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51-564: Urinetown debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival , and then was produced Off-Broadway at the American Theatre for Actors from May 6, 2001, to June 25, 2001. The musical then opened on Broadway at Henry Miller's Theatre , running from September 20, 2001, through January 18, 2004, totaling 25 previews and 965 performances. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won three. It

102-414: A megacorporation called " Urine Good Company" (or UGC). To control water consumption, people have to pay to use the amenities ("Too Much Exposition"). There are harsh laws ensuring that people pay to urinate, and if the laws are broken, the offender is sent to a place called "Urinetown," never to return. The oppressed masses huddle in line at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town, Public Amenity #9, which

153-539: A Privilege to Pee (Reprise)"). Later that day, in the corporate offices of Urine Good Company, CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell is discussing the new fee hikes with Senator Fipp, a politician firmly in Cladwell's pocket, when Cladwell's beautiful daughter, Hope Cladwell, arrives as the UGC's new fax/copy girl. As an introduction, the UGC staff sing a song praising their leader ("Mr. Cladwell"). Officers Lockstock and Barrel discuss

204-482: A budget, he encountered a pay toilet and began writing shortly thereafter, joining with Mark Hollmann for the journey to Broadway . Initially, no production companies were interested in optioning the musical, but finally the Neo-Futurists , an experimental theatre group from Chicago , agreed to produce Urinetown for their 1999–2000 season. Kotis, his wife, and original cast member Spencer Kayden belonged to

255-491: A bunny to tell Hope that their privilege and responsibility is to stomp on the poor ("Don't Be the Bunny"). Cladwell, McQueen, Fipp, Pennywise, Lockstock and Barrel arrive at Amenity #9 to snuff out the uprising. Learning that Hope is Cladwell's daughter, Bobby realizes that the only way out of the trap is to kidnap Hope to use as leverage against Cladwell. The rebel poor escape with Hope as their hostage. The police give chase, but

306-462: A charge by the provider. Pay toilets on the streets may provide men's urinals free of charge to prevent public urination. For example, in London, a few public conveniences are appearing in the form of pop-up toilets. During the daytime, these toilets are hidden beneath the streets, and only appear in the evening. The British English euphemism "to spend a penny" for "to urinate" derives from the use of

357-536: A jury-based selection process. Around 200 shows, out of a much larger pool of applicants, are selected for inclusion each year. However, in 2018 the Festival reduced the number of shows. The festival was founded in 1997 by Aaron Beall, John Clancy , Jonathan Harris (also known as Ezra Buzzington ), and (current Artistic Director) Elena K. Holy, and is produced by The Present Company . Notable shows that premiered at FringeNYC include Urinetown , Dog Sees God ,

408-438: A pre-decimal penny coin for pay toilet locks. In Argentina , pay toilets are not common. Toilets placed in public places are typically free to use but the attendant is seated outside with a dish by his side expecting a tip from the user, often with a sign saying "Su propina es nuestro sueldo" (your tip is our salary). It is customary to give a coin or a $ 2 bill, especially if the toilets requiring paper are used. In Mexico ,

459-617: A yearly tradition at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS annual Gypsy of the Year benefit concert, in which the characters – portrayed by actors Jennifer Cody and Don Richard, both of whom understudied the roles in the original cast – perform a short comedy sketch making fun of current Broadway shows. An Australian production directed by Simon Phillips for the Melbourne Theatre Company

510-406: Is like, but Lockstock replies that its power lies in its mystery and he cannot flippantly reveal that "there is no Urinetown, we just kill people", and that the reveal will not come until Act II, "with everybody singing and things like that." The next day, Cladwell's assistant, Mr. McQueen, announces the new fee hikes set upon the urinals. Bobby concludes that the laws are wrong. Opening the doors of

561-462: Is run by the rigid, harshly authoritarian Penelope Pennywise and her assistant, dashing young everyman Bobby Strong. Trouble ensues when Bobby's father Joseph "Old Man" Strong, unable to afford his daily urinal admission, asks Pennywise to let him go free "just this once." After Old Man Strong's plea is dismissed ("It's a Privilege to Pee"), he urinates on the street, and Officers Lockstock and Barrel soon arrest him and escort him off to Urinetown ("It's

