YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – “Urinetown” isn’t on the list of musicals that are in constant rotation, but it shows up in bunches when the national mood seems to call for it.

Productions of the offbeat musical were presented in the past year in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pa., and another will open soon in Ashtabula.

The Youngstown Playhouse’s two-weekend run of the musical will open Friday, May 29.

“Urinetown” is an absurdist comedy that satirizes society – while taking stabs at musical theater itself.

“It’s very meta,” said Nate Beagle, who is directing the Playhouse version. “There’s a lot of breaking of the fourth wall, and it explores very philosophical and existential themes such as capitalism and oligarchy and the disparity between the rich and the poor, and propaganda. It rears its head whenever things are tumultuous in our country.”

The current flurry of productions “probably aligns with mass deportation and ICE and things like that,” he said.

The show was written by Greg Kotis, with music by Mark Hollmann.

It takes place in a post-apocalyptic near future. An ecological disaster has limited the water supply and, as a result, bathrooms no longer exist in homes.

All residents are required to use one of the public bathrooms that are operated by the Urine Good Company.

A fee must be paid for entry. Those who get caught cheating the system are sent to Urinetown – a euphemistic way of saying they disappeared and were put to death.

The conflict arises when a fee hike at a public bathroom on the poor side of town causes an uprising.

“People can’t pee free” becomes their rallying cry.

Beagle likens “Urinetown” to the absurdist plays written by Bertolt Brecht. “You’re going to see a show that knows it’s a show,” he said. 

The characters are two-dimensional, with names that literally match their purpose.

The antagonist, Mr. Cladwell, controls all of the city’s water. The hero who leads the uprising is a young janitor named Bobby Strong. Cladwell’s daughter, Hope, represents the future. And the woman who owns the public bathroom where the trouble starts is Miss Pennywise.

“Another big piece of this show is that every musical number is a parody of a particular musical theater style,” Beagle said. “You’ll see a parody of ‘Les Miserables’ and a parody of patter songs, which is a song that is talking in rhythm. There’s also a number that’s like a ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ song.”

“Urinetown” opened on Broadway in 2001, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and Best Direction of a Musical.

Kotis, the playwright, came up with the idea during a 1995 backpacking trip he took in Europe in which he had to ration his limited funds for use in the public toilets of Paris.

“Urinetown” was last produced in the Mahoning Valley in 2007 by Youngstown State University’s theater. Beagle appeared in that YSU effort, as did a few of the cast members of the upcoming Playhouse production.

Tyler Stouffer is the musical director of the Playhouse production. Colleen Chance is the choreographer, and Isa Foltz is stage manager.

The cast includes Ben Doss (as Bobby Strong), Craig Conrad (Cladwell), Patty Carr (Hope) and Chance (Penelope Pennywise), as well as Ben Bogen, Becca Campbell, Chey Carr, Rachael Conrad, Kage Coven, Hannah DeRenzis, Mary Dippolito, Rachel Franek, Alex Imwalle, Brooke Jonas, Logan Kaminski, Alyssa Moore, Arcale Peace, Caitlyn Santiago, Andy Scott, Marissa Scott, Peter Sherman, Kathryn Stanton, Tyler Stouffer, Brian Suchora, John Webber and Sarah Whitlatch.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 29-30 and June 5-6; and 2:30 p.m. May 31 and June 7.

Tickets range from $27 to $17 (plus fees) and can be purchased online HERE, by phone at 330 259 9651 and at the box office, 260 W. Federal St., downtown.

“Urinetown” has themes and humor that may not be appropriate for young audiences.

Pictured at top: The cast of the Playhouse production of “Urinetown” includes, in front, Cheyanne Carr, Craig Conrad, Colleen Chance and Andy Scott; and, in back, Ben Doss and Patty Carr.