A musical's primary purpose, many assume, is merely to entertain. However, the musical Urinetown is a satire that touches on the important issues of social and political revolution, capitalist greed, and how environmental catastrophes may affect an entire society. The musical's purpose in this production was to challenge the spectators thinking about these issues. Designing the lighting for the production proved challenging because of the stunning visual imagery the script provided, the movement through several locales, and the absurd blocking challenges the script presented; such as ghosts having to appear instantaneously onstage. The design aesthetic was explored and inspired by Bertolt Brecht's Epic Theatre, which emphasizes that theatre is both entertaining and educational. German Expressionism and Film Noir inspired the shadowy, geometric, and textural design. The mood of human anxiety and the power of capitalism drove the design to a fantastical, dark, and sinister world. The haunted town became the primary character and the characters were symbols of social and political issues. Within the model of Bertolt Brecht's Epic Theatre, Urinetown was successful to the spectators; who were forced to detach from being entertained in order to realize the real and relevant issues the musical presented.
