Behind the Scenes of Pima Community College’s Production of Urinetown

By Shelby Gundrey for Marketing, Communications, and Strategic Outreach

Pima Community College’s Theatre Arts program is diving headfirst into satire this Spring with its ambitious production of Urinetown, the award-winning musical that blends comedy with social commentary. Set in a dystopian future where a long-lasting drought has made private toilets illegal, the show uses humor, music, and theatre to explore themes of power, scarcity, and rebellion, all while keeping audiences laughing. 

Inside the Proscenium Theatre, the cast’s energy is unmatchable. They can be heard warming up with vocal exercises, stretches, and laughter echoing throughout the theatre. But the moment the show director, Maryann Green, steps in to go over notes, the room shifts, and everyone snaps into focus, scripts are open, pencils are ready, and questions are flowing.

Green shared,“Developing a show on this scale is such hard work and yet we look forward to it every day. I’ve never once doubted what the cast is capable of. In these last few dress rehearsals, they’ve proven that the long hours are about to pay off. The chemistry with this particular group of students has made the process an absolute joy. They’re so fun!” Green’s sentiments capture the spirit of a rehearsal process that is both rigorous and joyfully collaborative. It’s the kind of rehearsal environment that Pima is known for. One where students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to take creative risks as they grow into confident theatre artists.

A Cast Full of Commitment

Sitting in on rehearsals reveals a group of students who are not only talented but deeply invested in understanding the roles they are playing and how to get deeper with satire and emotional beats underneath the comedy. As they run their scenes, they all eagerly ask Green thoughtful questions, showing their dedication to refining timing, character choices, and the show’s signature self-aware humor. 

Max McNulty, Pima theatre student playing Little Sally, reflected on the process, saying, “My favorite part about working on the show is seeing how far my dancing has come since the start of rehearsals, and I love working with all of these wonderful and talented people.” The show’s choreography is fast, funny, and crazy! Thanks to choreographer Mickey Nugent, the cast meets it with enthusiasm and pushes themselves to match the musical's bold moves.

Another cast member, Claire Oda, playing Penny, reflected on the show as a whole, saying, “What I love most about this musical is that the general silliness, over-the-top-ness of the concept and world, lets everybody interact with each other and react in ways that are fun and creative. I really like the music, especially the group numbers and villain songs, and the choreography.” 

For many students, the joy comes from discovering new layers in the material each day. Matthew Frankenfield, playing Bobby Strong, said, “It’s quickly becoming my favorite musical. Not only does it have my exact, dumb sense of humor (surprisingly fewer potty jokes than you’d think from a play called Urinetown), but it also has very likable characters and genuinely tender moments that will make you forget this is a play about pee. It’s quite an impressive balance.” 

Both of these students' excitement is unmistakable, and you can see how their enthusiasm for the material is helping shape something lively and memorable as the show comes together.

Designing the Dystopia

The world of Urinetown is bleak, funny, and a little absurd, and Pima’s technical theatre students are shaping the world piece by piece. Under the Theatre Arts, the set is being designed by theater student Zora Street to have an industrial, weathered environment that mirrors the show’s mix of dystopia and humor.

“This set showcases the duality of the class system, with half the set being made of rubble, while the other half is made of gold,” says Street. Their work helps the set feel lived-in, as if the town has been stuck in these conditions for years.

Part of the design is intentionally modular, allowing scenes to shift quickly and keeping the show’s pacing sharp. Moveable units give the cast room to play, turning the environment into something truly immersive.

The designs featured in this production are truly impressive, and when asked if they had any advice to give to those who may want to get into set design, Street said, “Taking the Theatre Design class at Pima gave me a lot of opportunities to make connections and ultimately be able to design the set for Urinetown. Ultimately, my advice is to take classes and meet people.” 

The Show That Doesn’t Hold Back

From the booming ensemble numbers to the silly narration, Pima’s Urinetown promises to be a production full of life, humor, and sharp commentary. The cast’s voices fill the theatre with confidence, and their comedic instincts shine through even in early run-throughs. 

As opening night approaches, the team continues to refine every detail when it comes to choreography, character beats, set elements, and costume design, all working toward a show that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Make sure to grab your tickets for Urinetown, showing February 26th - March 8th!