Peeing is a privilege

Last week, the UNC Asheville drama department performed their final spring show Urinetown, selling out its first night.

"What a good production," said psychology student China Whiteside. "Usually in theater, one part of the performance is lacking. But in this show, the acting, singing and dancing were all great."

The cast portrayed characters living in Urinetown, a town suffering from a drought and enforcing laws prohibiting urinating without paying a fee. The cast and crew created a pleasant working environment from the beginning, according to Robert Bowen, the director of the play and chair of the UNCA drama department.

"I started in earnest with the casting in January, and we have been rehearsing since the first week of March," Bowen said. "My favorite part and biggest challenge was working with a cast this large. I have never done that before, but I was lucky to have some tremendous talent, both on and offstage to help. It has been one of the most positive production processes that I have ever been involved with. We were always moving forward and making new discoveries."

Bowen said the audition process was swift, efficient and different from any he did before.

"They had to sing, do a dance and read a scene. I made it very professional, but I held no callbacks and cast from what I saw," Bowen said.

Bowen said he sought out the advice of music director Ruth Seber-Johnson and choreographer Cherie Holmes for the best fits in casting the play

"Auditions at Theatre UNCA are open to the UNCA community as a whole. Not all performers are drama majors, and faculty members played two roles," he said.

Skyler Goff, a cast member pursuing a major in literature and a minor in drama, said this performance gave him an outlet for expressing himself.

"I release my demons and my energy to people who are there to see just that," Goff said. "The best part was going through the rehearsal process. That is where all the discovery lies. People were learning so much about their characters and beginning to do some pretty funny things. Every night was hysterical because every person there loves what they are doing."

Faculty member Jim Driggers of the literature department said being a cast member was a challenging experience.

"I wanted to be a part of the play because I knew the music and thought it would be great fun to sing in those big group numbers," Driggers said.

Collaborating with a group of passionate people was very rewarding, Goff said.

"The drama department is a family," Goff said.

"Working in the conditions we have to, you really have no choice. Many of us take on different jobs - lights, set construction, costume, acting. We have to work together in situations where there are literally lives at stake."

Driggers said he wanted to see what he was made of while involved in the play.

"I am always amazed by the scope and depth of talent of the students and faculty at UNCA," said Driggers.

"We were given a wide range to explore and develop our characters, and most nights I just felt like a lamp post standing on stage while all this creative buzz was happening around me," Driggers said.

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