Big Noise Theatre Company announces cast of 'Urinetown.'

Big Noise Theatre Company, a division of Winnetka Theatre and long-time member of the League of Chicago Theatres, presents the second Chicago--area performance of the Tony-award winning musical Urinetown at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker Street, Des Plaines, IL, 60016 from April 25 through May 18, 2008 with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 years and older and for students with ID, and $12 for kids 12 and younger. Call 847.604.0275 to order or purchase online at www.ticketweb.com. The facility offers ample free parking and is wheelchair accessible.
 
Director Rick Frendt explained his philosophy of the show to the 40 actors called back to compete for the 15 roles with these words: "I heard another director of Urinetown describe the show as being about corporate greed, corrupt government, and oppressive totalitarianism whose power derives primarily from the inherent  non-sustainability of its peoples' natural resources usage. Our show won't be about any of those things. It will not change anyone's mind about global warming, or carry any sort of noble purpose. Our show will just be funny. God willing. The show has the word 'urine' right in the title. 'Nuff said."
 
The talented cast features Jon Cunningham (Schaumburg) as Bobby Strong, Summar Jonas (Chicago) as Hope Cladwell, Peter Verdico (Wood Dale) as Caldwell B. Cladwell, Marian Kaderbek (Chicago) as Penelope Pennywise, Tom Moore (Wheeling) as Officer Lockstock, Steve Malone (Chicago) as Officer Barrel, Lora Ristau (Park Ridge) as Little Sally, Tom Walker (Carol Stream) as Senator Fipp, Angel Abcede (Chicago)as Hotblades Harry, Melissa Young (Chicago) as Little Becky Two Shoes, Bobby Diehl (Carol Stream) as Mr. McQueen, and ensemble members Tony Patryn (Elmwood Park), Linda Andrews (Palatine), Alexis Armstrong (Glencoe) and Kansas Lynn Batten (Palatine).
 
Director Rick Frendt (Oak Park) is also the set designer for the show as he has been for past Big Noise productions including Kiss of the Spider Woman, Barnum, Big River, Amadeus and The Mikado. Nancy Flaster (Glencoe) is choreographer and has been director and/or choreographer for numerous Big Noise shows including, most recently, Jane Eyre, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Ryan Brewster (Chicago) joins Big Noise for the first time as music director. Ryan shared the 2006 Jeff Citation award nomination for musical direction for White Horse Theatre Company's "I Sing!" with Ethan Deppe. Helga Kennedy (Oak Park) is producer and stage manager, having managed these responsibilities many times before both with Big Noise and other area theatre companies.
 
Urinetown
Music and lyrics by Mark Hollman
Book and lyrics by Greg Kotis
Presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International