Working...?

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 4:50pm

Pascack Valley High School (my school...) is leaning towards doing a musical called WORKING. (I'm pretty sure it involved Stephen Schwartz)

I haven't really looked this up, but I know that there are no MAIN roles, just ensemble parts.

None of us want to do this musical.

What do you suggest we should do? (We have a very small drama club- about 4 guys and, I think, 11 or 12 girls...)

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 6:27pm

Clicked on this board by chance (not a student)... and saw your post.

Working was the first show I was ever involved in. It's a great show, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but great nevertheless. I bet you that if you guys give it a chance, you will love it.

I'm always trying to get smaller companies to stage it; alas, because it's not well known, people are reluctant to do it.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 6:45pm

Yes, don't be afraid to do this production. If done well, it is a great production!

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 7:29pm

Ah. Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it. I'll keep it in mind.

We were also thinking of suggesting "On the Town" because there are a several leads and tons of dance numbers (that should keep the cheerleaders and dance team girls who audition happy!).

[darkmist115]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 1:15pm

working is an absolutely amazing and truly moving show.

my high school did it two years ago, when i was in eighth grade. it's not really all members of it are ensemble parts, more like all of the ensemble members are leads. I am pretty sure every person except maybe one or two have solos at different points. And people play different characters and such...

And with the kids you have, it shouldn't be an issue at all. really.
good luck:)!

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 9:51pm

Wow, thanks! I guess we're all underestimating this show, then.

So, with that said, I'm hoping someone could help me:

a) Think of a part I can audition for?
b) Help me find and audition song?

I'm a soprano and can sing songs such as "The Finer Things" (from Jane Eyre) and "Think of Me," but I can also sing songs like "Someone Like You"...

[pndmnd]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:22am

It really is a good show. I definitely think of it more as a show that everyone is equal and there is no chorus, than a show that is all chorus. Everyone has either a song or a monologue (or both), and it can be done with people playing multiple parts or not (depending on who you have). It's about working class America (as in, blue collar), and some of the roles include the housewife, millworker, fireman, newsboy, teacher, cleaning lady, waitress, check-out girl, truck driver, migrant worker, etc. It's based off of Studs Turkel's book. Another book that's along the same lines is "Nickel and Dimed" (which was also made into a play).

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:50pm

What a coincidence! I had to read "Nickel and Dimed" for English over the summer, and when looking up pictures of the "Martin Guerre" tour, I found "Nickel and Dimed" pics as well!

When we went to the meeting about which musical we were going to do, everyone was like "I wanna be the whore!!" Hee, we're quite silly.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 12:21am

Agreed, this really is a very good show. For an audition for it, well it is Stephen Schwartz, so something else he's written would probably work, it's similar to his other stuff, really catchy tunes for the most part.

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 2:00pm

Thank you! I'm thinking something from "Godspell"... Not "Wicked," though. "Wicked" songs don't work for me

[pndmnd]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 3:39pm

It's more like Godspell, anyway. And it's not just Steven Schwartz. Other people wrote music for it, as well. Millworker was partly James Taylor! I would look at what role(s) you're looking at, and pick music that fits with that characters song, as some of the characters have different styled music.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:48pm

WORKING is a great show for schools BECAUSE there are no "lead" roles. How many shows do you know that have solo songs for 10 different people, and big dramatic monologues for the "not-so-great singers?

Female roles with solo numbers:

The Waitress
The Supermarket Checker
The Housewife
The Teacher
The Cleaning Woman
"Milwork" soloist
"If I Coulda Been" soloist

[Jon]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:49pm

WORKING is a great show for schools BECAUSE there are no "lead" roles. How many shows do you know that have solo songs for 10 different people, and big dramatic monologues for the "not-so-great singers?

Female roles with solo numbers:

The Waitress
The Supermarket Checker
The Housewife
The Teacher
The Cleaning Woman
"Milwork" soloist
"If I Coulda Been" soloist

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 6:15pm

I just saw Working at the PA Thespian Festival this weekend adn its just amazing!