew of the Theater Department’s production of “Urinetown: The Musical” put a lot of hard work into a fantastic Spring 2024 show, which ran March 1-3.
L-R: Sopranos Ellie Best ’27, Lauren McCoy ’27, Cate Hashemi ’26 and Brielle Blood ’24 rehearse the musical’s opening number with Music Director Jill Brunelle in Tansill Theater on the second day of a weeklong intensive in mid-January.
A week before the end of Winter Break, the cast gathered back on campus for intensive rehearsals with the play’s musical director, choreographer and director. Here, Julia Toyer ’27, left, and Miya Lasher ’27 follow along in their scripts during an early reading.
Erin Flanagan ’24 captures the moment as Ian Albanese ’24 stands with fellow tenors to rehearse a section of the opening number.
Ellie Best ’27, front, with Jonah Hane ’26, back left, Julia Toyer ’27 and Giuseppe Piccirilli ‘25, right, join the rest of the cast rehearsing the opening number with Emily Brankman ’26 (not pictured).
The cast rehearse the finale moment of the opening number choreography with Emily Brankman ’26.
The cast rehearses the choreography for the opening number.
At the start of the spring semester, regular rehearsals moved to Oliva Hall
The cast rehearses the Act I “Don’t be the Bunny” scene in Oliva Hall in Cummings Art Center.
Brielle Blood ’24, foreground, rehearses the “Don’t be the Bunny” scene with other members of the cast.
Director Tess Cruz ’16 works with Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26.
L-R: Cast members Brielle Blood ’24, Bailey Regan ’27, Finley Regan ’27, Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 and Erin Flanagan ’24 check a detail in the script.
Amanda Brady ’25, left, and Julia Toyer ’27 makes notes in their scripts.
Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, center, works with Ellie Best ’27, left, and Finley Regan ’27.
Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, foreground, rehearses.
L-R: Cast members Cate Hashemi ’26, Amanda Brady ’25, Julia Toyer ’27, Lauren McCoy ’27 and Mia Jurkunas ’24 rehearse an Act I scene.
Associate Professor of Theater and costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco helps Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25, who plays Officer Barrel, with his ghost sheet.
By the middle of February, the technical aspects of the show are beginning to come together, with set consruction, costuming and lighting all taking shape in and around Palmer Auditorium.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and production manager Samuel Biondolillo keeps tabs on the cast and crew from the back of the house during a tech week rehearsal.
Jem War ’26, left, and Clementine Elorriaga ’26 get started painting a newly constructed set piece on the Palmer Auditorium stage.
Professor Notarfrancisco fits costumes for Cate Hashemi ’26, who plays Old Ma Strong, as Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 awaits his fitting.
Costume pieces are labeled for further work.
Costume crew co-head Beth Marsh ’24, left, looks to costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco, not pictured, for feedback on the fit and finish of the ascot on Kian Miranda-Rodriquez ’26.
The cast parade their costumes for director Tess Cruz ’16, costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco and the rest of the costume crew (not pictured).
Director Tess Cruz ’16, front right, costume designer Sabrina Notarfrancisco and the rest of the costume crew look on as the cast parade in costume across the stage.
The cast rehearse the opening number for the first time on the big stage.
Behind the scenes at the final dress rehearsal
Julia Toyer ’27 shows off her coiffure to a friend via video call while Lilly McGee ’27 affixes her microphone.
L-R: Band members Kay Hansbrough ’25, Claudia Hart ’26, Enrique Lopez ’26, Cade Fogdall ’26 and Dexter Willett ’20 warmup for the final dress rehearsal.
Costumer Allie Ziegler ’27 makes last minute repairs to a costume shirt.
Music director Jill Brunelle leads the cast in a vocal warmup.
Stage manager Cece Bianchi ’24, right, and director Tess Cruz ’16 speak to the cast as they prepare for the final dress rehearsal.
Lauren McCoy ’27 gives a thumbs up to the sound crew after her mic check.
Cate Hashemi ’26, Lauren McCoy ’27, Erin Flanagan ’24 and Maggie Sendlenski ’26 apply makeup.
Lilly McGee ’27, left, mics-up Ian Albanese ’24.
L-R: Crew members Connor Ryan ’24, Roman Munichiello ’27, Lilly McGee ’27 and Allie Ziegler ’27 take a break to complete The New York Times puzzles.
Amelia Newstadt ’27 curls the hair of Ellie Best ’27.
Showtime! ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ takes the stage
During opening night at the Athey Center at Palmer Audiorium, Brielle Blood ’24, as Penelope Pennywise, confronts those in line at Public Amenity #9 during the “It’s a Privilege to Pee” scene in Act I.
Hope Cladwell, left, played by Ellie Best ’27, is introduced by her father, Caldwell B. Cladwell, second from left, played by Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, to the rest of the Urine Good Company team, (from left) Maggie Sendlenski ’26, Jonah Hane ’26, Bailey Regan ’27, Jo Duckett ’25 and Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25.
L-R: The staff of Urine Good Company, Jonah Hane ’26, Maggie Sendlenski ’26, Jo Duckett ’25, Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ’26, Bailey Regan ’27, Kate Rubel ’24, Giuseppe Piccirilli ’25 and Ellie Best ’27, dance through “Mr. Cladwell” during opening night.
Miya Lasher ’27 as Little Sally.
Ian Albanese ’24 sings with the rest of “the poor” on opening night.
Kian Miranda Rodriguez ’26, left, and Ellie Best ’27 as Caldwell B. and Hope Cladwell.
The cast performs on stage.
“The Poor” menace their hostage, Hope Cladwell, played by Ellie Best ’27.
Amanda Brady ’25 as Little Becky Two Shoes.
The cast takes their curtain call at the end of the performance.