Thank you for coming to see our show, and welcome to Urinetown!
Though I have a soft spot for the classics, when it comes to producing theatre, I often prefer something a little more on the edge. So, here we are, and brace yourselves.
After last year's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, we decided that musicals were fun and wanted to continue the momentum we had, but these things are never easy.
When a STEM-focused school decides to produce a full-length musical, it means an incalculably large investment of time and energy from students who are running on empty in both. Thankfully, our exceptional cast and crew of seasoned veterans, eager first-timers, and everything in-between has come together to do justice to a show that has asked a lot of everybody regardless of role or readiness.
Among an army of many deserving of acknowledgement, special thanks goes to our criminally talented duo of Mr. John Leonard and Ms. Nadia Sinitiskaia - without whom, we simply wouldn't be able to attempt musical productions on this scale. I would also like to acknowledge the work of our senior students: Yasmin Daly, Oscar Ha, Je Woo Han, Diana Hong, Simon Jeon, Remi Lee, Karla Bae and Colin Na, for whom Urinetown will be their last production at KISJ. Thank you for deciding that this show is special enough to be a part of in your final year at our school.
Special thanks also to those cast and crew for whom Urinetown marks a first venture into theatre. May it be the first of many.
To all who contributed to making Urinetown possible, thank you for your work. If you're a part of this production, it's because you understand the value of selflessness and the value of the collective. Your next pee is on me... figuratively speaking.
Mr. Dave Gagnier, Director
Additional Acknowledgements:
- Mrs. Kristine Jerabek, Dr. Colleen Boyett, and Mr. Ben Wilkins for supporting KISJ Theatre.
- You, our audience, for coming to see what it's like when people can't pee free.
- Ms. Nadia Sinitskaia for giving us a voice.
- Mr. Leonard and his band for conducting the revolution.
- Diana Hong for the clothing on our backs.
- Mrs. Mandy Lindsay for the bling and the gore.
- My go-to set-building partner, Ed Lehmann, for getting the angles right.
- My set-building assistants, Casey Moden and Ben Dingle, for lightening the load.
- Mr. Min Joon Song and Ms. Aria Park for being our go-to links between the production and our various suppliers.
- Mr. Deni Haryanto for taking trash and helping to turn it into treasure.
- Ms. Suzyn Kelly for helping us to make things ugly for a change.
- Yoona Ro, Sue Kim and their lovely team of assistants for bringing the light and making sure we are heard.
- Sungmin Cho, Sohee Kim, Sebin Chin, Yejin Choi and Remi Lee for getting everyone safely into the theatre and on and off of the stage and for all that you did before that.
- Julia Lee for finding the missing pieces.
- Colin Na and his marketing team for getting the bums in seats.
- Gerrard Choe for giving our show a face.
- Thomas Robert Malthus for telling it like it is.
- Our outstanding cast for forming a team crazy enough to do this show despite all the other challenges you are facing.
- The rabbit, for always being here even when she's there.
