Written By: Benji Katzke

After a record-breaking 2025/26 season, CCA Envision Theater Arts is excited to return with their first two productions of the year: Urinetown, and Peter and the Starcatcher. Both of these shows challenge the audience to dive deep into their imagination and promote curiosity.

Directed by the fearless Ms. Marquie, Urinetown is a satirical musical set in a dystopian city, facing a severe water shortage. The government forces citizens to pay to pee at public restrooms, allowing a wealthy corporation, the UGC, to profit from the citizen’s basic needs. Bobby Strong, the story’s protagonist, stands up against the mistreatment and leads a rebellion against the corrupt system when he falls in love with Hope, the corporation’s daughter. Through comedy and exotic characters, this show explores corruption, environmental degradation, and many other prominent issues while questioning if fighting and revolting is the way to solve problems.

We got the opportunity to interview Genevieve Porkolab (ETA ‘27), Urinetown Assistant Director, and she was very eager to share that she’s “most excited for audiences to see the ‘Cop Song’.  The actors are in your face during this eerie number, making you feel like you are a part of this story and this town.” The live interaction and immersion are a truly unique quality of CCA’s Black Box Theater. “There’s no way to escape,” she says “you’re on this two hour journey with us, through thick and thin, we’re all working towards the same thing, escaping from Urinetown.” And it’s true. While the audience will not be forbidden to use the restroom during the show, the cast’s hope is to have the audience glued in their seats, enthralled in the story.  You can spot Genevieve’s work in various places throughout the show, with blocking and choreography moments that make up the group tableaus. She loves that ETA is able to bring her this opportunity and is thankful to a theater program who does not only focus on acting and performance, but opens up opportunities for student creative team members and leadership roles, unique opportunities to CCA.

Peter and the Starcatcher, directed by brilliant Guest Artist Dr. Heather LaForge, is a magical adventure that explores how Peter Pan got his name and follows his backstory: a prequel to Peter Pan, if you will. The story follows Peter, Molly, and a group of orphans as they journey across the sea while protecting a mysterious trunk filled with starstuff. Molly is a brave and determined young girl who helps Peter discover his courage and sense of purpose. Along the way, they encounter dangerous pirates, magical  islands, and unexpected challenges. Through imagination and adventure, Peter begins to understand who he is and what he is capable of becoming. The play celebrates storytelling and finding yourself.

Yafa El-Saidany (ETA ‘27) plays Molly Aster, an aspiring starcatcher, and can’t wait for the show. When asked about the production’s themes, she commented, “Everybody knows the Disney story Peter Pan, but not many people know the Orphan’s harrowing journey of finding himself and his identity.” She also acknowledged that the show is not like a normal play, as it combines many musical numbers, dance sequences, and magical elements to elevate this story. With its larger than life set, this show celebrates an even larger world of imagination and hope, that CCA audiences are going to be amazed at. This show is also unique in its storytelling fashion as actors make up the story and drive the plot forward with more than just words. With a combination of narrators doubling as characters in this show, the audiences will be able to trust their imagination, and go on this journey with the cast, crew, and fellow audience members beside them.

Tickets are currently on sale and it is recommended that you get your tickets as soon as possible. Urinetown Performances begin October 29 and the Black Box has extremely limited seats; it will likely sell out. Although Peter and the Starcatcher has more seats, their hard work and dedication is sure to sell out the house as well. All tickets can be found on Ms. Marquie’s website, or on QR codes and posters around campus. We truly can’t wait to share these productions with creativity, and incredibly thought-provoking stories here on our CCA Campus.