When "Urinetown the Musical" packed the house at the Tower Grove Abbey on Thursday night, the crowd included two people who probably know the show as well as anyone on the stage.

"This is the 12th time we've seen it," Ray Hollmann said as his wife, Juanita, nodded in agreement.

Of course they have. Their son Mark is the show's Tony-winning composer and co-lyricist.

The Hollmanns, who live in Fairview Heights, have seen "Urinetown" at theaters all over the country, from Broadway to the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and New Line Theatre. The Stray Dog Theatre production at the Abbey, co-directed by Justin Been and Gary F. Bell, "is the broadest I've ever seen it played," Ray Hollman said. "I like it."

He also confessed, a little embarressed, that it was the first time he understood why one of the characters is named McQueen. "But then again," he added, "I don't know how long it took me to put together the names of the policemen!" They are called Officer Lockstock and Officer Barrel.

The Hollmans just returned from Myrtle Beach, where they saw their son's newest show, "Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls." The Hollmanns enjoyed it, although they're not sure if it has the commercial prospects of "Urinetown."

Of course, nobody imagined the big future that awaited "Urinetown" when it debuted 11 years ago at the New York International Fringe Festival. Now the satire of corporate greed, ecological catastrophe and musical theater is so popular that it often sells out, as the Stray Dog show has. In response, Stray Dog has added two extra performances to the run, on Feb. 24 and 25. For more information, visit the theater's website.