We did it last year for our One Act festival entry (yes, we did get permission from the publisher to cut it down). I too teach in a rural, ultra-conservative community. Here are some factors that helped:
1) I spent the last six years building up the Drama program and my administration appreciates the fact that I could include so many kids (cast/crew of 40) in the show. My administration also knows that I will never do anything R-rated, but I did request their "thumbs-up" prior to production.
2) I went OVERBOARD in stressing that, except for the title, the material was appropriate. Numerous emails to parents, other teachers and the like, as well as a large meeting with the parents of the cast prior to rehearsals. I also focused on the fact that it would enhance the prestige of our program since the show won numerous awards and has a strong reputation. The kids helped convince their parents and other adults in this.
3) I got our History/Social Studies teachers on board due to the political satire. We were able to collaborate and develop short lessons/lectures on: The Depression, Labor Movement, and even Environmental Legislation. Once people saw that theatre is an effective too to communicate academics, potential protests evaporated.
4) The music, script, and choreography we developed were all very challenging. This is a tough play to produce for kids with little or no musical theatre experience. We were able to collaborate with a music teacher at a middle school who eagerly helped out and even encouraged her students and their families to come to the public performance.
If you're aggressive about "selling" the show to your conservative community, as we were, you should do well.
Side-Note: While everyone at competition loved our production and several of our actors were cited for special recognition by the panel, we finished 3rd. One of the judges hated the title, storyline, and thought breaking the 4th wall by Lockstock and Sally was just, and I quote, "too silly to consider this play relevant in such an important competition." Sigh.
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Josh Ruben
Fine Arts Head, Northwest Whitfield
Chattanooga TN
Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2016 15:14
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Urinetown! - Advice
I did it! In a small, conservative, fairly rural Virginia community. AND it was my first year teaching at this school. I love it, my kids loved it, I would do it again in a heartbeat! I did run it by my administrator first, and she had me run it by one of the curriculum supervisors and present it at some parents' meetings (my back to school night and just one of the Parent Advisory board meetings) to see if they had any objections. I checked the script very carefully for objectionable material, and there really isn't anything other than the title. We ended up doing "teaser" posters for the area schools that hinted at the show but didn't actually name it. We put our real titled posters out in the community. Message me if you have questions. That show was a really great experience for us. Great press coverage, audiences loved it, people still remember it years later. So many good roles, fun songs, great opportunities for design and choreography...Ok, I'll stop. I know you're already sold. :-)
Man, now I want to do URINETOWN again!
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Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA
Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2016 12:50
From: Brett Buffum
Subject: Urinetown! - Advice
I'm hoping to do Urinetown this fall. Hoping, because for the first time ever, I feel inclined to clear the selection with administration and board first to avoid drama and problems down the road. We are a "small-town" values community where many believe all theatre productions should be "feel good," and "appeal to all ages."
Those that know the show, know that overall the content is great for high school level performers and audiences. Unfortunately, the writers gave it a fun, provocative name. The name on posters and presented to parents or board members will immediately draw negative attention and possibly calls to not allow the show. (Talk about judging a book by its cover...or musical by its name)
For those that have tackled this show in your high school or community, any advice for how you dealt with the name and negative attention would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much.
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Brett Buffum
Theatre Teacher
Spring Hill KS
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