For last year’s spring musical, Eastern was awarded the honor to be one of only 51 schools in the nation permitted to perform Frozen: The Broadway Musical. The popularity around the Frozen movie, paired with the exclusivity of Eastern’s performance, drove attendance through the roof. For the first time, entire families were coming out to see the spring musical, resulting in every single show being sold out, or close to it.

   With high attendance came immense crowd engagement. Little girls dressed up as Elsa and Anna, dancing in the aisles as students performed their favorite songs. The entire audience sang along with classics like Let It Go and Love is An Open Door. People already love Frozen, so they were excited to go see the musical.

   With last year’s incredible results, it is no wonder why the theater students pounced on the first opportunity to learn the title for this year’s spring musical. On Halloween day, the theater students pestered their director, Dr. Gregg Molotsky (more commonly referred to as Dr. Mo), for the selection of this year’s spring musical. 

   Dr. Mo responded vaguely, not wanting to let his students know just yet. He hinted to his actors that the musical has a title containing only one word. 

    With this small hint, the theater students went rampant with guesses of the most illustrious Broadway musicals. What about Grease? Could it be Chicago? Perhaps, Cabaret?

   Despite the numerous options, there was only one that sparked a reaction from Dr. Mo. This musical was Urinetown, a little known musical that satirizes the United States legal system and other facets of U.S. politics. When a student asked Dr. Mo if the musical was Urinetown, Dr. Mo cracked a slight smile. Giving the theater students all the confirmation they needed to decisively conclude the spring selection. 

    It is for this reason that none of the actors were shocked when Dr. Mo officially announced Urinetown as the spring musical in a theater club meeting on Wednesday, November 15. Almost immediately after the meeting concluded, the news of the musical selection spread like fire—everyone within the drama department seemed to be up in arms. 

    One actor I spoke with, who wishes to remain anonymous, told me that her initial reaction to the musical selection was, “What the f***.” She explained that she reacted this way because of her worry regarding the audience which Urinetown will garner. 

   She feels that “…audience engagement is important: people want to know the story and the songs.” She continued to explain how a sold out, lively audience just feels different for performers feed off of audience energy. “The vibe will be different when the show is not sold out.” She explained that there will certainly be an audience for Urinetown, but it will not be able to hold a candle to the audience that came out for Frozen. 

   Another actor I spoke with, who also wishes to remain anonymous, expressed to me her concerns over the selection of Urinetown. This actor voiced her worry that “…people are not going to audition or want to see Urinetown purely because it is Urinetown.” 

   Although the actors may have been disappointed to hear Urinetown was the spring musical, it was not the actors who were truly enraged by this selection. Rather, it was the members of the pit. 

   And for very good reason. 

   Urinetown makes use of very few instruments. This eliminates so many talented students from being able to participate in this year’s spring musical just because their instrument is not in Urinetown’s pit. 

    In response to this, Gabby Janka, a senior bass player in the pit, created a petition. “I was hoping this petition would show the need to change the musical and how it’s not just the pit that wants it to be changed,” Janka told me. To Janka’s surprise, 131 students signed the petition—these students coming from the entire theater club, including cast, tech, and crew. 

   When I asked Janka if she felt disrespected by Dr. Mo’s decision to choose a musical with such a small pit, Janka told me she did not. She just felt disappointed. Janka expressed her belief to me that “…as an administrator, your main goal should be to make sure everyone is able to enjoy and participate in the activities available at Eastern. Choosing a play without considering the pit can take away the experience for many other students.”

   Janka had looked forward to playing her final year in the pit with all of her friends—many of whom have been in  the pit since freshman year. Unfortunately, she will be unable to do this as so many of her friends have been cut from the pit. Leaving her to play in the pit without them. 

   Mr. Stanz, the conductor of the pit, has attempted to add more positions for his members of the pit. However, the problem that arises is that he cannot add too many without completely altering the score. No string parts can be included and only a few brass and winds will be able to join. 

   Michelle Choi is a junior in the pit and plays the violin—a string instrument. She was crushed when she heard the news that she would be unable to participate in the pit this year. She shared that playing for Frozen last year was one of the highlights of her year and her “favorite extracurricular at Eastern.” 

   Choi explained that she did sign the petition. She believes that Dr. Mo and the other advisors must listen to the demand of the theater students, especially the pit students. She conveyed just how unfair she believes this whole situation to be. 

   Knowing that the pit students were the true victims in this situation, I ask the two actors I spoke with their thoughts on the petition to change the musical. Both stressed to me that they do not believe it is the actors right to argue with the director over the choice of the musical. Nevertheless, they both think that “…the actors should not get to profit off of the pit’s struggle.” 

   Neither one of the two actors signed the petition for two reasons. The first reason is, as I’ve already mentioned, the actors do not believe they have the right to argue with a director over their selection. And their second reason was that they felt many actors were signing the petition for their own self interests, and do not actually care that the pit is being halved. 

   We are one of the only schools in New Jersey that makes use of a student pit. This is a great opportunity for students at Eastern, but the selection of such a play has destroyed this for so many. Changing the play would benefit many students at Eastern, but the likelihood of that occurring is low.