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612-468: Is sure that Urinetown is nothing but a lie designed to scare the poor people. Lockstock catches Little Sally, but his threat of Urinetown doesn't work, because according to her, they are already there; it "isn't so much a place as it is a metaphysical place" that they are all in, including Lockstock. She escapes before Lockstock can ask her what "metaphysical" means. ("What is Urinetown?"). Convinced that Bobby, Josephine, and Little Sally have been captured,

663-524: The Autobahn have pay toilets with turnstiles, though as in France, customers typically receive a voucher equal to the toilet fee. Elsewhere, while public toilets may not have a set fee, it is customary to provide change to restroom attendants for their services. Some service stations offer a voucher equal in value to the amount paid for use of a toilet, redeemable for other goods at that station or others in

714-704: The Committee to End Pay Toilets in America (CEPTIA) resulted in laws prohibiting pay toilets in some cities and states. In 1973, Chicago became the first American city to enact a ban, at a time when, according to The Wall Street Journal , there were at least 50,000 units in America, mostly made by the Nik-O-Lok Company. CEPTIA was successful over the next few years in obtaining bans in New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Florida and Ohio. Lobbying

765-409: The 1st century AD, and contained all of the modern amenities for hygiene, including advanced public toilets with marble seats. One had to pay to enter these luxury conveniences, where one could enjoy the use of a pool, use the toilet or socialize. John Nevil Maskelyne , an English stage magician , invented the first modern pay toilet in the late 19th century. His door lock for London toilets required

816-485: The 2019 festival, there was no further activity. The website was taken down in May 2021. Pay toilet A pay toilet is a public toilet that requires the user to pay. It may be street furniture or be inside a building, e.g. a shopping mall, department store, or railway station. The reason for charging money is usually for the maintenance of the equipment. Paying to use a toilet can be traced back almost 2000 years, to

867-652: The Bandit Frog says "I have to go 10-100, could I have a dime? To which he replies, "crawl under" In a 1979 episode of WKRP in Cincinnati , "Fish Story", Herb (dressed as a carp) tries to use a pay toilet at the University of Cincinnati without paying and is caught by a rival station's mascot. The 1983 Stephen King novel, ‘’ Pet Sematary ” involves a scene featuring pay toilet and a quote that reads, “JOHN CRAPPER WAS A SEXIST PIG!” written in grease pencil on

918-596: The building ("Why Did I Listen To That Man?"), killing him. Little Sally returns to the hideout in a shocked daze, having just heard Bobby's last words. The ghost of Bobby sings, along with Little Sally, his last words, which are directed to Hope ("Tell Her I Love Her"). His last words encourage the rebels "to fight for what they know is right," and that "the time is always now." Just as the rebels are about to murder Hope in revenge, Pennywise enters and offers herself instead, proclaiming herself to be Hope's mother. The poor reel back, shocked by this unexpected twist. Hope convinces

969-543: The conclusion of the festival out of 200 shows, around 20 shows are selected to participate in the FringeNYC Encore Series which runs for an additional two weeks in September. The festival went on hiatus in 2017 to revise its format and develop ambitious long-term plans. It ran in the fall of 2018 and 2019 with fewer performances and smaller venues and included performances in the outer boroughs. After

1020-443: The cops to escort Bobby to Urinetown—even if it means that the rebel poor will kill Hope. Horrified, Pennywise marvels at the depth of Cladwell's evil. Cladwell has her arrested as well. She, Hope, and Fipp sing of their regrets of falling for Cladwell's schemes. Meanwhile, Bobby is led to the top of the UGC building, and learns the truth: Urinetown is death. He regrets having ever listened to his heart. Lockstock and Barrel throw him off

1071-736: The exception of David Campbell taking over the role of Bobby. The UK premiere directed by Jamie Lloyd opened at London's St. James Theatre in April 2014, transferred to the Apollo Theatre in September 2014, and ended its run on 3 January 2015. In 2015, a production of the show opened in São Paulo , Brazil , at the Teatro do Nucleo Experimental. In 2019, Urinetown opened in Singapore, produced by Pangdemonium Theatre Company. In 2019,

