About this Event
MDI Drama Brings Satirical Dystopian Musical Urinetown to the Higgins-Demas Stage This November
The award-winning Mount Desert Island High School Drama program is excited to announce its highly anticipated 2026 fall musical production: Urinetown: The Musical, the hilarious Tony Award-winning satirical musical as it celebrates its twenty-fifth season.
First bursting onto the scene at the New York International Fringe Festival before transferring to Broadway in September 2001, Urinetown shocked the theatrical world by turning an intentionally absurd premise into a massive critical and commercial success. Over the last twenty-five years, it has cemented its legacy as a modern classic, praised for its wickedly sharp commentary on capitalism, environmental mismanagement, and bureaucracy.
During its original Broadway run, the production was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won three, including Best Book of a Musical (Greg Kotis), Best Original Score (Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis), and Best Direction of a Musical (John Rando). MDI Drama’s production honors this quarter-century milestone by bringing the show's award-winning, genre-bending music and razor-sharp wit to life for a new generation.
Set in a dystopian future plagued by a catastrophic 20-year drought, Urinetown tells the story of a city where water has become so scarce that private toilets are strictly outlawed. To conserve the precious resource, citizens are forced to use public, pay-per-use amenities controlled by the corrupt and malevolent megacorporation "Urine Good Company" (UGC). Led by the ruthless Caldwell B. Cladwell, UGC capitalizes on the citizens' basic needs by enforcing steep fees for "the privilege to pee." Those who dare to break the rules by urinating for free face swift arrest and exile to the mysterious, dreaded destination known as "Urinetown"—a place from which no one ever returns. But when the impoverished citizens decide they have had enough, an unlikely hero steps forward to lead a comedic, revolutionary fight for freedom.
This fall production marks an exciting new chapter for MDI Drama with the premiere of Miranda Snyder in her debut as the fall musical director. While Snyder is already a familiar and beloved face within the program—having previously directed The Wooden 'O' spring production and assisted with the one act and spring plays—this marks her first time guiding MDI Drama’s signature fall production. Snyder brings an innovative, creative vision and deep passion for student theater to the production, ensuring that Urinetown will balance high-stakes energy with its trademark dark comedy.
Urinetown will take the stage at MDI High School’s Higgins-Demas Theater, a facility dedicated to providing premier educational theatre opportunities to the youth of Mount Desert Island and its surrounding communities. With a rich theatrical history that includes ten Maine Drama Festival State Championships and a reputation for top-tier musical productions, MDI Drama promises an unforgettable evening filled with sharp wit, brilliant music, and high-energy performances.
Performance Dates & Times:
- Evening Performances (7:00 PM): November 13, 14, 20, and 21
- Matinee Performances (2:00 PM): November 15 and 21
Ticketing Information: Reserved seat tickets will be available for purchase beginning in October. Ticket prices are:
- Adults: $15
- Students & Seniors: $10
For more production information, schedule updates, and to purchase tickets, please visit .
For further production or program information, please contact MDI Drama director Casey Rush at [email protected].
Event venue & nearby stays
Mount Desert Island High School, 1081 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, United States
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