All about the Musical Working
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Working the Musical: DVD of the Television version
- Working
- Working play: Broadway Archives created a DVD from the tape from American Playhouse, WNET and KCET, 1982 Studs Terkel's Working (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Also available as a downloadable rental or purchase: Downloadable version of Working the Musical
Stephen Schwartz directed this PBS production of his show Working. Watch for James Taylor singing his trucking song and sharing his great smile. Studs Terkel introduces the show. You'll see Schwartz's wife Carole in the role of supermarket checker. There are many noteworthy performers and performances.
Overview for Working the Musical
About Working
Based on the best-selling book of interviews with American workers by Studs Terkel, Working explores the American workday from the Monday morning blues to a working person's pride in having "something to point to." Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted Working into a stage play, mostly using the original words of some uncommon common men and women.
Working is a down-to-earth yet elevating musical that features songs that were also based on real interviews. The music is by Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers, and Lin Manuel Miranda.
Working lyrics for the show are by Stephen Schwartz; Micki Grant; Craig Carnelia; James Taylor; Susan Birkenhead; Matt landers and Graciela Daniele. See details below.
In the musical, twenty-six workers, including a parking lot attendant, corporate executive, schoolteacher, gas man, housewife, fireman, waitress, millworker, sailor, etc., sing and talk about their jobs, defining not only their daily round, but their hopes and aspirations as well.
The show opened on Broadway 5/14/1978. A revised version is available for licensing through Music Theatre International. MTIshows.com [new browser window]
Who Wrote What? Songwriters for Working:
- Stephen Schwartz: the opening ("All the Livelong Day"), "It's an Art," "Fathers and Sons," and the newsboy's song, which has been replaced by "I'm Just Movin'"; See also our "Fathers and Sons" page and "It's An Art" page
- Micki Grant: "If I Could've Been," "Lovin' Al," and "Cleaning Women";
- Craig Carnelia: "Just a Housewife," "The Mason," "Joe," and "Something to Point To";
- James Taylor: "Brother Trucker," "Millwork," "Traffic Jam," and the music for "Un Mejor Dia Cendra" - Matt Landers and Graciella Danielle wrote lyrics for this song.
- Susan Birkinhead and Mary Rodgers: the teacher's song, "Nobody Tells Me How"
Working the Musical - From Page to Stage
In Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked, author Carol de Giere includes a behind-the-scenes account of the way Stephen Schwartz and his collaborators developed Working as a stage musical.
In interviews for the book, Schwartz revealed why he chose additional songwriter to create the score and what his rationale was for developing a non-fiction musical.
The story of Working in Defying Gravity also includes comments from co-adaptor Nina Faso, producer Irwin Meyer, cast members Lynne Thigpen, Robin Lamont, Matt Landers, David Patrick Kelly, and songwriters Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, Stephen Schwartz, and Susan Birkenhead. Readers gain insights about individual songs in relationship to the musical as a whole.
Working the Musical Recordings 
LA Theatre Works production - Unabridged edition (December 26, 2000) Working: Starring Eileen Barnett, Orson Bean, Harry Groener, Kaitlin Hopkins, Michael Kostroff, Kenna Ramsey, Vickilyn Reynolds, Vincent Tumeo and B.J. Ward
, Stephen Schwartz's son, Scott Schwartz, directed this production. Includes songs and more.
Working Cast Album
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Re-release of original cast album with lots of special features. The Compact Disc CD 1978 Cast Album of Working the Musical is currently out of print. Sometimes used copies are available. Working ~ (Original Cast Recording) - Amazon.com
Note that this re-release version includes additional bonus tracks: 16. I'm Just Movin'
17. Hots Michael at the Piano (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer Craig Carnelia)
18. The Mason (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer Craig Carnelia)
19. Joe (Carnelia) (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer Craig Carnelia)
20. Lovin' Al (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer Micki Grant)
21. Fathers & Sons (performed by the composer Stephen Schwartz)
James Taylor recorded his songs from Working on several of his albums and videos. Visit the complete James Taylor/Schwartz page - Includes quotes and links.
Craig Carnelia songs are included on various albums.
Don't miss Stephen Schwartz singing his own touching rendition of "Fathers and Sons" on The Stephen Schwartz Album
Read about it: Working Cast Album: Article by Bruce Kimmel: Working on WORKING: The Journey towards a Long-awaited CD
Working Sheet Music & Lyrics
Working / Vocal Selections - Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. (November 1997) Song Titles include: All the Livelong Day * Brother Trucker * Cleanin' Women * Fathers and Sons * If I Could've Been * It's an Art * Joe * Just a Housewife * Lovin' All * The Mason * Millwork * Neat to Be a Newsboy *Nobody Tellls Me How (the teacher song) * Something to Point to, Un Mejor Dia Cendra Working: Vocal Selections (Amazon.com)
DETAILS WITH KEYS: 15 songs including All the Livelong Day(C), Lovin' Al (B flat), The Mason(F), Neat To Be A Newsboy(A min/G), Nobody Tells Me How(E), Un Mejor Dia Vendra(F), Brother Trucker(B), Fathers and Sons(F sharp min), If I Could've Been (A), It's An Art(A), Joe (D), Just a Housewife (D), Millwork(A), Cleanin' Women (D flat/D), and Something to Point to (B flat).
