Greg Kotis had a vision for a show he said might not be performed, perhaps should not be performed, but it would be called Urinetown, and it would take place in a town where everybody had to pay to pee.

Urinetown went on to become a smash hit on Broadway and won the Tony Award for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Now you can see this wildly funny play at The Pentacle Theatre starting April 15.

Urinetown is satirical look at power, capitalism, bureaucracy, populism and politics,” said director Katie Lindbeck, who also directed Pentacle’s 2013 production of Into The Woods. “Everything about Urinetown — from the title to the characters’ names, and from the opening number to final curtain — turns the world of musical theatre upside down in a delightfully funny way.”

Urinetown is set in a time where water is worth its weight in gold and government leaders and capitalists use the shortage to control the people and extract profits. Pentacle Theatre tackles this tough toilet topic head-on with the musical satire Urinetown, presented by a cast of 24 talented and zany singers, dancers and actors.

What: Urinetown features music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It’s directed by Katie Lindbeck, with musical direction by Jon Stuber, vocal direction by Jeff Witt and choreography by Geri Sanders.

When and where: The play runs from Friday, April 15 to Saturday, May 7 at The Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW, about 6 miles west of downtown Salem.

Sponsored by: Urinetown is graciously sponsored by Jim and Joan Witt, State Farm Insurance.

Ticket: Tickets cost $25 for weekday performances and $26 for weekend shows; seniors, students, active military and Pentacle Theatre members receive a $1.50 discount. There is an additional $2 fee on opening night for the catered post-show party. Advance tickets are available online at pentacletheatre.org, at the downtown Salem ticket office at 145 Liberty St. NE, or by calling 503-485-4300.

Tickets for low-income persons: In partnership with Salem for All, Pentacle Theatre offers half-price tickets to Oregon Trail Card holders. For information, go to salemforall.org.

Audience advisory: The Pentacle Theatre recommends this production for middle school and older audiences. The play features satirical content, political posturing and mildly naughty words (like the title) that may titillate some audience members while simply making others guffaw.

# # #

Pentacle Theatre is Salem’s premier community theater, celebrating 62 years of professional-quality productions staged in an intimate setting. Pentacle Theatre encourages actors of all abilities and ethnic backgrounds to participate in its productions.