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1122-421: The financial hardships resulting from the many wars that had been fought. This was not a popular choice with his people, and he was ridiculed for the decision, to which he reacted with the famous quote, Pecunia non olet , "Money does not stink". The Greco-Roman city of Ephesus was important in ancient times, becoming the trade centre and commercial hub of the ancient world. The Scholastica Baths were built in

1173-634: The first Danish production of Urinetown opened at Fredericia Teater. In 2023, the Turkish production of Urinetown opened at the Zorlu Performance Arts Center , and is still continuing performances. In 2024, another Danish production opened March 22 at Østre Gasværk Teater , Copenhagen , notably starring Kurt Ravn as Caldwell B. Cladwell. Greg Kotis had the idea for Urinetown while traveling in Europe. A traveling student on

1224-517: The first century BCE. The charge is often collected by an attendant or by inserting coins into an automatic turnstile; in some freestanding toilets in the street, the fee is inserted into a slot by the door. Mechanical coin operated locks are also used. Some more high tech toilets accept card or contactless payments. Sometimes, a token can be used to enter a pay toilet without paying the charge. Some municipalities offer these tokens to residents with disabilities so these groups aren't discriminated against by

1275-583: The greatest reliance on public toilets. In Accra , lack of space makes private toilets unrealistic in low-income neighbourhoods. In Kumasi , it has been estimated that 36% of residents use pay toilets, and that "once-daily use of a public toilet by a family of four would cost between US$ 3.60 and $ 18 per month depending on the fee charged by the operator of the toilet they use." Some of the earliest documented pay toilets were built around 74 AD in Rome. Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus created this method to ease

1326-617: The group. Plans with the Neo-Futurists later fell through, so John Clancy of the New York Fringe Festival accepted the show into the festival. Playwright David Auburn , a friend of Kotis and Hollmann, came to see the show and immediately called the production company The Araca Group . The company optioned the musical, and it opened off-Broadway at the American Theatre for Actors, transferring to Broadway in September 2001. Originally planned to open on September 13,

1377-471: The heat of battle the cry of freedom sounds something like ("Run, Freedom, Run!"). Invigorated, the poor rally around Bobby, but balk at his statement that the violent fight could take decades. Just then, Pennywise bursts into the secret hideout telling Bobby that Cladwell wants him to come to the UGC headquarters. Bobby goes, but only after the impatient rebels remind him that if anything happens to him, Hope will be killed. Pennywise fiercely swears that if any of

1428-583: The insertion of a penny coin to operate it, hence the euphemism to "spend a penny". The first pay toilet in the United States was installed in 1910 in Terre Haute, Indiana . Whether or not public toilets should require payment is a plot point in Noël Coward 's 1949 play South Sea Bubble . Pay toilets are key to the 2001 American musical Urinetown . In the 1977 movie Smokey and

1479-556: The journey to Urinetown and how it reduces everyone, even the toughest, to screams ("The Cop Song"). Hope enters and encounters Bobby Strong. Bobby, distraught over his father's arrest and wondering if he could have done something, tells Hope that his heart feels either cold or empty. Hope tells Bobby that the only answer is to follow his heart. The two realize that they both want a new world where people can be happy and pee for free. United by their belief, they fall in love ("Follow Your Heart"). Little Sally asks Officer Lockstock what Urinetown

1530-603: The majority of pay toilets have turnstiles and an attendant at the entrance. The attendant gives out toilet paper and sometimes a paper towel. In India , Sulabh International is the major operator of pay toilets ( sulabh shauchalaya ). These are provided with an attendant, and the fee is 2 rupees. They provide toilet as well as bathroom facilities. They are situated in public places like bus stations and major markets, but several sulabh shauchalayas also act as community toilets in areas with poor sanitation facilities. In Singapore , pay toilets are still common in "Hawker Centers";

1581-516: The musical adaptation of Debbie Does Dallas , and the American English-language premiere of The Black Rider . Other feature shows included Charlie Victor Romeo , which premiered at New York Lower East Side theatre Collective:Unconscious . FringeNYC includes many component events, such as FringeU (educational events), FringeART (art events), FringeAL FRESCO (free outdoor performances), and FringeJR (children's events). At

