PREPARATIONS are well underway for the upcoming production of Urinetown The Musical, with cast and crew now deep into rehearsals as work continues across vocals, choreography and staging.
Rehearsals have entered their third week, with director Julie Smith describing the progress so far as encouraging, particularly given many cast members are new to musical theatre.
“We’re just going into our third week of rehearsal, and I have to say they’re going amazingly,” Ms Smith said.
“So many of the cast have not ever had anything to do with a musical. I think a lot of them had no concept of the complexity of doing a musical, but they have just risen to the challenge.”
Early rehearsals have focused heavily on vocal work, led by musical director Christine Lea.
Mrs Smith said the cast spent the first few sessions working closely around the keyboard, learning the music section by section.
“We’ve spent most of the first few rehearsals concentrating on the vocals because they’re the most difficult,” she said.
Choreography was introduced for the first time during recent rehearsals, with Mrs Smith noting that many performers were unfamiliar with the movement demands of a musical.
“It’s not really dancing as such, it’s a lot of movements,” she said.
“They’ve just taken to it. They’re having a lot of fun doing it, but they’re exhausted.”
The cast ranges in age from 16 through to older adults, with Ms Smith saying age has not limited participation.
“Age is no barrier, so to speak,” she said.
“It’s a really good mixture, mostly a lot of young people in the cast, with some older people as well, and everyone’s just getting on very well.”
Behind the scenes, volunteers from the theatre community are working to complete the set by the end of February.
“We’ve already worked through the whole show to show them exits and entrances, but it makes a big difference when they have a set that they can actually work to,” Mrs Smith said.
“Nothing beats a real thing. They can start visualising and feel more in the role.”
As rehearsals continue, Mrs Smith said the production was steadily coming together.
“I know what I want from the characters, and I love seeing that come to life,” she said.
“I just can’t believe how well they’re doing things. It’s going to be a really good show.”
Performances run from April 24 to May 9 at the Tamborine Mountain Little Theatre, with tickets $20 ($18 concession, $144 for a table of eight) available via trybooking.com by searching ‘Urinetown the Musical’.
Limited door sales will also be available even if sessions are listed as sold out.
