Jaybird Productions' URINETOWN THE MUSICAL Begins Tonight

Jaybird Productions is thrilled to present Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis' URINETOWN THE MUSICAL, the three-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy that hilariously explores such serious topics as unsustainability, corporate greed, and government corruption, in the Studio Theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, North York for a 3-show mid-week run, this week, May 17-19 in support of local charity.

The idea for the URINETOWN - that the oppressed masses are forced to pay to pee by a greedy, crooked corporation - came to Greg Kotis as he was travelling in Europe and used a pay-per-use toilet in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. The off the wall idea fueled the creative approach. According to Kotis, the show was developed "...in a spirit of defiance against what's typically offered up as stage worthy in America today."

"They key to presenting URINETOWN is to throw out or send up rules and conventions; concentrate on what is happening in each moment, essentially finding the funny," says URINETOWN's Director Jacqueline Burke. "The challenge of the show is presenting the many pieces as a cohesive whole. Yes, the funny but yes, the message - and without taking ourselves too seriously," Burke adds with a laugh.

Originally developed as a Fringe piece, URINETOWN embraces satire, outrageous situations, slapstick, and bawdy humour to tell the story of coping with 20 years of drought and it was an immediate hit in the New York Fringe in 1999. The show went on to open on Broadway, winning three Tony awards Awards in 2002 for Best Director, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.

Jaybird Productions is also dedicated to helping an initiative of charitable productions in north Toronto spearheaded by The Barbara Pinchuck Legacy Project's Unsung Heroes Productions. "I was exposed to the successful charitable work of Unsung Heroes," says Burke, "and I wanted to help." Proceeds from URINETOWN THE MUSICAL will be donated to Unsung Heroes to assist in its ongoing support of various local charities including Imagine A Cure For Leukemia.

IF YOU GO:

Jaybird Productions presents

URINETOWN THE MUSICAL

Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollman
Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis
Produced and Directed by Jacqui Burke
Music Directed by James Quigley
Choreographed by Deb Greenglass
Stage Managed by Andrea Wicken

May 17-19, 7:30 pm
At Toronto Centre for the Arts Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge Street, North York, ON

Tickets: Adult: $30; Student/Senior/Arts Worker: $27 Groups of 10+: $27 per

Box Office: 647-292-0210, www.jaybirdproductions.ca, or walk up to Toronto Centre for the Arts

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