All the world’s a stage for Thomas Moore, a Redmond High School (RHS) junior who has a prominent role in Seattle Children’s Theatre’s (SCT) upcoming teen production of “Urinetown, The Musical.”
The irreverent comedy will be presented by two different casts at The Center House Theatre, in the lower level of the Center House at Seattle Center. Moore’s performances are Aug. 15, 20 and 22 at 7 p.m. and also on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m.
Moore has studied acting at SCT since he was six years old. This will be his sixth big show in Seattle and he thinks it will be his best ever. He plays the policeman named Officer Lockstock — “My partner’s name is Officer Barrel, so we’re Officers Lockstock and Barrel,” he noted — as well as the show’s narrator.
“It’s a fairly heavy role. I step in and out of the action. At one point I say, ‘This grants me impunity. People have to leave me alone if they want the show to end,’” said Moore.
He’s looking forward to “Urinetown, The Musical” because RHS is planning to stage it this year and also because of “the quality of the show on its own. It’s cliche to say it’s ‘edgy’ but it really is. It simultaneously mocks several genres of musical theater and does a good job of making fun of the characters and their values without compromising them,” he explained.
The show’s title alone is …. well, different.
A synopsis provided by SCT states, “When a 23-year-long drought makes water the most valuable resource around, the privilege to pee becomes a mighty expensive habit. The Urine Good Company, owners of all toilets, will cart you off to Urinetown if you can’t pay the pee price. Eventually, the denizens of Urinetown decide to follow their hearts, and full bladders, to pee for free despite the consequences. A combination of a girl held hostage, rioting toilet-keepers and an ironic twist will be sure to have you peeing your pants from laughing so hard.”
Moore doesn’t think he’ll audition for “Urinetown” at RHS but “will do tech stuff this time, for a different experience — something like lighting or sound. We have a great outreach program at Redmond. There’ll be a lot of people auditioning who’ve never tried out before and I’d like to provide support for those who are new to this.”
He’s already acted in six shows at the high school and said his favorite, so far, has been “Oklahoma!” in which he played the suave peddler Ali Hakim.
“Drama Fest should be fun this year and ‘Noises Off’ is going to be great,” he predicted.
Moore’s blocking out his moves for the future, too. “I definitely want to pursue acting as a career,” he stated.
“I’d love to go to college in Chicago or Los Angeles — UCLA or University of Chicago would be my dream, if I could make the grades. I’m interested in stage work and also trying to break into film and TV. My role model and hero is a TV star.”
He meant James Marsters who played Spike on “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.”
We asked Moore how his family feels about his aspirations in show business: “Are they supportive or do they try to tell you, ‘It’s going to be so hard …’?”
Moore matter-of-factly replied, “It’s a risky business but I’m prepared to persevere. My family’s very supportive. They want me to do okay and have a back-up, so I’ll probably do a double-major (in college).”
Tickets for SCT’s “Urinetown, the Musical” are $8. Discounts for groups of 10 or more are available by calling (206) 859-4054.
To purchase tickets, call the SCT ticket office at (206) 441-3322 or visit www.sct.org.
