Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the workers that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason and the housewife, just to name a few. Nominated for six Tony Awards, this classic has been updated for a modern age, featuring new songs by Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, and more.
This new 2012 version of Working is a musical exploration of 26 people from all walks of life. While most of the professions have been updated, the show's strengths are in the core truths that transcend specific professions; the key is how people's relationships to their work ultimately reveal essential aspects of their humanity, regardless of the trappings of the job itself. The show, still set in contemporary America, contains timeless truths. This new version of Working allows the audience to get a rare glimpse of the actors and technicians, working to put on a show. This raw adaptation only enhances the realistic and relatable nature of the subject matter.
Cast
Jack Chylinski
Amy Delgado
Chad-Gearig-Howe
Micheal Kott
Tracy Mohr
Salma Morales*
Rob Sorensen
Ellen Spann
Musicians
Ron Attreau - Keyboards
Ava Neal - Bass
John McCreary - Percussion
Jack Chylinski - Guitar
Chad Gearig-Howe - Guitar
Director's Note
Recently, I was working my remote job and my 3-year-old desperately wanted me to play with him. I just wanted 10 more minutes and then he could have my full attention. Ten minutes to finish the task. To make one more phone call. To press send. So, I hid in the bathroom and he followed me in. I hid in my room, and he followed me in. I sat on the bed and pulled the covers over my head. But he followed me under those covers, grabbing my face with his tiny hands, pulling it to his and said, "Mommy, see me." I closed the laptop and saw him.
Whether we are 3 or 103, don’t we all want to be seen? I love this musical because it asks us to truly see one another. To see the person on the other end of the line, sweeping the broom, picking the carrots, carrying the bricks. The work may be what pays the bills or fills the day, but our ability to see one another in these spaces, and recognize the humanity of the people we encounter is the beauty of our life experience.
A common thread for the characters in this musical is the belief that if life hadn’t gotten in their way, they could’ve been what they actually wanted to be. Sacrifice, love, and commitment changed their trajectory. I identify with the honesty of the what ifs. What could my life have been if I didn't have to sacrifice? If I didn't find love? If I didn't honor my commitments?
Many of the original interviews from Stud Turkel's Working were already our stories, taking place in Chicago. We have specifically set these moments in Cicero as our love letter to this community and to celebrate the workers in our neighborhood. We hope you can find all of the community “easter eggs” we have hidden throughout the show!
Finally, I would like to thank the cast, crew, and production team for creating and telling these narratives with grace, humor, and vulnerability. We have found ourselves in the stories of other people and to now share those stories is an honor.
My hope is this musical will remind you to see one another and that you will also feel seen. Now let's get to work!
Produced by special arrangement with
Music Theatre International
New York
From the book by STUDS TERKEL
Adapted by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ and NINA FASO
With additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg
Songs by CRAIG CARNELIA, MICKI GRANT, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
MARY RODGERS and SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ and JAMES TAYLOR
Technical Staff
Melissa Harlow (Director) Melissa Harlow is a director/actor/producer new to Chicagoland. She is thrilled to make her JPAC directorial debut with this company. Recent directing credits include Next Fall (Samuel UCC Reader's Theater), and virtual productions of: Love's Labour's Lost (Hoosier Shakespeare Festival), Pan (Sweet Tea Shakespeare), and Ripcord (Samuel UCC Reader's Theater). Melissa co-founded Stomping Ground Theatre Co. in Hell's Kitchen, NY where she co-produced Not Another Christmas Letter, This Very Moment, Steel Magnolias, Perspectives Cabaret, STRIKE The Musical, and Next Fall. She produced and hosted Gigi's Night, the monthly cabaret series benefitting Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries in NYC. Melissa was on the production management team for the Collective Cabaret Series with the national touring casts of The Band's Visit and Wicked. She also created and developed the Fine Arts Dept. at the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis, IL, leading numerous productions and fine arts endeavors with the youth in the area. She was most recently seen acting here in JPAC's The Bad Seed and in the St. Louis Repertory Theater's A Christmas Carol. Favorite directing credits include: Steel Magnolias, The Amish Project, the NYC premiere and staged reading of Cover: a play about trafficking, and Peter and the Starcatcher. Favorite people include: Kerry, Cora, and Nico. A great big thank you to the Working cast and production team for bringing so much heart and dedication to this production.
