Even though Williston’s production of Urinetown: The Musical is not debuting until April, the cast has been rehearsing and preparing since early December, 2013. Urinetown, a modern dystopian musical written in 2001, is being directed and produced by Emily Ditkovski and Joshua Harper. Mr. Harper, conductor of the Widdigers, Caterwaulers, and middle school chorus, has rehearsed the music with the full cast of Urinetown with a piano accompanist since December.

Director Emily Ditkovski became a mother to Amelia Rose Ditkovski in early December, 2013, and went on maternity leave for the first three weeks of rehearsals. Due to her absence, the cast focused on rehearsing music with Mr. Harper for the month of December.

“Debra, Alex, and Persis Ticknor-Swanson, our dance captain, are teaching the choreography for the dozen or so dance numbers and Mr. Harper is teaching the cast the music for the seventeen songs,” says Emily.

Ever since Emily Ditkovski’s return in January, she has been working with the cast on staging, blocking, and running through dialogue with the lead actors. “I am working on the blocking of the show at the moment, which means we are getting up on stage and figuring out where the actors move, which our stage manager, Matt Steinberg, has to record,” Emily says.

Emily says, “I am also working on every actor understanding what they are saying and why they are saying it,” Emily says. “They aren’t just lines,” she adds. “Each actor has built a backstory for their role or roles and each of the 27 characters has a big investment in what happens in the story.”

Emily says, “[Urinetown] is very funny and over the top, but it also asks the audience to think critically about our responsibility to the environment.” She adds, “It exposes the necessity for people of all political and social ideologies to work together to create a solution to the problems plaguing our planet.” Emily continues, “So that made me excited about it and want to direct it even though I am technically still on maternity leave.”

Matt Steinberg, the stage manager of the show, says, “Urinetown is a great combination of satire and political commentary on where our society is headed.” He adds, “It’s also a complex and interesting show to act and design for.”

Emily says that the rehearsals so far have been “terrific.” She relates, “Despite the fact that a certain newborn likes to cry during the first 20 minutes of rehearsal, we are doing well. I am proud of the performers and how much they have taken the style of the show to heart. I also appreciate how much they adore Amelia.”

Matt says, “My job as stage manager is to make everything in the production run smoothly, from telling the lighting and sound operators what to do during performances to taking attendance to running production meetings.” He says, “I love it because I get to be a part of so many different facets of the show and bring it to life.”

Although opening night of the performance is not until Thursday, April 17th, the creative team and cast members are feeling pressed for time. “We have so little time to put the show up, even though it seems like a lot, so we are working at lightning speed,” says Emily.

Matt says, “Rehearsals are going very well. It’s a huge, difficult show to learn, but the cast and the creative team are working very hard, so we’re right on track.”

“My favorite scene is probably the ‘Cop Song,’ in which Officer Lockstock explains what the journey to Urinetown is like,” says Matt. “It’s a catchy song that explains the feeling of the musical, and it has a few funny moments,” he adds.

“Urinetown is also very stylistic,” says Emily. “It is not supposed to feel like real life, so I’ve been working a lot on understanding the style, which is very over-the-top and reminiscent of a comic book. It’s pretty awesome!”