Urine for a Treat!
The Grace cast of “Urinetown” with the original Mr. McQueen from the Broadway cast of “Urinetown.” Media provided by Fay Pacht
A make-believe dystopia where peeing in public is a crime, Grace Church School’s spring show Urinetown gets audiences ready for a scathing, satirical rollercoaster ride. We spoke with the high school’s theater technical director, Daryl Embry, who works on sets, lighting, props, and everything else tech-related, for an insider’s glimpse into what it takes to bring this show to life behind the scenes.
Urinetown takes place in a not-so-distant future where a city-wide drought has made private toilets a relic of the past. Here, residents have to pay to use the bathroom, which is all under the control of a greedy corporation known as the “Urine Good Company.” As for the ones who rebel by peeing in bushes or alleys, they’re sent to the infamous Urinetown. But beneath the absurdity of the events that take place, Urinetown is a satirical political commentary that discusses the themes of corporate greed and economic inequalities.
“It’s sort of like a wonderful SNL sketch,” Mr. Embry said. “But stretched out into a full-blown, two-and-a-half-hour production.”
However, presenting a production like Urinetown comes with its own set of logistical hurdles. The Grace Church School musicals take place at the 14th Street Y, which only provides two weeks of access: hardly enough time for setup, tech rehearsals, and performances.
“They occupy the space on Monday, but can’t start putting it in until Thursday,” Mr. Embry explained. “That gives us two days to build the whole set while actors rehearse starting Friday night.”
There is also the matter of crowd size. The Y’s black box theater seats only 55, but by pushing chairs up against the sides, the crew has found that they can pack almost twice as many people.
More exciting news is that, for the first time in Grace theater production history, the band will not be performing on stage. Instead, they will be separated from the stage in the theater’s tech booth loft, which will be out of sight from the actors. To accomplish this, a live video feed of the conductor will be transmitted to a monitor so both the cast and band can stay on cue.
“It’s a challenge, especially for our student sound engineer, Greg [M. ‘25], who will be mixing the show,” Mr. Embry said.
The decision to choose Urinetown was not made simply because of its quirky title. The play contains an ideal combination of humor and cultural commentary that makes it fun and substantial.
“There’s always something timely about corporate wealth versus public health,” Mr. Embry described. “It’s a hilarious show, but it makes you think—what happens when basic human needs become a luxury?”
When asked how he brings a script to life visually, Mr. Embry described a two-step process: reading first as a fan, then as a technician.
“You think about vibe, tone, setting,” he said. “This one needs to feel dirty—industrial, metallic, water-damaged, maybe even lit in yellowish tints to make everything feel a little gross.”
Interestingly, he’s designed Urinetown previously, but every production is different because of varying cast, budget, and venue. Collaborating with director Fay Pacht, he details this adaptation of Urinetown to fit the vision of the school while balancing overall safety, budget, and even elevator door size for the transport of set pieces.
“There was a piece I loved, but it wouldn’t fit through the doors,” he said. “So it was a no-go.”
“The cast is great, the music is super fun, earworms all around,” Mr. Embry stated. “And if we do it right, you’ll laugh and leave thinking about the world we live in.”
Hopes are high, but tickets could be scarce. If you’re here for the satire, the tunes, or just a wacky and silly trip, Urinetown promises an unforgettable production. Just don’t forget to pay first before you pee!
Buy your tickets for Urinetown here!
Ronan Kenyon ‘25, the author, is a staff writer for The Grace Gazette.