In a Gotham-like city, a depletion of the Earth’s water supply has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The privilege to pee is regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging for one of humanity’s most basic needs. From amongst the people, a hero has risen who will lead them to freedom.
A grand, mischievous love letter to the conventions of musical theatre, Urinetown depicts a world wracked by ecological disaster, caught in the throes of corporate greed, and ultimately toppled by the best of intentions.
Praised by critics for reinvigorating the contemporary musical, Urinetown is one of the most distinctive, intelligent and jubilant theatrical experiences of the twenty-first century. It opened at New York City’s Fringe Festival, then transferred to Broadway in September 2001, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical.
Urinetown received its UK premiere at the St James Theatre, London, in February 2014, later transferring to the Apollo Theatre in September, in a production directed by Jamie Lloyd.
This edition includes a preface by playwright David Auburn and extensive introductions by each of the authors.
‘A dark, stark delight’
— The Stage
‘Darkly entertaining and exceptionally sharp’
— Telegraph
‘A musical for our times… Uniquely outrageous’
— Chicago Tribune
‘Somewhere beyond the sublime, beyond the ridiculous, lies Urinetown. Inspired, fresh, exuberant, even moving’
— Entertainment Weekly
