Working (musical)

Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead.

The musical is based on the Studs Terkel book Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do (1974), which has interviews with people from different regions and occupations.

Productions

The musical was first staged at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago from December 1977 through February 1978.^[1]

It then was produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on May 14, 1978 where it ran for 24 performances and 12 previews. It was directed by Schwartz and choreographed by Onna White, with a cast featuring Patti LuPone, Bob Gunton, Joe Mantegna, Lynne Thigpen, David Patrick Kelly, Robin Lamont, Steven Boockvor, Rex Everhart, Bobo Lewis, Lenora Nemetz, Brad Sullivan, Matt Landers, Terri Treas and Arny Freeman, an actor who was interviewed in the book. In 1982, Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted the show for a ninety-minute telecast on the PBS series American Playhouse, directed by Schwartz and Kirk Browning and introduced by Terkel.

The musical has undergone several revisions. In March 1999, it was presented at Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, Connecticut, with direction by Christopher Ashley.^[2] It had "developmental productions" at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota, Florida in May 2008 and at the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, California, in March 2009. Schwartz revised the musical, which includes two new songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.^[3][4][5]

A further revised version opened at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, Chicago, starting in February 2011 in previews through June, with direction and revisions by Gordon Greenberg.^[5] The cast features Gene Weygandt, Barbara Robertson, Emjoy Gavin, and E. Faye Butler.^[6][7] The production opened Off-Broadway at the 59E59 Theaters on December 12, 2012, after previews which started on December 1, 2012. Again directed by Gordon Greenberg, the cast features Joe Cassidy, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Nehal Joshi and Kenita Miller.^[8]

The musical was produced at the 2nd annual Hollywood Fringe Festival, Los Angeles, in June 2011 by the group theTRIBE.^[9][10]

The show's Asian premiere was in Singapore, performed by LASALLE College of the Arts. The production run was at the Creative Cube in September 2011. The show was directed by Tony Knight, musical direction by Ben Kiley, and choreography by Kristy Griffin. The cast included Gimbey Dela Cruz, Taryn Erickson, Linden Furnell, Safia Hanifah, Mina Kaye, Michelle Kraiwitchaicharoen, Timothy Langan, Oda Maria, Elle-May Patterson and James Simpson.^[11] The musical was revised again 2014 at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, it was directed by James Rose, who has won the honor of directing twice internationally. The cast features Abe Van Heest, Anna Meehan, Christopher Butler, Tyler Maxie, Jack Reed, Josh Miller, Nick Anderson, Victor Rounds, Jarrett Whiting, Emma Anderson, and Leap of Faith's recent star, Jonah Ongman.

Synopsis

Act 1

In the morning all the workers are getting ready for their jobs (All the Livelong Day). Mike Dillard, a steelworker, talks about the dangers of his job. Some people get caught in a (Traffic Jam) on the highway. Some of the cars stop at an office building where Al Calinda, a parking lot attendant is working. He parks the cars and states that he has been parking cars his whole life, and probably will for the rest of his life (Lovin Al). On top of the parking lot there is an office building. Amanda McKenny is displeased that people stereotype her with her job. She has a strained relationship with her boss, Rex Winship, who tells us he wants to be a teacher. Rose Hoffman, a teacher who has one year left until retirement, is unhappy with the changes she sees in the school system (Nobody Tells Me How). She remembers a student of hers, Babe Secoli, who is now a checker at the Treasure Island Supermarket. Babe explains that her job requires work from every part of the body (I'm Just Movin). Her bag boy, Roberto Nunez, is unhappy with the music that is playing in the market, which is the Cuban Revolution celebratory song along with the hardships of working on a farm and hopes a better day will come (Un Mejor Dia Vendra). In the neighborhood, Conrad Swibel is on his UPS delivery route, talking about the perks of his job: meeting women, and the bad parts, getting chased by dogs. After he leaves, John Rushton delivers the newspaper and tells of his dreams for the future (Neat to be a Newsboy). His mother, Kate Rushton, a housewife, who complains that people doubt her intelligence because she chooses to stay at home all day (Just a Housewife). Candy Cottingham says that she needs to separate people from their jobs for her job as a political fundraiser. Grace Clements explains that she does not want to see any young people doing her job as a millworker because of the physical stress on the body (Millwork). As evening rolls in, all the workers remember their dreams of old (If I Could've Been).

Act 2

Anthony Coelho likes his job because in a hundred years people will still see his work (The Mason). On the highway, Frank Decker and Dave are driving their truck (Brother Trucker). Frank explains that he barely sees his family because of his schedule. He makes a call and because of the signal is transferred to the operator, Heather Lamb. She, Sharon Atkins, and Enid DuBois explain that sometimes it's hard not to listen in on phone conversations. Dolores Dante loves her job and is proud to be a waitress (It's an Art). At the park Joe Zutty, a retired man, talks about his life (Joe). He spends his days as a volunteer firefighter. Tom Patrick, who also works as a firefighter, gets emotional talking about the lives he saved. Maggie Holmes talks about wanting a better life for her daughter (Cleanin' Woman). Finally, Ralph Werner recounts his dream life. Mike Dillard comes back and relates how much time he has missed with his family because of work (Fathers and Sons). The ensemble boasts about their accomplishments as workers (Something to Point To).

