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Urinetown the Musical

Urinetown, The Musical 2007

Direction by Gary Grant
Choreography by Dustyn Martincich
Costume Design by Paula D. Davis

This satirically funny musical was our first musical since I joined the faculty at Bucknell University. It was also our first musical with our dream team of Gary’s direction and Dustyn’s choreography. We closely examined character, period, and the musical theatre quotes found within this show. I was inspired especially by expressionism and surrealism in fashion. I made the rich female character’s dresses in rich jewel tones and then created Schiaparelli inspired exaggerated padded style lines and hats to heighten the reality of this play. I had a student who was a brilliant hatmaker and so I charged him with creating asymmetrical oversized cop hats for our chorus of tap dancing cops. The tap dancing cops were then accessorized with sequin ties and high waisted trousers. Over spring break I scoured a flea market in Budapest, Hungary and found communist era coats, hats, and medals for Officers Lockstock and Barrel. For the poor we looked especially at images of the 1930s depression by Dorothea Lange. Little Sally was a Raggedy Ann come to life and we dressed her little Raggedy Ann just like her. But I think my favorite was the bunny ears.