Columbia Children's Theatre's URINETOWN Opens January 25

Never ones to shy away from a challenge (Little Shop of Horrors, Pirates of Penzance, Sweeney Todd), the CCTeens (Columbia Children's Theatre's YouTheatre actors in grades 7-12) will tackle the award-winning Urinetown: The Musical January 25-27. Showtimes are Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students, and can be ordered securely on line at columbiachildrenstheatre.com. The production is recommended for ages 13 and older. All performances are held at Columbia Children's Theatre on the 1st level of Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive next to Barnes and Noble. For more information contact CCT at 803-691-4548. The production is sponsored by Cheryl and Ken Wheat.

Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America's greatest art forms.

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, Urinetown catapults the "comedic romp" into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.

Running time is approximately 2 hours with one intermission.

The show is directed by CCT Artistic Associate Paul Lindley, (Little Shop, Sweeny Todd, Hairspray,) with choreography by Lisa Sendler. The set is designed by Jim Litzinger with costumes by Jerry Stevenson.

The cast includes 40 of the most talented 7th - !2th graders in the Midlands including Natalie Allen, Annika Barr, Henry Barry, Lucy Barry, Addie Brown, Erin Carns, Liam Carrico, Katie Conrad, Megan Crutchfield, Thomas Daly, Cate Dingeldine, Melody Driggers, Adelle Fuller, Edward Gabrielli, Lucy Grieswell, Maggie Hadley, Elise Heffner, Lindsay Hunter, Lucy Jones, Sofie Jones, Lillian King, ZuZu Maltarich, Robert McCreary, Ally Montgomery, Lily Kate Moody, Olivia Moody, Baker Morrison, Madison Nelson, Gresham Poole, London Saunders, Daniel Schwarz, Eva Shealy, Mary Smith, Allison Soito, Grayson Taylor, Abi Tuorto, Will Varner, Carter Verwers, Cameron Vipperman, Walker Weaver, Sam Weiss, and Rebekah Ryan Young

Columbia Children's Theatre is a professional resident not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing quality live theatre experiences for families and young audiences. CCT's current season is sponsored by The Braddock Group. CCT is also supported in part by the City of Forest Acres, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Carter Verwers, Robert McCreary, Elise Heffner, Baker Morrison.