Ron Attreau (Music Director)
Autumn Christensen (Choreographer) is thrilled to be working with JPAC for the first time. After fifteen years of dance training–including jazz, tap, contemporary, and ballet–Autumn developed a passion for theater and started performing at Six Flags Great America. She went on to complete a BA in Theatre (Acting) and English Liberal Arts at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. After graduation, she attended the Open Jar Musical Theatre Intensive in NYC, where she had the opportunity to learn from various Broadway professionals. This will be Autumn’s second choreography credit, having previously choreographed Grease at UW Oshkosh in 2022. Autumn has also appeared as the Placard Girl and Dance Captain in Reefer Madness at the Towle, where she met our wonderful Music Director, Ron Attreau. Other favorite credits include Masha (Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike), Toinette (The Imaginary Invalid), and Ariel (The Tempest). Instagram: @autumn__christensen
Robert Salas* - (Assistant Director) is so excited to help bring Working The Musical to life! You’ve probably seen Bobbi, on stage, here at JPAC in productions such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, PANCH, ‘21. The Bad Seed, LEROY, ‘22. A Christmas Story, SANTA/ENSEMBLE, ‘22. Bobbi likes to explore all facets of theater and has also worked on Spitfire Grill, STAGE MANAGER, ‘21. This is Bobbi’s 3rd show as Assistant Director, other credits include A Christmas Story, ‘21 and Driving Miss Daisy, ‘23. As a Morton College student-aide, Bobbi spends their days creating props and set pieces in the workshop and has made it their goal to get as many students involved with our productions as possible. They love to learn as much as they can about all parts of theater from acting to tech to production. You’ll see their directing style shine primarily in two songs that spoke to Bobbi, Un Mejor Dia Vendra, the beautiful story of a migrant worker and A Very Good Day, a scene depicting two caregivers and the work that “no one wants to do”. This is also Bobbi’s final production as a Morton College student and you’ll see Bobbi at Columbia College Chicago come this fall! They hope to come back and support JPAC in any way they can for many years to come! Instagram: Bobbisalas_03
Joelle Beranek (Costume Designer) is so happy to keep her costume designer “hat” on by costuming JPAC productions. You may have seen her work at JPAC from 2008-2012 (most memorable Hairspray, Phantom of the Opera, and Copacabana) as well as the more recent two JPAC seasons. Joelle is a graduate of Northwestern University, proud mom of three, and has a lively career in the event planning industry. Thanks for coming out to support the ‘working’ world of the arts!
Rachelle “Rocky” Kolecke (Stage Manager) (Stage Manager) is grateful to be back at the wheel for this production. You may have seen her around if you saw A Christmas Story at JPAC, ‘22. She would like to dedicate this production to the memory of her Big Brother who drove her countless hours to and from college out of love and support. SM Credits include: For Service Rendered ASM Griffin/The Den ‘19, Geppetto Ghostlight/Chicago Cultural Center ‘14, All Kinds of Crazy 16th St. ‘12, Love Thy Neighbor 16th St. ‘12, Opus 1861 City Lit ‘12, A Nude Hope Geek Girl Burlesque/Gorilla Tango ‘11, Laika Dog in Space ASM/AV Chi/NY Neo-Futurists ‘11, An Evening of Mime The Mime Company ‘10, Aida Bailiwick Chicago/American Blues ‘10, Bloom Bailiwick Chicago ‘10, The Nutcracker Sings JPAC ‘09, Enemy of The People Red Tape ‘09, Haram Iran Permoveo/Atheneum ‘08, The Sound of Music AD/SM/Ensemble JPAC ‘04, Nefertiti AD/ASM JPAC ‘04, Noises Off AD/ASM JPAC ‘03, Caught in the Net AD/ASM JPAC ‘03, Peter Pan JPAC ‘03, Sleeping Beauty SD Children's Theater JPAC ‘02, Big Band Review JPAC ‘02, Aspects of Love AD/Ensemble JPAC ‘02, Jekyll & Hyde AS/Ensemble JPAC ‘02, The Odd Couple AD/ASM JPAC ‘01. Yessum, it's been a long friendship! Rocky is also a Properties and Puppet designer in the Chicagoland area. IG #rockypropartisan
Margaret Pesquera (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be hanging out with JPAC for the first time. Margaret got involved in theater by accident in college at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, then got involved in freelancing around chicago and finally settling down in community theater for the last 20years –Beverly Theatre Guild(Chicago), Straydog Theatre Company(Blue Island), Munroe Park Theatre Guild(Chicago), Palos Village Players(Palos Hills), Hale Park Theater(Chicago) etc. She has worn many hats like Stage Manager, Assistant Director, Props Master, Mic Runner, Set Mover, Strike Crew, etc. Margaret has also been on stage as a performer in several shows over the years doing comedy and musicals. She thanks her family and theater families for support and love, rob sorensen(theater brother) for his advice and everything, and she hopes you enjoy the show.
