Musicals to make you laugh and think

In a run-down community called Skid Row, a florist comes across a new plant, which happens to be a man-eating plant from outer space. In a run-down town facing years of drought, a corporation controls all restrooms and charges people to use them.

These are the stories told by "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Urinetown," two musicals that will be taking the stage in Sweetwater County this weekend.

Unique stories

"Little Shop of Horrors" is a cult classic musical which was also made into a film, and is the first full-scale musical production for Upstage Theater Co.

"It was one of my first musicals as a child," Erika Hunsaker, the founder of Upstage and director of "Little Shop," said, explaining she played on of the "doo-wop girls" as a young teenager. This was one of the reasons she chose the show to be the first big production for Upstage. "I think what I would like to do is recreate and re-see some of my first loves."

While Hunsaker has been familiar with the show for a long time, and while many are familiar with the musical and its 1986 film adaptation, there are those who don't know the story. Even for people who have seen the film, the musical may be a little different than what they're expecting, particularly when it comes to the ending.

For those who haven't seen the show, "Little Shop" may not be the type of musical they're used to. Hunsaker explained that it's not exactly happy, but it is fun, quirky, and enjoyable.

"It's very vibrant and full of life and tells a lot of stories," she explained.

While it's also not your typical musical, "Urinetown," unlike "Little Shop," doesn't exist in any version except the stage show, so people may be even less familiar with it. Still, it's also a story that its directors have been wanting to do for a long time.

"Urinetown" is the latest production from the Western Wyoming Community College's Theater Department, and is co-directed by theater instructors Stephen Cramer and Eric de Lora.

"It was a show both of us had wanted to do," de Lora explained.

De Lora pointed out that lots of musicals aren't completely original anymore, which is understandable since the theater industry is expensive and producers want to make sure audiences will come, which usually means giving them something familiar and comfortable. Having a story that people don't know, like "Urinetown," creates a risk. But de Lora hopes that people will come to the show out of sheer curiosity, and will realize what a strong piece of theater it is.

"Once you've seen it and heard it you're kind of in love with it," he said.

Community efforts

Putting on unique productions adds its own unique challenges, and in a smaller community like Sweetwater County this means bringing together multiple people throughout the community to make it happen.

For "Little Shop of Horrors," Hunsaker is excited to work with not only people she's worked with previously but to have new community members both on stage and behind the scenes. This includes the lead actors, who she said were the perfect choice for their roles.

"They have just flourished and blossomed and worked really hard," Hunsaker said.

She added that several other cast members are new, but several knew each other, so they had a natural and organic chemistry. Hunsaker has also been working with those she already knew to bring the show to life, from her daughter's piano teacher being the music director to the founders of both the Horizon Theater Company and Starling Theater Co. being in the cast. Other support has come from her friends and her husband who have worked to bring the set - including a giant carnivorous plant made by hand - to life.

Hunsaker also hopes to keep serving the community as a whole by showing how they can also be involved and entertained. This includes adding extra elements and fun, like a costume contest during Saturday's show.

"Keeping the community involved and seen and heard, that's how you keep people wanting more," Hunsaker said.

When it comes to "Urinetown," doing a community college theater production creates a unique dynamic between prioritizing the students and keeping the community involved.

"Our focus here is always start with what the students need," de Lora said, explaining that shows are chosen based on what students are right to do it and what will give students a well-rounded educational experience.

At the same time, community involvement is always encouraged and needed, and this particular production needed non-student actors for two of the roles. Community member Ivy Kropf was cast in the female role, and director and professional equity actor Stephen Cramer ended up stepping on stage himself for the other needed role.

Both productions relying on the community to come to life is also especially fitting, since both stories focus on the strength of communities going through hard times. As they do so, both manage to tell stories that are entertaining as well as thought-provoking.

To laugh and think

When it comes to "Little Shop of Horrors," the funny but dark story touches on many serious themes, including domestic violence, Hunsaker explained.

At first some of these themes were difficult for the cast to portray.

"They felt a little vulnerable in those roles, because it is triggering," Hunsaker said. "We were able to work through it together as a team and build that trust."

With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Hunsaker having recently joined the board of trustees for the YWCA of Sweetwater County, putting on the musical created another opportunity to raise awareness.

With this and other issues, it's important to Hunsaker to use art, even strange and quirky shows like "Little Shop," to also tackle serious subjects and help people with what they're going through.

"Theater saves people," Hunsaker said. "Theater saves lives. Theater stimulates. Theater heals."

For "Urinetown," what seems like a goofy story with a crass subject is actually a satirical commentary on a variety of social issues, from corporate greed to capitalism and socialism to rebellion and power struggles.

"It's still fun, it's still silly, but it's a little dark," de Lora said.

Another reason the show was chosen by Cramer and de Lora was because of the way it revolves around issues like drought and water supply, which seemed especially timely and relevant.

"I think that's always good to find something that is relevant for us all to think about," de Lora said. "Theater sometimes should make us think."

With its unique, goofy, over the top style, the show pokes fun at many things, but in ways that are designed to make people think.

"I think nudging people out of their comfort zone from time to time is a good thing," de Lora said.

"Urinetown" opens tonight at Western and will have performances at 7:30 p.m. October 19, 20 and 21, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 21. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors and are available online or by calling the Box Office at (307) 382-1721.

"Little Shop of Horrors" opens tomorrow at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs and will have performances at 7:30 p.m. October 20 and 21 and a matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 22. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth and seniors and can be purchased at broadwayrs.com.