“Urinetown,” Sequoia’s latest musical theater production, had shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the last two weeks. The drama program attracted many students, which allowed director Talia Cain establish two casts for the production, called the Sky and River Casts, who acted in alternating shows throughout the six show dates. 

Sequoia Drama musical  “Urinetown” is set in San Francisco in the year 2053. “Urinetown” is a dystopia in which a corrupt corporation called Urine Good Company forces the people of San Francisco to pay to pee, creating severe economic disparities in society. Bobby Strong, a young man, emerges from the poor and begins a revolution against the company, advocating for free pee. Strong eventually gets tricked by the president of Urine Good Company and is thrown off a building to his death. The daughter of the president of Urine Good Company begins leading the poor in their revolts, helping eventually overthrow Urine Good Company. After the revolt the city is without the water control that the company provided, then the town runs out of water, killing everyone. The end.

The show displays real-world problems through satirical scenes. The dark themes such as death and unchecked capitalism are artfully contrasted with upbeat singing and dancing.

The show was a result of months of work from the cast, tech crew, and directors. “The process was long and tiring, but so rewarding in the end,” senior cast member Tabitha Oliver said. “Going to rehearsal every single day for so many hours would be draining for anyone, but having the opportunity to be part of the production is so valuable.” 

The theater community has faced some pressure from the broader Sequoia community. “We see so much [stigma] when it comes to ‘theater kids’,” Oliver shares. But for her, it’s become her own “Unaliyi” – a place of friends. “I have [met] my best friends through this program, and [have found] a community that backs me up and one that I can count on [for] anything,” Oliver recommends the theater program for anyone looking to meet students at Sequoia and have fun trying something new.

The theater program brings together students and creates friendships. Junior cast member Lucia Kitching’s favorite part of the production was growing relationships with the cast. The seniors who take part in the production have been her “role models and best friends” throughout the last two years.