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1632-523: The pay toilet. Some establishments such as cafés and restaurants offer tokens to their customers so they can use the toilets for free but other users must pay the relevant charge. Pay toilets are especially common in Continental Europe . The Paris Métro operates coin-operated toilets in its underground stations; and even non-mechanized toilets occasionally have attendants who accept tips. In Germany, many lavatories at service stations on

1683-542: The plumbing industry. California legislator March Fong Eu argued that they discriminated against females because men and boys could use urinals for free whereas women and girls always had to pay a dime for a toilet "stall" (i.e. cubicle) in places where payment was mandatory. The American Restroom Association was a proponent of an amendment to the National Model Building Code to allow pay toilets only where there were also free toilets. A campaign by

1734-419: The rebels harm Hope, she will have Bobby sent off to Urinetown. Bobby says goodbye to Hope, apologizes, and tells her to think of what they have ("Follow Your Heart (Reprise)"). At the UGC headquarters, Bobby is offered a suitcase full of cash and full amnesty to the rebels as long as Hope is returned and the people agree to the new fee hikes. Bobby refuses, and demands free access for the people. Cladwell orders

1785-434: The rebels to let her lead them, and she, Penny, and the poor march to the UGC offices. En route, they kill Officer Barrel (who had just confessed his love to Officer Lockstock), Senator Fipp, and Mrs. Millennium ("We're Not Sorry"). Hope reveals to her father that she is still alive. Cladwell is overjoyed, until the rest of the poor reveal themselves. Hope tells him that his reign of terror is over, and that he will "be sent to

1836-477: The rebels, particularly Hot Blades Harry and Little Becky Two-Shoes, decide that the best way to get revenge on Cladwell is to kill Hope ("Snuff That Girl"). They are about to kill her when Bobby bursts in and reminds the rebels that their purpose is more than just revenge. He explains that he made a promise to free all the people of the land. One of the rebels reminds Bobby that the only words he said were "Run, everybody, run for your lives, run." Bobby explains that in

1887-495: The same chain . In Eastern Europe, particularly in the former USSR , pay toilets are usually non-automatic and are like usual public toilets except that they have an attendant at the entrance to collect the money from visitors. In the United Kingdom, pay toilets tend to be common at bus and railway stations, but most public toilets are free to use. Technically, any toilets provided by local government may be subject to

1938-411: The same place he sent Bobby and all those who wouldn't—or couldn't—meet his criminal fee hikes". Cladwell unsuccessfully pleads to the people that he is their only chance at seeing tomorrow. After he and Pennywise reminisce about their past romance ("We're Not Sorry (Reprise)"), he is led to the roof, shouting that he regrets nothing, and however cruel he might have been, he "kept the pee off the street and

1989-420: The sewers, where the rebels are holding Hope hostage. The rebels wonder what Urinetown is, and two of them, Little Becky Two-Shoes and Hot Blades Harry, explain their theories. Cladwell orders Lockstock to search harder for the rebels, threatening to send everyone to Urinetown if Hope is not found. Bobby and his mother Josephine hand out memos to the other Assistant Custodians, hoping that they will join them. Bobby

2040-610: The show contained several references which, after the September 11 attacks , would prove offensive. Ultimately, only one line was removed from the script, and the show opened September 20, 2001. Officer Lockstock, a policeman, grimly welcomes the audience, assisted by the street urchin Little Sally. According to the pair, a twenty-year drought has caused a terrible water shortage, making private toilets unthinkable. All restroom activities are done in public toilets controlled by

2091-403: The slow-motion choreography makes it impossible for the police to catch them. Lockstock vows to catch the poor as he tells the audience to enjoy intermission ("Act I Finale"). Lockstock welcomes everyone back, updates the audience on the situation, and tells them that the rebel poor are holed up in a secret hideout somewhere, gesturing to a large sign that reads "Secret Hideout." The sign leads to

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2142-465: The toilet paper, but the toilet itself is free. In Turkey pay toilets are common at bus stations and underground cities (but not single-building shopping malls), where a charge of between 5 lira and 10 lira is levied at a turnstile for entrance to the bathroom. In the United States , pay toilets became much less common from the 1970s, when they came under attack from feminists as well as from