Musical numbers

Additional songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda - "A Very Good Day" and "Delivery" performed in Chicago

Characters (In Alphabetical Order)

There are 40 characters in all, but the production is traditionally performed with only 17 actors and actresses.

• Sharon Atkins, a receptionist (Commonly triple-cast with Barbara Herrick and Cathleen Moran)
• Charlie Blossom, a copy boy (Commonly triple-cast with Benny Blue and Brett Meyer)
• Benny Blue, a bar pianist (Commonly triple-cast with Charlie Blossom and Brett Meyer)
• Al Calinda, a parking lot attendant (Commonly double-cast with Will Robinson)
• Marco Camerone, a hockey player (Commonly double-cast with John Fortune)
• Grace Clements, a millworker (Commonly quadruple-cast with Rose Hoffman, Lucille Page, and Fran Swenson)
• Delores Dante, a waitress (Commonly triple-cast with Terry Mason and Babe Secoli)
• Frank Decker, an interstate trucker (Commonly double-cast with Bud Jonas)
• Carla Devlin, Tim Devlin’s wife (Commonly double-cast with Jill Torrance)
• Tim Devlin, a salesman (Commonly quadruple-cast with Tom Patrick, Conrad Swibel, and Ralph Werner)
• John Fortune, an advertising copy chief (Commonly double-cast with Marco Camerone)
• Emilio Hernandez, a migrant worker (Commonly double-cast with Dave McCormick)
• Barbara Herrick, an agency vice-president (Commonly triple-cast with Sharon Atkins and Cathleen Moran)
• Rose Hoffman, a teacher (Commonly quadruple-cast with Grace Clements, Lucille Page, and Fran Swenson)
• Maggie Holmes, a cleaning woman (Commonly quadruple-cast with Heather Lamb, JoAnne Robinson, and Diane Wilson)
• Bud Jonas, a football coach (Commonly double-cast with Frank Decker)
• Heather Lamb, a telephone operator (Commonly quadruple-cast with Maggie Holmes, JoAnne Robinson, and Diane Wilson)
• Mike Dillard, a steelworker
• Terry Mason, a stewardess (Commonly triple-cast with Delores Dante and Babe Secoli)
• Dave McCormick, an interstate trucker (Commonly double-cast with Emilio Hernadez)
• Brett Meyer, a box-boy (Commonly triple-cast with Charlie Blossom and Benny Blue)
• Cathleen Moran, a hospital aide (Commonly triple-cast with Sharon Atkins and Barbara Herrick)
• Booker Page, a seaman (Commonly double-cast with Herb Rosen)
• Lucille Page, Booker Page’s wife (Commonly quadruple-cast with Grace Clements, Rose Hoffman, and Fran Swenson)
• Anthony Palazzo, a stonemason (Commonly double-cast with Joe Zutty)
• Tom Patrick, a fireman (Commonly quadruple-cast with Tim Devlin, Conrad Swibel, and Ralph Werner)
• JoAnne Robinson, Will Robinson’s wife (Commonly quadruple-cast with Maggie Holmes, Heather Lamb, and Diane Wilson)
• Will Robinson, a bus driver (Commonly double-cast with Al Calinda)
• Herb Rosen, a corporate executive (Commonly double-cast with Booker Page)
• John Rushton, a newsboy
• Kate Rushton, a housewife
• Babe Secoli, a supermarket checker (Commonly triple-cast with Delores Dante and Terry Mason)
• Fran Swenson, a hotel switchboard operator (Commonly quadruple-cast with Grace Clements, Rose Hoffman, and Lucille Page)
• Conrad Swibel, a gas meter reader (Commonly quadruple-cast with Tim Devlin, Tom Patrick, and Ralph Werner)
• Jill Torrance, a model (Commonly double-cast with Carla Devlin)
• Roberta Victor, a call girl (Commonly double-cast with Nora Watson)
• Nora Watson, an editor (Commonly double-cast with Roberta Victor)
• Ralph Werner, a tie salesman (Commonly quadruple-cast with Tim Devlin, Tom Patrick, and Conrad Swibel)
• Diane Wilson, a secretary (Commonly quadruple-cast with Maggie Holmes, Heather Lamb, and JoAnne Robinson)
• Joe Zutty, a retired shipping clerk (Commonly double-cast with Anthony Palazzo)

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

References

External links

• The Official Stephen Schwartz fan site: All about Working
• Internet Broadway Database listing
• Internet Movie Database listing
• Working (2012 revised version) at the Music Theatre International website