Urinetown
Design Notes
For the 2024 production of Urinetown at the University of Missouri, the scenic design embraced the show’s satire and dystopian world-building. In a future where water is rationed and basic needs are privatized, the set became a visual metaphor for decay, injustice, and absurdity.
Architectural decay dominated the space—rusted steel textures, fractured walls, and looming industrial forms that evoked both corporate power and civic collapse. Verticality and scale were used to dwarf the characters and spotlight the oppressive forces they face. A palette of concrete grays and corroded metal underscored the bleakness, while strategic pops of corporate branding introduced a sharp layer of irony.
Functionality was central. Multi-use platforms and mobile units enabled fast transitions—from public amenities to corporate offices, underground hideouts, and public squares—while maintaining a constant sense of entrapment and surveillance. The confined layout reinforced themes of control and rebellion.
Balancing gritty realism with stylized theatricality heightened the contrast between the elite and the masses, allowing the show’s biting humor and political commentary to land visually as well as narratively. Every choice—from signage to texture—served the satire, amplifying both the absurdity and urgency of the story.
The result was a world that felt uncomfortably familiar, darkly funny, and visually bold—an environment where comedy, commentary, and spectacle could coexist.