2193-408: The town's newfound urinary bliss is short-lived, as its limited water supply quickly disappears. Lockstock tells the audience that, as draconian as the UGC's rules were, they kept the people from squandering the limited water supply; now, much of the population dies of thirst. It is insinuated that Hope suffers a terrible death and "Joins her father" at the hand of the people for her actions in depleting

2244-469: The urinal, despite Ms. Pennywise's protests, he begins a pee-for-free rebellion ("Look at the Sky"). Pennywise rushes to the offices of UGC, where she informs Cladwell of the revolution. The two give each other long, meaningful looks, but they are interrupted by the situation at hand. Cladwell vows to crush the rebellion, frightening Hope, then uses a series of increasingly convoluted metaphors involving killing

2295-439: The use of the toilet usually costs 10-20 cents. The fee is usually paid to an attendant behind a counter; however, certain hawker centres have a turnstile into which the coin is inserted. Sometimes toilet paper is also charged for, and given out at the entrance usually by the attendant, though most of the time there is a toilet paper holder in the cubicle (stall) itself. In some areas of Taiwan , mostly in subways, one must pay for

2346-409: The water in the ground", before being thrown off. With the town finally at peace, the age of fear is over and the people look forward to a bright new day. The Urine Good Company is renamed "The Bobby Strong Memorial Toilet Authority" and the people are henceforth allowed "to pee whenever they like, as much as they like, for as long as they like, and with whomever they like" ("I See A River"). However,

2397-703: The water supply, but the remaining townsfolk will wage on, declaring that "This [the town] is Urinetown! Always has been Urinetown!" Some of the final words of the musical are "Hail Malthus !" Note: Below are the principal casts of all official major productions of the musical. Major Characters The Poor The Rich † - Notes a song not included in the Original Cast Recording New York International Fringe Festival The New York International Fringe Festival , or FringeNYC ,

2448-746: Was a fringe theater festival and one of the largest multi-arts events in North America. It took place over the course of a few weeks in October, spread on more than 20 stages across several neighborhoods in downtown Manhattan , notably the Lower East Side , the East Village , and Greenwich Village . Most of the venues were centered on the FringeHUB. Yearly attendance topped 75,000 people. Unlike most Fringe festivals, FringeNYC uses

2499-1271: Was directed by John Rando and featured music and lyrics by Mark Hollman, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis, and choreography by John Carrafa . The original cast included Hunter Foster (as Bobby Strong, later replaced by Tom Cavanagh ), Jeff McCarthy (as Officer Lockstock), Nancy Opel (as Penelope Pennywise), John Cullum (as Caldwell B. Cladwell), Jennifer Laura Thompson (as Hope Cladwell), Spencer Kayden (as Little Sally), John Deyle (as Senator Fipp), and Ken Jennings (as Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry). Principal cast changes included James Barbour as Officer Lockstock, Carolee Carmello and Victoria Clark as Penelope Pennywise and Charles Shaughnessy as Caldwell B. Cladwell as well as Amy Spanger as Hope Cladwell. A national tour starring Christiane Noll and Tom Hewitt began in San Francisco, California , on June 13, 2003. A production began performances at Chicago's Mercury Theater in March 2006 and closed in May 2006, followed by New Line Theatre in St. Louis in 2007. The characters of Officer Lockstock and Little Sally are featured in what has become

2550-728: Was staged at the Playhouse in April–May 2004. The cast featured Kane Alexander (Bobby Strong), Shane Bourne (Officer Lockstock), Lisa McCune (Hope Cladwell), Rhonda Burchmore (Penelope Pennywise) and Gerry Connolly (Caldwell B. Cladwell). The production transferred to Sydney for the Sydney Theatre Company at the Sydney Theatre in June–July 2006. The Sydney season retained the principal cast from Melbourne, with

2601-639: Was successful in other states as well, and by the end of the decade, pay toilets were greatly reduced in America. However, they are still in use and produced by the Nik-O-Lok company ; many of these laws have since been repealed, such as in Ohio. In 2007, legislators rescinded ORC Ordinance 4101:1-29-02.6.2, the ban on pay facilities, paving the way for operators to charge for public restroom use. In Africa, pay toilets are particularly common in informal settlements lacking sewage systems. Of all countries, Ghana has

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