Conant musical opens Friday

Conant High School students present a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, romance and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold when "Urinetown: The Musical" opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

Under the direction of Tim Koll, Conant choral director, more than 100 students and faculty have collaborated over a four-month period to create the 2014 Conant musical.

With music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and a book by Greg Kotis, "Urinetown" is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny.

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must only use public amenities, operated by the Urine B. Good Company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs.

Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, enter Bobby Strong, a lowly restroom attendant, who plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom. But, as he incites the uprising against the evil company, he falls in love with the owner's daughter, Hope.

The show also parodies musicals such as "The Cradle Will Rock" and "Les Misérables," and the Broadway musical itself as a form.

The live orchestra of student musicians will be conducted by Leann Roder-Mason. Conant Alumni and Schaumburg On Stage Choreographer Danielle Zyrkowski created the high-energy dance numbers. The leads are Bobby Wozniak as Bobby Strong and Emily Miller as Hope Cladwell.