Urinetown

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A very warm welcome to you all in our 75th anniversay year from Cassio Productions to the Henderson Hub for our production of 'Urinetown'.  

'Urinetown' is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, 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!

Our next show will be 'Our House' which will be at the Watford Palace Theatre from 15th - 19th October 2024.

If you are interested in joining us for our next show we have our launch for Our House on Thursday 9 May. Please register your interest or for more information please contact us through social media, website or email us via enquiries@cassioproductions.co.uk

But now please sit back,  relax and enjoy the show!

Song List

Act One

Prelude

Urinetown

It's a Privilege to Pee

It's a Privilege to Pee (Lockstock's Reprise)

Mr Cladwell

Cop Song

Follow your Heart

Look at the Sky

Don't be the Bunny

Act 1 Finale

There will be a 20 minute interval between acts

Act Two

What is Urinetown

Snuff that Girl

Run, Freedom, Run

Follow your Heart (Reprise)

Why did I listen to that Man?

Tell Her I Love Her

We're not Sorry

I'm not Sorry (Reprise)

I see a River

Bows

Exit

Cast

The Band

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Ryan Roedling

Officer Lockstock

[He/Him] Ryan makes his first appearance for Cassio Productions. He began performing in musicals in 2008 and returns to the stage after a 5-year hiatus to advance his passion for improv comedy. Previous musical roles include Princeton (Avenue Q), Lefou (Disney's Beauty and the Beast) and Francis (La Cage Aux Folles).

Siobhan McConnon

Penelope Pennywise

[She/Her] Siobhan has a long history of hard nosed funny characters, and is an old veteran of the stage. Her career spans over 30 years! Her favourite roles have to be Katisha (Hot Mikado) and Mrs Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie) but Ms Pennywise has now won the gold.

Ben Roden

Bobby Strong

[He/Him] This is Ben’s debut performance with Cassio Productions. He is no stranger to the stage after being involved with a few shows with West Bromwich Operatic Society (WBOS) in his preteens but very glad to be returning to the stage. He would like to thank the whole Cassio team for being so welcoming and is so proud to have worked with such a talented group of individuals.

Ella Rogers

Little Sally

[She/Her] Ella has been with Cassio Productions since moving to Watford in 2018. She has performed in numerous productions and last year made her directing debut with A Cabaret of Musicals. Little Sally is her first named roll in a Cassio show and she has thoroughly enjoyed working with the rest of the cast and crew to bring her to life.

James Nolan

Mr McQueen

[He/him] This is James' third show with Cassio Productions. He performed in 'The Cabaret Of Musicals' show at the Henderson Hub last year, which was his first time on stage since secondary school. He also took on the role of Don in 'Kinky Boots' at the Watford Palace Theatre last November. Now playing Mr McQueen in Urinetown, he hopes you enjoy this funny show, despite the weird name!

Lucy Scarlett

Senator Fipp

[She/her] This is Lucy's third show with Cassio and second show at the Hub. She is really excited to be performing in Urinetown and has had a great time performing with such a fantastic cast and creative team!

Neil Ben

Officer Barrel

[He/him] Although this is Neil’s second show with Cassio this millennium, he’s lost count of the shows he did with them through the 80s and 90s… At 5-foot tall, Neil loves playing big characters (like violent policemen), having played Nicely Nicely and Big Julie in ‘Guys and Dolls’ (not at the same time), Pooh Bah in the Hot Mikado, Knuckles in ‘Bugsy Malone’ and Derek in ‘Acorn Antiques’. Neil has also directed several musicals, including ‘Hello Dolly’, ‘Avenue Q’, ‘Sweet Charity’ and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’. Oh, and his day job, he writes and directs TV Comedy/Drama.

Sam Keyte

Hope Cladwell

[She/Her] Urinetown is Sam’s eighth show with Cassio Productions and her first principal role with the company. She has previously performed in ‘Hello Dolly’, ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘Footloose’, ‘The Wedding Singer’, ‘All Together Now’, ‘Cabaret of Musicals’ and most recently ‘Kinky Boots’. Sam has also performed with Rickmansworth Players as Claire in ‘Made In Dagenham’, Dolly in ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ and Ernestina in ‘Hello Dolly’ as well as various ensemble roles.

Michael Carpenter

Old Man Strong/Ensemble

[He/Him] This is Michael's first show at Cassio Productions and his debut return to the stage after 10 years. A life long fan of musical theatre, Michael decided that this time, it wasn't enough to just watch another musical, he wanted to once again be part of the magic of being in one.

Sushma Varsani

Tiny Tom/Ensemble

[She/Her] Sushma doesn’t have a performing arts background but she used to love singing and dancing when she was younger (many moons ago). Urinetown will be Sushma’s first theatre performance and first with Cassio. She has been having lots of fun at the rehearsals and is super excited to step into the world of performing - it’s something she always wanted to do.

Lucy Faulkner

Soupy Sue/Ensemble

[She/Her] This is Lucy’s 3rd show at the Hub having enjoyed performing in ‘Altogether Now’ and ‘A Cabaret of Musicals’. She hopes you enjoy this show as much as she, the cast and crew have enjoyed making it!

Meredith Heinrich

Little Becky Two Shoes/Ensemble

[They/Them) Mérédith Heinrich is a recent graduate of King’s College London, where they got the opportunity to properly kickstart their involvement with musical theatre after leaving their native France. After a production of Spamalot and Addams Family cancelled by COVID, Meredith co-directed and co-produced musicals such as Company, The Little Mermaid, and High School Musical. Mérédith is thrilled to finally perform in a musical after many smaller shows and cabarets in recent years!