For some lyrics from Working show - see Working lyrics
For sheet music for all of Schwartz's musicals except Wicked check out the Stephen Schwartz songbook.
Includes 292 pages of songs as Stephen plays them.
Selections from Working show in The Stephen Schwartz Songbook: includes a revised lyric for "It's an Art" plus "Fathers and Sons"
"Just a Housewife" and "The Mason" are included in the Craig Carnelia Songbook
Resources, Features, Reviews for the musical Working
A related item to Working: Studs Terkel's Working: A Teaching Guide
Studs Terkel - Bio, books, audio book
Working Reworked March 2009: Read about the Old Globe Theatre production of Working, spring 2009
comparison chart between characters in the musical and Terkel book: Working - Cross Reference between Working the Musical and Working by Studs Terkel
Working CD: Working on WORKING: The Journey towards a Long-awaited CD, By Bruce Kimmel | Review by Robert Levy of the 2001 release of the cast album
Review of the Video
Working Review
Production photos and review of a Revised version of WORKING
American Theater Company Chicago 2000.
http://www.ibdb.com/ - for Working - Details on the Broadway cast, creatives, songs, crew, etc.
See Tonyaward.com for Tony info on other shows.
Nominations for Working were:
1978 Tony Award® Best Book of a Musical
Book adapted by Stephen Schwartz [nominee]
1978 Tony Award® Best Original Score
Lyrics by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor; Music by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor [nominee]
1978 Tony Award® Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Steven Boockvor [nominee]
Rex Everhart [nominee]
1978 Tony Award® Best Scenic Design
Scenic Design by David Mitchell [nominee]
1978 Tony Award® Best Lighting Design
Lighting Design by Ken Billington [nominee]
For singers: Visit our sister site MusicalSingers.com for tips, recorded courses on singing, sheet music, vocal health information, vocal coach links, and more. Everything for singers who love musicals
"Working" -- Forum and Show Schedule
NEWS: Working Reworked March 2009: Read about the Old Globe Theatre production of Working, spring 2009
Working Show Schedule
As you may know, the DVD of Working was produced in more of a TV documentary style than a stage musical, and therefore is not a suitable model for stage productions. If you want to see how Working works on stage, you'll need to travel to a live production. Go to MTIshows.com Working page and look for the blue tab that says "Upcoming." Click there for a list of licensed productions.
Forum
Stephen Schwartz has answered questions from fans, performers, directors, and musicians involved with Working. See the Workign section StephenSchwartz.com - Forum Archive
Online Community
Join the online community at www.mtishowspace.com/ - look for photos, discussion, etc.
Licensing Working for performance
Music Theatre International's detailed description and ordering information for the production - search on Working at http://www.mtishows.com
Performers: see a comparison chart between characters in the musical and Terkel book: Working - Cross Reference between Working the Musical and Working by Studs Terkel
Working Cast List
MIKE DILLARD Ironworker
Baritone
AL CALINDA Parking Lot Attendant
Tenor - High B flat
AMANDA McKENNY Project Manager
REX WINSHIP Corporate Executive
ROSE HOFFMAN School Teacher
Mezzo-Soprano
BABE SECOLI Supermarket Checker
Contemporary Belt/Mix
ROBERTO NUNEZ Boxboy and Migrant Worker.
Baritone/Tenor
CONRAD SWIBEL UPS delivery man
KATE RUSHTON Housewife
Contemporary Belt/Mix
ROBERTA VICTOR Hooker
CANDY COTTINGHAM Political Fundraiser
GRACE CLEMENTS Millworker
Pop Alto
ANTHONY COELHO Stone Mason
Tenor
SAM
FRANK DECKER & DAVE Truckers
Rock Baritone/Tenor
HEATHER LAMB Telephone Operator
SHARON ATKINS Receptionist
ENID DuBOIS Telephone Solicitor
DELORES DANTE Waitress
Contemporary Belt
JOE ZUTTY Retiree, Older Character
Baritone
TOM PATRICK Fireman
MAGGIE HOLMES Cleaning Woman
Contemporary Pop/Belt
RALPH WERNER Salesman
CHARLIE BLOSSOM Ex-copy boy
Working Logo is copyrighted by Music Theatre International. All rights reserved.
Working the musical
About Composer - Lyricist Stephen Schwartz.
Copyright © 2000–2012 by Carol de Giere. All rights reserved.
MusicalSchwartz.com a Stephen Schwartz Fan web site. This independent web site is devoted to the creative career of composer Stephen Schwartz.
You are currently on the Working the Musical - by Stephen Schwartz and Others page.
This site provides information and background on his songs, music and lyrics, and his theatre musicals (plays or shows) and movie musicals including his popular Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker's Wife, The Prince of Egypt; Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted (Disney musicals); The Magic Show, Children of Eden, Working, Rags and others.
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