By Michael Moran
Urinetown continues its successful run on the Cultural Park Theater stage through March 8. Now granted for those who have not seen the show yet, most Americans would have said that the title alone made Urinetown not just a bad idea for a musical but a really terrible idea for a musical. But this Tony Award show stormed Broadway in 2001 and has delighted audiences ever since.
Urinetown advances a seemingly wacky premise that nevertheless rings true: In some not-too distant future — in which public services have all been privatized and there’s an even a greater gulf separating rich from poor — severe water shortages have transformed peeing from a right to a privilege.
Paul Todd takes our concert stage with his tribute “Romancing The American Standards” on March 13, 14 and 15 for three performances only. Paul Todd tributes the work of such legends as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Bobby Darin and more with his many celebrity impersonations and amazing voice.
Next up in March is the comedy The Owl and the Pussycat by Bill Manhoff. The story takes place in a San Francisco loft, aspiring author Felix focuses his binoculars on a prostitute plying her trade. He complains to the landlord, has her evicted, and finds trouble pounding on his door in the form of Doris, not a prostitute, but an aspiring “model and actress, thank you very much.”
She figures he owes her a bed for the night, an arrangement that leads to hilarity. Alan Alda and Diana Sands took the roles on Broadway, George Segal and Barbra Streisand on film. And now at Cultural Park Theater the roles are taken on by Chantelle Kareem Bloise-Elmahmoudi as Doris and Steve Stefanik as Felix. Under the guidance of director Gwen Salata, CPT’s audiences are in for a wild ride and lots of laughs as Owl and The Pussycat opens March 20 and plays through March 29.
The Cultural Park Theater is located at 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral.
Call the box office for tickets at 239-772-5862 or visit www.culturalparktheater.com.
Michael Moran is executive director of the Cultural Park Theatre Company.