Samantha Rojas* (Assistant ) has been working hard to make sure that Driving Miss Daisy comes to life. She is a student who works at JPAC theater. She has worked on A Christmas Story '22. She'd like to thank Bobbi (Assistant Director) for getting her this position and enjoying theater again. She dedicates this production to lifelong friends who have been there for her since day one.
Ariana “Ira” Patino (Lighting Board OP) is pleased to be welcomed back to the JPAC Theater. She has lit the theater in previous productions such as Bad Seed ‘22 and The Spit Fire Grill ‘22. Outside of these productions, she enjoys expression through creation through the lens of IraunI. She thanks Robert Salas, Assistant Director, for introducing her to this line of work and her new love for theater.
Irma Gualpa (Sound) is glad to return to the JPAC theater for another performance. She has worked in previous productions such as Bad Seed “22 and A Christmas Story “22. She would like to thank Robert and Micheal for giving her the opportunity to return. She would also like to thank her family for believing in her in what ever she does.
Gary Dennis (Technical Director / Designer) is a native of Mobile, Alabama where he discovered his love of theater . While there he performed as Curly and Jud in Oklahoma, Gus in Babes in Arms, and Amos Heart in Chicago. Gary attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama, and University of South Alabama in Mobile pursuing a career in Theater Arts and Opera. Gary was Technical Director/Producer at the Entertainer Dinner Theater in Mobile, Alabama, producing such shows as Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, and Bells are Ringing. Gary married Sharon in 2007 and relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where his two daughters were born. In 2018, Gary, his wife and children went to St. Thomas, USVI, to help rebuild after two category five hurricanes made landfall. They stayed 3 years. Gary’s wife and children are also talented performers. They helped restore the Pistarkle Theater and performed Babes in Toyland, Evita, Death Trap, and Dreamgirls. Looking for their next adventure, and growing tired of sitting under palm trees in 76-degree weather, Gary and his family moved to the Chicago area in December of 2021, where Gary is living his dream as Technical Director/Production Manager at the JPAC, and his family are happy and currently active in theater.
Micheal Kott (Producer) Micheal has been involved with the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center since 1997 - His first production was the Midwest Premier of BLOOD BROTHERS. Micheal has been involved in over 80 productions here at JPAC as actor, director or designer. Favorite roles include Edna in the Midwest premier of HAIRSPRAY, Lumiere in BEAUTY and THE BEAST, Pop in Queen's WE WILL ROCK YOU and Richard Jannings in Rupert Holmes' SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. Micheal is the Associate Dean of Learning Resource and Performing Arts Center here at Morton College. "I am thrilled to be at the helm of JPAC and excited to help revitalize the academic theatre program at MC. Watch us as we grow."
Director………………………………………..…………...........Melissa Harlow
Music Director.................................................................Ron Attreau
Choreographer...................................................Autumn Christensen
Assistant Director...... .................................................Robert Salas*
Stage Manager……………………..………….……….......Rachelle Kolecke
Assistant Stage Manager ….…..…..………………..Margaret Pesquera
Costumes....................................................................Joelle Beranek
Lights ……………….…………...…..............…….………….... Ariana Patino
Sound …………….……………….…...……..............…………….Irma Gualpa
Stage Crew................................................................ Sammy Rojas*
Set Design/Construction…….....…...…..……........……….. Gary Dennis
Props…………………………..........………..............................Gary Dennis
Robert Salas*,
Sammy Rojas*,
Producer……………………………..…….......……………..…… Micheal Kott
*Denotes Morton College Student