New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Somerset Valley Players Present "Urinetown"

originally published: 08/29/2019


(HILLSBOROUGH, NJ) -- Somerset Valley Players will present Urinetown from September 6-22. First things first for audiences when it comes to Urinetown and it’s the name.  Director and choreographer Genevieve Estanislau acknowledges it’s something she hears often. “The script itself constantly pokes fun of the title throughout the show.  Despite the potty language in the title, the show doesn’t use profanity and is incredibly smart and witty.”

Urinetown premiered on Broadway in 2001 and won praise as a sidesplitting satire of big business, greed, and musicals themselves.  The plot tells the uproarious tale of a city where a water shortage has resulted in private restrooms becoming pay-to-go public toilets.  When the residents find a leader in their midst, they stand up for themselves and their right to go their own way. 

“The premise of the show came from a European trip, where the writers, Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, found themselves paying to use restrooms.  They took their experience to comic extremes and added wonderfully archetypal characters, resulting in non-stop laughs.”

Urinetown has had a loyal cult following as well as commercial success. “The show is accessible to all types of audiences,” explains Estanislau. “Mainstream audiences enjoy the clever and relevant cautionary tale as told by hilarious characters.  Die-hard theatre enthusiasts love the in-show parodies of classic American musicals.”

Estanislau’s vision for creating Urinetown’s crazy universe is to set it in a “Gotham-like” city.  “I’m a huge fan of late 70s-early 90s action/adventure movies,” she states.  “The aesthetic we’re using is very ‘comic-book-esque’ and fits the show perfectly.  We have a tremendous creative team who’s having fun bringing this madcap world to life.” 




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



Produced by Todd R. Bennington, musical direction by Anthony ‘Coop’ Competello, and stage managed by Rob Langer, Urinetown runs September 6-22 at the Somerset Valley Players theater on 689 Amwell Road (Route 514) in Hillsborough. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00pm.  Sunday matinees start at 2:00pm. The theater is air conditioned, barrier free and wheelchair accessible.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 18, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The Mallard

Friday, July 18, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Good

Good Riddance; A Gnarly Murder Mystery Dinner, Dude!

Friday, July 18, 2025 @ 6:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The Wizard of Oz

Friday, July 18, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Paper

Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Cast and Creative Team for "Bull Durham"

(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the casting and the creative team for Bull Durham, the first production of their 2025-2026 season. The new musical begins performances Thursday, October 2 ahead of a Sunday, October 12 in a run that continues through Sunday, November 2, 2025.



Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: Celebrating 20 Seasons of Premiere Stages with Original Play 'The Mallard'

Today we are highlighting Premiere Stages' twentieth season as they introduce their most recent production, "The Mallard," written by Vincent Delaney and directed by John Wooten.



Jersey

Jersey Arts TV: Princeton Summer Theater is Creating a New Take on a Classic Story with 'Frankenstein'

Classic literature is taking the stage with Princeton Summer Theater's production of "Frankenstein". This fresh take on the beloved classic takes the viewers on a journey to the past.



Surflight's

Surflight's Children's Theater presents "The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition"

(BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight children's theater has been eagerly waiting to take you down to the Bikini Bottom in The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition. Performances take place July 23-27 & August 13-17, 2025 at 6:00pm each night.



NJ

NJ Rep Presents the World Premiere of "How My Grandparents Fell In Love"

(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) presents the world premiere of How My Grandparents Fell in Love, a heartwarming and timely new musical by playwright Cary Gitter and composer Neil Berg, directed by NJ Rep Artistic Director SuzAnne Barabas. The production runs from July 17 through August 10, 2025.