Local students, teachers leading theater festival production of "Urinetown"

The 2010 All-State Production of "Urinetown" by the Illinois Theatre Association will feature many high school students from the Northwest suburbs.

The All-State production is one of the many events at the 35th Annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival, the largest high school theater festival in the United States. The show will be performed Jan. 8 and 9 at Illinois State University in Bloomington for registered participants only.

"Urinetown" is a Tony Award-winning musical by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis. The comedy is being produced by arrangement with Music Theatre International.

All-State brings together a company of students and staff from all areas of Illinois. The cast, crew, and orchestra of 71 students is comprised of the brightest stars in the state.

Included in the "Urinetown" company are Hoffman Estates High School students Jordan Habel, Mary Keenan and Katy Kosiek. The students, along with staff, put together the entire production in less than 20 rehearsals.

Fremd High School English teacher and theater sponsor Judy Klingner is the director. Mark Begovich from Maine West High School is executive producer.

Karen Hall of Maine East High School is this year's festival executive director.

Michael Karasch from Fremd High School is the technical director. Additional staff includes: Palatine High School Music Teacher Steve Sivak, Jeni Donahue, Lauren Rourke, Allan Kimball, Brandon Lewis, Aaron Davis, Corey Ames, Nathaniel Haywood and Christopher Jensen.

The festival is produced by the Illinois Theatre Association.