Working the Musical

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/10/11 at 1:42pm

Opening February 15th at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago.

This thread is for anyone to discuss the new production of "Working," featuring music by Stephen Schwartz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead.

"WORKING is a vital new musical based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Chicago’s own Studs Terkel. Newly adapted by Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, PIPPIN and GODSPELL) from the original adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, WORKING is the working man’s A CHORUS LINE."

"WORKING celebrates everyday people in a genuinely funny and touching way. Portrayed by some of Chicago’s brightest stars including E. Faye Butler, Barbara Robertson and Gene Weygandt, among others."

-From The Website http://www.workingthemusical.com/

Posted: 2/10/11 at 1:49pm

Comcast has been running a 30-minute "Backstage at Working" feature (Similar to the ones they did for Wicked and Billy Elliot) with the cast performing some songs and interviews with Stephen Schwartz.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/10/11 at 8:13pm

But it's not actually a "new musical", is it? It's just a revised version, right?

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/10/11 at 8:30pm

Correct Mister Matt.
A few songs have been cut, a few have been added and some new monologues have been extracted from Studs Terkel's original transcripts and put into the show.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 2/10/11 at 8:52pm

Why isn't Lin-Manuel Miranda listed on the website under the creative team?

[pdv]

Posted: 2/10/11 at 9:03pm

Not all songwriters are listed on that page, but he's here:

http://www.broadwaystudyguides.com/Working/intro/page4.html

and this is a great video of him from the production at the Old Globe in San Diego:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8vdMDq_Rf0

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/11/11 at 2:07pm

Here is also a link to the Working The Musical Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Working-The-Musical/144965522226555?ref=ts

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/12/11 at 12:32pm

Broadway World just posted a great story about the new production of "Working," check it out!
It talks about a new program the show is doing to honor local Chicago workers.
Enjoy!

https://chicago.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway_In_Chicago_Celebrates_Leading_Chicago_Working_Heroes_20110211

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 7:34pm

One of the stars of Working, Gene Weygandt, has been posting weekly blogs about the show on the Working website.

Enjoy!

http://www.workingthemusical.com/category/cast-blogs/

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 9:14pm

Which songs were cut and what songs were added?

One of my favorite songs from the show, "Hots Michaels At The Piano," has been cut since tryouts, but it's a FANTASTIC character sketch.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 10:19pm

He's the song list from the Old Globe production. It should be accurate if they're performing the same version.

"All The Livelong Day" (by Stephen Schwartz)
"Delivery" (by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
"Nobody Tells Me How" (by Mary Rogers & Susan Birkenhead)
"Brother Trucker" (by James Taylor)
"Just a Housewife" (by Craig Carnelia)
"Millwork" (by James Taylor)
"If I Could’ve Been" (by Micki Grant)
"The Mason" (by Craig Carnelia)
"It’s an Art" (by Stephen Schwartz)
"Joe" (by Craig Carnelia)
"A Very Good Day" (by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
"Cleanin’ Women" (by Micki Grant)
"Fathers and Sons" (by Stephen Schwartz)
"Something to Point To" (by Craig Carnelia)

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/14/11 at 12:39am

Yep that list is spot on!
Thanks CATSNYrevival

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/14/11 at 1:54am

Cut from the original Broadway production are the following songs:

1. Lovin Al
2. Neat To Be A Newsboy
3. Un Mejor Dia Vendra
4. Traffic Jam

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/14/11 at 8:52am

Delivery, I know, is a song for the UPS man character, but who sings "A Very Good Day?"

Also cut is "I'm Just Movin'," according to your song list. My only real question is why "Un Mejor Dia Vendra" would be cut today, given that immigrant work forces have become even more of a hot-button issue than they were in the original production's time.

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/14/11 at 2:15pm

I just wanted to make a correction here so everyone had the right information and to answer darquegk's question.

Delivery is actually about a teenager who works at a fast food restaurant. It speaks to not only the excitement that it is his first job but also the quirks that come along with it.

Very Good Day is a song sung by two actors, and it tells the story of immigrants doing the work that no one else will do. The first being a senior care worker and the other being a nanny.

I hope this clears up any questions.

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/14/11 at 2:20pm

My mistake. I had heard the UPS man had a Miranda song, but I may have heard wrong.

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 2:58pm

Here is another link for everyone to check out; this article was posted on playbill.com this morning and goes into further detail about this exciting new production of Working!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/147664-Working-Revised-by-Stephen-Schwartz-Sings-a-New-Song-in-Chicago-Starting-Feb-15?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d5a8c785dc67cec%2C0
Updated On: 2/15/11 at 02:58 PM

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:56pm

Working is also proud to announce the start of a new program celebrating local "Working" heros.

Click the link to learn more about this cool post show event.


http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/workinglocalheroes.php

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/16/11 at 5:34pm

Here are some video clips of the cast, Stephen Schwartz, and director Gordon Greenberg talking about this production of "Working." It also includes some clips of songs at the end of the video.

Enjoy!

http://www.cn100.tv/backstage_working.aspx

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/18/11 at 4:16pm

Here are some new photos of the show just posted on the Working website!

Enjoy!

http://www.workingthemusical.com/media/video-photos/

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 2:43am

Here is the link to the playbill article with all the photos from the dress rehearsal!

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/2156

[twinbelters]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 3:29pm

The Chicago Theater League says there are no performance currently, but Ticketmaster has tickets available. Can anyone confirm that this show actually began previews and this evening's performance is scheduled? I appreciate it.

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 3:56pm

hey there twinbelters!
YES there is a show tonight, 2/19, at 8pm!
Hope to see you there, sorry for the confusion.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 4:25pm

Thank you, Adam. I believe I will be making it tonight. I look forward to seeing it. The Facebook page also confirmed and I told them they should contact the Chicago Theatre League and correct the error.

[AdamQuinn]

Posted: 2/21/11 at 12:13pm

Here is a great article from the Chicago Tribune about Working!

Enjoy!

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2011/02/working-studs-terkel-stephen-schwartz-broadway-playhouse.html