URINETOWN - THE MUSICAL opened on May 6, 2001, at the American Theatre of Actors. NYC, with a subsequent Broadway transfer to Henry Miller's Theatre. NYC, in August, 2001. It was originally presented as part of the 1999 New York International Fringe Festival, which is a production of The Present Company. SYNOPSIS Act One: The musical opens with the entrance of Officer Lockstock, a toughtalking beat cop who doubles as the play's narrator. Apologizing for the fact that the show opens with too much exposition, Lockstock explains how a terrible water shortage has crippled the Gotham-like city he serves, forcing the government to outlaw practices which might otherwise waste the precious resource. With the help of the street urchin Little Sally, Lockstock goes on to explain that to conserve water, the citizens must now use the public, pay-per-use amenities owned and operated by Urine Good Company — a private corporation to which the government has assigned this public utility. Citizens who try to circumvent the peeing fee by going in the bushes or some other such place risk severe punishment. Offenders, Lockstock says, are sent to Urinetown, a mysterious place where many have been sent but from whence no one ever returns. Early morning at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town. Old Man Strong, a poor man, argues with the urinal manager, Penelope Pennywise (also known as Penny). He doesn't have enough money for the peeing fee this morning, and with a crowd of customers behind him clamouring for their turn, he asks Penny to give him a break. Penny refuses. Old Man Strong appeals to his son, Bobby Strong, who serves as Penny's assistant. The law is the law, however, and Bobby finds himself powerless to contradict it. Unable to contain himself any longer, Old Man Strong relieves himself right there on the pavement. Officers Lockstock and Barrel enter and arrest Old Man Strong, hauling him off to Urinetown. Meanwhile, at the corporate headquarters of Urine Good Company, Caldwell B. Cladwell, the evil president of the urinal monopoly, discusses the timing of the next round of fee rises with Senator Fipp, a corrupt politician who fears the effects Cladwell's pricing policy will have on the population. Their discussion is interrupted by the return of Hope Cladwell, Caldwell's sweet-hearted daughter, just home from university. Cladwell introduces Hope to his staff, welcoming her as the newest employee of the corporation. Taking a moment to bask in the wealth and power they've accumulated, the staff praises Mr. Cladwell even as Cladwell praises himself. Later that day, having disposed of the troublesome Old Man Strong, Officers Lockstock and Barrel discuss the horrors the trip down to Urinetown entails. Hope arrives on her way home from her first day at the office, and then Bobby joins them, having finished his shift after the late-night rush. After a few words of advice about suspicious appearances, the cops leave the kids to get to know each other. Tormented by his father's recent arrest, Bobby asks the beautiful newcomer for guidance. Arriving for work the next morning, Bobby is confronted with news of the latest round of Cladwell's price rises. Penny shouts down the protests of her customers (now unable to meet the required fee), commanding them to pay up or step aside. Bobby's mother, also short the required cash, stands before Bobby asking if she'll be turned away, too. Still tormented over having stood by while his father was taken to Urinetown, and emboldened by Hope's words of optimism, Bobby seizes the moment and opens the amenity for the people to pee for free. As Bobby rallies the poor Penny warns Bobby that he — and everyone — will surely pay for what he's done.
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