Working

By Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, based on the book by Studs Terkel.

Directed by Wm. Patrick Barlow

Working explores the American workday from the Monday morning blues to the second shift blahs using the original words of some uncommon "common" men and women. Twenty-six workers, including a parking lot attendant, corporate executive, newsboy, 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.

This energetic musical is brought to life with the help of songs written by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz and James Taylor.

The play, like the book, is written in a series of narrative vignettes, using the words of ordinary people as they struggle with the realities of a world that seeks to define them by what they do for a living. Often, what one does for a living is an individual's connection to reality, yet, as one woman in the show observes, "most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirit." From hardworking migrant workers in the field to corporate executive, and all those in between, each person has a story to tell.

The show makes us question just how ordinary are "ordinary" people. This and other issues are all presented with wit and self-deprecating humor, oftentimes using the actual words of people interviewed by Terkel. It is for this reason that a disclaimer has been added that language used in some instances may be too strong for younger audiences.

Produced by MATC Performing Arts at the Mitby Theater, MATC Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison.

Peformances March 9-17, 2001

Performances will be held March 9-11 and 16-17 in MATC's Mitby Theater, located on the MATC-Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street.

Fri	Sat	Sun
March 9 8 pm	March 10 8 pm	March 11 3 pm
March 16 8 pm	March 17 3 and 8 pm

General Public tickets are $12, Senior citizens are $11 and MATC Students are $6. Reserved tickets may be purchased from the Mitby Theater Box Office, 3550 Anderson Street, or by calling (608) 243-4000. Phone orders can be taken with MasterCard or Visa. The Mitby Theater Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm.

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The Cast and Staff

MATC Performing Arts is dedicated to providing theatrical experiences to the greater Madison area community. The cast of Working includes community members, MATC alumni and students as well as a number of MATC staff, faculty and district board members. Noted in the cast list are district board member Sandra Adell; staff members Kathryn Ambler and Laurel Anderson; English Instructor Larry Hansen; Counselor Rocio Martinez; and Arts & Sciences Associate Dean Marian Timmerman. Please see below for a complete listing of names.

The production will be produced and directed by Patrick Barlow, vocal direction by Bill Bush, choreography by Robin Fonfara, orchestra by Jeff Peronto, stage management by Chris Lechner, lighting design by Corey Helser.

Cast List

Cast Member	Role	Hometown	Other Item of Note
Sandy Adell	Millworker	Detroit, MI	MATC District Board Member
Portia Adney	Manager/Operator	Sun Prairie	MATC Student
Kathryn Ambler	Checker/Enid	Monroe	MATC Staff
Laurel Anderson	Office Worker	Sun Prairie	MATC Staff
Bonnnie Balke	Cleaning Woman	Shwano, WI	Community Member
Sharon Brolin	Housewife	Madison	Community Member
Craig Cole	Rex/Vharlie	Middleton	Community Member
Reed Doerr	Office man	Westby, WI	MATC Student
Larry Hansen	Fireman/Office Worker	Neenah, WI	MATC English Instructor
Carina Henderson	Millworker Soloist	Mount Horeb	MATC Student
Don Isaacson	Joe	Madison	Community Member
Rocio Martinez	Migrant Worker	San Juan, Puerto Rico	MATC Counselor
Ross Moore	Mason/Jim	Oregon, WI	MATC Student
Amy Nelson	Waitress/Fund Raiser	Hartford, WI	Community Member
Tate Noordyk	Ralph	Plymouth, WI	MATC Student
Alex Nystrum	Roberta/Migrant Soloist	Madison	MATC Student
Eric Peters	Mason Soloist	Madison	Community Member
Roger Rickman	Mike, Trucker	Monona	MATC Alumnus
Kristin Rogers	Bagger	Madison	MATC Student
Louise Stout	Office Worker	Madison	Community Member
Jay Timmerman	UPS Man/Fireman 2	Madison	MATC Student
Marian Timmerman	Rose	Madison	MATC Associate Dean, Arts & Sciences
Vicki Williams	Receptionist	Adams, WI	MATC Student