Last weekend, the Waterfront Theatre pulsed with energy, laughter and the unmistakable spirit of our students, as SJS Theatre proudly presented Urinetown: The Musical.
This bold, satirical Broadway hit—where “it’s a privilege to pee”—tackles themes like corporate greed and environmental crisis, blending humour, heart and sharp social commentary. The production was a dynamic, collaborative effort from an incredible cast, crew and band.
The talented cast of students brought every corner of the world of Urinetown to life. As Directors Ms. Van Inwegen and Mr. Walker noted, the student cast should be especially commended for stepping out of their comfort zone (and their own personalities!) to fully inhabit their quirky characters.
George Guan opened the show as Officer Lockstock, setting the tone with fourth-wall-breaking wit. Jazmyn Yong impressed as the stern yet complex Penelope Pennywise, while Kiana Afshar delivered a passionate and compelling performance as idealistic hero Bobby Strong. Izzy LeBlanc brought warmth and charm to the inquisitive Little Sally, offering moments of both levity and insight.
Ciara Cullimore portrayed the ever-hopeful Hope Cladwell with humour and emotional depth. Meanwhile Coco Ji was formidable as her father, Caldwell B. Cladwell, blending villainy with charisma.
Rounding out the world of Urinetown were Alice Ao (Senator Fipp, Cop Ensemble), Amin Ghaemi (Tiny Tom), and Sophie Bilodeau van Blokland (Little Becky Two-Shoes, UGC Ensemble), all of whom infused their roles with personality and flair. Rachel Kim delivered a memorable turn as Robby the Stockfish, and Thomas Taplin brought a real sense of danger to the role of Hotblades Harry. Kaitlyn Brown (Josephine “Old Ma” Strong, Cop Ensemble) added heart to the resistance, while Daniel Che (Officer Barrel) and Cecie Kot (Mr. McQueen, Cop Ensemble) contributed sharp comedic timing. Hanson Liu (Dr. Billeaux, Rebel Ensemble) rounded out the ensemble with enthusiasm and commitment.
Celebrating The Band and Behind-The Scenes Crew
Of course, a show is more than just the people on stage.
From jazzy riffs to dramatic swells, the music of Urinetown—energetic and offbeat—was played by a live student band under the baton of conductor Mr. Deans. The ensemble featured Bradley Chiang on trombone, Caius Shadeo on drums, Charles Wang and Julie Xu on keyboards (with Xu also playing bass clarinet), Liv Sveinson on bass, Nicole Ni on saxophone and Vivienne Chen on clarinet.
Behind the scenes, the production was a true collaborative effort. A full team of student and staff technicians tackled everything from lighting and sound to costumes and props. The stage management team, led by Eva Huang and supported by Assistant Stage Managers Cherie Nguyen and Angela Wang, kept everything running smoothly. Props were designed by Ms. Mehrer and the props crew—Hanson Chen, Ryan Quek, Isabella Salvarinova, Reina Sui, Zebedee Tiffin and Crystal Wu—ensured each detail was just right.
Meanwhile additional shout-outs go to the publicity crew, including Manny Alloway, Noa Broere, Angela Choo, Farrah Hooge, Emma Huang, Zozo Kupecz, Leanne Leung, Isabella Salvarinova, Elisa Sui, Ashley Wang, Amelia Wu and Renee Wu. Headshots were captured by Callum Fong-Craig, while Aanaya Bassi and Natalie LeBlanc helped lead the welcoming Front of House team. From concept to curtain call, every detail was the product of amazing teamwork.
A special thanks also goes out to our parent volunteers, including Brian Low for the incredible set design, as well as Afsar Farazandeh for costuming and Jacqueline Cullimore for costuming and the post-show wrap party.
Reflecting on the Urinetown Experience
Even after the applause fades and the audience goes home, the impact of the trip to Urinetown remains—especially for those who took part.
Cecie Kot, who played Mr. McQueen, said of her experience:
“Joining Urinetown was probably one of the best decisions I have made because of the new connections I made, and I’ve pushed myself to do things I never would have done the year before. Urinetown was an unforgettable experience and I feel so grateful for the people who have supported and participated in the making of the show.”
Coco Ji credited the Directors with helping her fully inhabit the role of Mr. Cladwell:
“Urinetown has been an amazing experience. I would like to thank Ms. V and Mr. Walker for their guidance in making Mr. Cladwell come to life. There were challenges memorizing my lines, but in the end I really got into character. I will forever miss the cast, it was definitely a really special show at SJS.”
Meanwhile Ciara Cullimore, who played Hope Cladwell, reflected on how much she has learned:
“Urinetown gave me the opportunity to experiment with new acting techniques and different elements of musical theatre. Our directors, Ms. V and Mr. Walker, provided us with so much guidance, from character development to vocal technique, and I learned so much throughout this experience. Playing Hope Cladwell meant so much to me and will be something I forever cherish.”
Finally, in a heartfelt message, the Directors shared their admiration for the cast and crew:
“You weren’t afraid to take risks and lean into exploring the darker corners of the story, and you brought your best to every rehearsal and performance. You really made the show your own and there’s no greater joy for us than seeing you take pride in what you’re doing. Thank you for taking the journey down to Urinetown with us.”
And indeed, it was a journey—one marked by joy, commitment and a healthy dose of satire. To the families, staff and wider school community who came out in support, your cheers and applause brought the show to life. Thank you for helping to make Urinetown not only a successful production, but a true celebration of student talent at SJS.
Urinetown: The Musical was proudly presented with support from Annual Giving. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are able to provide exceptional opportunities for our students to participate in theatre productions of this calibre—and bring our whole school community together. With four packed shows and families from across the school in the audience, it was a true celebration of student talent, teamwork and creativity.
To learn more—and to support opportunities like this—please visit sjs.ca/support/annual-giving.
Urinetown Photo Gallery