Alex Kenny

Caldwell B Cladwell

[He/him] Alex has been performing with Cassio for over 20 years and this will be his 18th show with the society. Particular show highlights in that time are Our House!, The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Sister Act and Kinky Boots last year. He has also performed with other local societies such as WOS Productions and Rickmansworth Players. He is excited to play a ruthless megalomaniac this time round which is a direct contrast to recent previous roles!!

Laura Bell

Josephine Strong/Ensemble

[She/They] This is Laura’s debut with Cassio Productions and she joined recently after seeing a cast request for Josephine ‘old ma’ Strong. Laura got into musical theatre three years ago and is part of Gobstoppers Theatre Company in Berkhamsted. Their previous roles include Made in Dagenham (Claire) and Urinetown (Little Sally / Officer Barrel combined) plus performances in a Christmas cabaret show. Laura hopes you enjoy the show!

Holly Noble

Hot Blades Harry

[She/Her] This is Holly’s third show that she has been involved in with Cassio, including performing as a drag queen in Kinky Boots in November and directing and choreographing A Cabaret of Musicals. She has really enjoyed working with such a talented group of people and can’t wait to show everyone all the hard work everyone has produced. She didn’t originally plan to be in the show herself but has enjoyed getting involved last minute and hopes that everyone enjoys the show, despite the title!

Holly Noble

Director and Choreographer

Derek Holland

Musical Director

Assistant to the Director

Emily Sissons

Ella Rogers/Cast

Costumes

Holly Noble/Ella Rogers/Dee Keyte

Props

Simon Ash

Lighting and Sound

Elion Budden

Stage Manager

Alex Kenny

Set Coordinator and Online Programme

Angelika Lukaszuk

Set Art Design

Neil Revens

Front of House Manager

Sarah Clampton

Marketing and Programme Design

Louis Torrano

Projection images

Multimedia

Cassio Management Team

About Cassio Productions

Cassio Productions produce musical theatre in the Watford Area. We are a membership-based group staging quality musical theatre shows at least once a year. Purely for fun, our performers and technicians rehearse and perform together in a vibrant and creative atmosphere. The group is primarily for adults (age 16+) who rehearse in the evenings, several times a week and occasionally at weekends. We welcome those who enjoy theatre purely as a hobby but we also enjoy working with those who already have or aspire to work in the professional theatre.

We are in our 75th anniversary year this year as the first Cassio show was in 1949 when friends, drawn from the choir of St Michael's Church in Watford who before the Second World War gave concerts, decided to branch out and produce pantomimes and shows. This group used the name Cassio Operatic Society for a number of years before changing to being Cassio Productions which is now our official name.

From our humble beginnings Cassio has gone from strength to strength and we now promote our large-scale productions around the area.

For nearly sixty years Cassio have performed shows at the Watford Palace Theatre, a wonderfully restored Edwardian Theatre in the heart of the town. Other venues in Watford have included the Pump House Theatre and the James Theatre with performances further afield at Watersmeet in Rickmansworth and the Henderson Hub in Abbots Langley.

Our Grateful Thanks

Our Grateful thanks go to

• The Henderson Hub.
• Leavesden Green JMI School where we rehearse.
• The Friends of Cassio Productions.
• Sarah Clampton for marketing designs.
• Angelika Lukaszuk for her set art designs, UGC logo and Caldwell B Cladwell Shoe design
• Our front of house team.
• Pumphouse Theatre company for use of stage blocks
• Abbots Langley Players for use of additional staging

About Henderson Hub

The Henderson Hub is based in the heart of Abbots Langley and offers a space where anyone can access a range of arts activities including;

• Art Classes, Live music, Comedy, Cinema, Theatre, and family entertainment.

• Social space to relax and enjoy a range of refreshments

• Gallery space for visual arts

• A space to hire for events and parties

• Information about local arts provision in Abbots Langley and surrounding areas

• Free internet access

The Henderson Hub is an volunteer run project committed to creating a vibrant social and arts facility in the heart of Abbots Langley.

TRUSTEES

Somay Nakhal - Chair
Tim Sidaway

Suffian Hoque
Tom Marshall

ELVIRA’S COFFEE SHOP

Why not pop in and relax with some great coffee and cake or chat with friends over lunch whilst looking at the EXHIBITION in the Gallery, the choice is yours. Either way Elvira’s is a safe environment for all. 

We’re looking forward to seeing you soon for some of Elvira’s famous cakes, lunches drinks and snacks.

COMMUNITY ART WALL 

Our new Community Art Wall is a space in Elvira’s for ANYONE to display their art. 

So if you’re someone who has never had their art hanging in a public space, then this is your chance! 

Open to absolutely every one of ALL AGES, the space is FREE to reserve for a couple of week.

FOR MORE INFORMATION - POP INTO ELVIRA’S AND ASK THE TEAM

Hail Malthus

At the end of Urinetown, Office Lockstock and the company cry "Hail Malthus".  Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) was a British economist and demographer best known for his theory that population growth will eventually outrun the food supply.  He believed that as population grows faster than resources, poverty, famine, and disease are unavoidable.  His theory and his argument for strict population control become known as Malthusianism.  Many of his ideas were later proven to be false.  However, the mention of his name in the musical reminds us that even predictions that seem ludicrous and dire can become reality if we are not careful.

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