Urinetown

For the 2024 production of Urinetown at the University of Missouri, the scenic design fully embraced the show’s satirical tone and dystopian world-building. Set in a future where water is rationed and even basic human needs are privatized, the set design became a visual metaphor for societal decay, injustice, and absurdity.

Architectural decay dominated the space, with rusted steel textures, fractured walls, and looming industrial forms that evoked both corporate power and civic collapse. The scenic design emphasized verticality and scale to dwarf the characters and highlight the oppressive forces they face. A palette of concrete grays and corroded metal underscored the bleakness of the world, while strategically placed pops of corporate branding introduced a layer of irony.

Functionality played a central role in the design concept. Multi-use platforms and movable units allowed for quick transitions between scenes—shifting from the public amenities to corporate offices, underground hideouts, and public squares—all while maintaining a sense of entrapment and surveillance. The confined spatial layout reinforced the story’s themes of control and rebellion.

Balancing gritty realism with stylized theatricality, the set design heightened the contrast between the powerful elite and the struggling masses. This allowed the show’s biting humor and political commentary to land visually as well as narratively. Every design choice—from signage to texture—was made in service of the satire, enhancing both the absurdity and urgency of the story.

This Urinetown set design captured the musical’s unique blend of comedy, commentary, and theatrical spectacle, offering a world that felt uncomfortably familiar, darkly funny, and visually bold.

Scenic Design — Musical

University of Missouri-Columbia — October 2024

Empty theater stage with set pieces and a person standing on the steps, dim lighting.
Empty auditorium stage with a person standing at a podium, UGC logo hanging above, and modern decor with pink neon accents
Stage set with staircase, a woman sitting on a swing chair, and a large illuminated sign pointing to a secret hideout
Stage with a security guard standing on stairs, surrounded by illuminated outline figures of people on the floor and walls, with purple and pink vertical banners and hanging lights.
The stage of a theatrical production with multiple actors, some jumping and others standing, under a sign that reads 'Secret Hideout' with an arrow pointing downward, lit with colorful stage lights.
Two actors on stage performing in a play. The actor on the right, a woman, is holding a red telephone receiver and a gray box, wearing a leather apron, gloves, and a headscarf. The actor on the left, a man, is standing behind a small wooden table, dr
Three actors on stage, one woman in the middle with an expressive face, wearing an apron, and two men on either side, one elderly with a cane, the other with glasses, engaged in a dramatic scene.
A theatrical scene with a group of women, one holding a sign that reads 'Pee Shall Overcome,' engaging in a heated discussion.
Theater stage with actors performing a dance scene, UGC sign visible above, set includes stairs and props.
Theater performance with a man in a suit being lifted by two people, surrounded by women in dresses with green lighting.
Stage scene with nine diverse actors, some standing and others sitting, under a lit arrow sign pointing downward, with a blue background.

Creative Team

Music & Lyrics byMark Hollman
Book & Lyrics byGreg Kotis
Directed byJoy Powell
Choreographed byEmily Ehling
Music DirectionAudra Sergel
Scenic DesignBrandon PT Davis
Costume DesignMarc W. Vial II
Lighting DesignVincente Williams
Sound DesignDevin Stevenson
PhotosRebecca Allen