NFHS Rebel Players Present: Urinetown—Fri., March 24 & Sat. March 25 at 7:00 p.m.; Sat. March 25 and Sun. March 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Dozens of New Fairfield High School students have been putting their all into the school’s spring musical, Urinetown, for the last several months. Now, they’re ready to entertain you this weekend with 7:00 p.m. performances on Friday and Saturday nights and matinees at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This group of talented theater kids is supported by a host of adults, including, at the helm, Jessica Smith, new theater director to NFHS, and the high school’s Choral Director Andrew Gadwah.
Smith and Gadwah were mindful in choosing this year’s musical, the very last show to be performed in the old auditorium. Fittingly, Urinetown is a comedic and satirical show set in a post-apocalyptic world, which Smith says fit the bill. “We discussed several shows, weighing the needs of the kids, the time frame we would be working in, the general makeup of our group, and the space itself,” she said, going on to say, “it lent itself well to a group of funny, hard-working students saying goodbye to the old auditorium at NFHS.” In fact, the auditorium is set for abatement and demolition soon after the musical ends. A theater professor at Sacred Heart University, Smith says, “Having worked on the show with another group before, I knew it was an incredibly fun show to be a part of, that the students could really sink their teeth into.”
“Urinetown has a troubling title,” Smith admits, “which they even reference in the hilarious script, and people often think it will be something it’s not.” She hopes that audience-goers will instead be intrigued by the title and show up for this good, clean, funny, satirical, bright, shining world. “It’s hard to get into specifics without spoiling anything,” Gadwah teased about the show, “but there are some songs in this show that reference specific styles – a classy jazz number, a rollicking gospel tune, some high-energy swing music, a patriotic anthem – and I always enjoy the extra level that brings to the comedy.” The pit musicians, who will perform on stage for the show, are led by a group of talented students, with less need for reliance on hiring professional musicians this year, as was needed in recent years. Smith sees definitive nods to other favorite musicals in many numbers, including Les Miserables and West Side Story.
Gadwah says that the lead up to the show has “been a blast!” He points out that “this is such a funny and clever show, and it’s been a fun process to find all of those jokes and gags and work with the students to bring them out and make them work,” going on to say, “The show takes itself very seriously and dramatically, but with such ridiculous subject matter, and the music is no exception. We’re lucky to get to work with such talented kids who are so willing to put themselves out there and try silly things.” Smith agrees and has appreciated the pacing, “Mr. Gadwah and I have been sprinkling in acting and vocal activities, to expand their understanding of the tools available to them as performers, and to bond as a group. Though long, the rehearsal process never quite feels long enough to get everything accomplished. But these moments of stepping back from the material and workshopping techniques around dialogue, characterization, or projecting the voice can be both a needed break and a valuable way to build the toolkit.”
The duo is working together for the first time, but it has been a meeting of the minds, with agreement on so many aspects of the musical. They both strive to connect with and encourage the students, with Smith stressing that “Theater is vital, and the process of creating theater gives students goals and challenges to meet, deepens their perspectives on the world around them, and builds their understanding that they are a valuable member of a community. Watching them work has been a daily reminder to me of the value of theater, and I never take that for granted.” In his eighth year of musical direction for NFHS, Gadwah says, “it’s always a new experience every year. New students, different styles and subject matter for shows – and I love it every time! It’s also so great to see how the theater program has stayed afloat and bounced back in the years post-COVID-shutdown. Theater, and the community around it, is so important to all of these kids, whether they are in the cast, or the pit orchestra, or the lights and sound, or the crew moving sets, or the crew building and painting everything, or any of the other ways they can get involved.”
There have certainly been some challenges to overcome, as Smith says, “Directing, when you go beyond the joy of simply rehearsing, is often about putting out a thousand tiny little fires. There are always stumbling blocks, maybe in regards to the availability of materials for the set, or the use of the theater space, scheduling conflicts, or technical equipment for lighting and sound. You may have a full vision of the final product in your head, but there are limitations to that vision based on those stumbling blocks.” Gadwah agrees, cheering that this is the final year in this auditorium, “From the buggy lights and sound, to the too-steep floor, to the thundering heaters that we have to shout over during rehearsals, there are always new fun surprises we have to contend with every time we endeavor to put on a show.” However, he added, “For all of its flaws though, we’re grateful to have had this space for so many years, and for all of the amazing music and theater performances it has held. It’s humbling to think of all the years of talent that our old auditorium has hosted!”
Both are applauding all of the students involved, with Gadwah noting “they have really brought their characters to life – and many of them, even larger than life with how ridiculous some of these characters are! All of our leads have fully embraced their characters, shining vocally as well as actors and finding little ways to make the performance their own. And even besides the principal roles, there is a lot of awesome ensemble music in this show. They’ve all been working super hard, and it is certainly paying off!” While Smith said, “It has been incredibly gratifying to see the growth of this particular group of students as they have come together to create this show…My hope for the cast is that they feel proud of themselves for accomplishing this act of storytelling, and that they have some pure, simple fun. Theater has an incredible ripple effect. I feel strongly that the ripples from the entire process will shape who they are, with joy, pride, resilience, gratitude, perspective, and belonging.”
With this witty and heartfelt show, the New Fairfield Rebel Players will lovingly flush away the auditorium and set the stage for the new one. Come see the show, Smith entreats, “laugh, smile, feel something, and support an amazing group.” Urinetown runs Friday, March 24 & Saturday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 25 & Sunday, March 26, 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15/adults; $5 students/seniors and are available at the door or at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/71758.
By Sarah Opdahl