2024-25 Season Working
A
Musical
From the book by Studs Terkel
Adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso
Localized format conceived by Daniel C Levine for ACT of CT Orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire
Songs by
Craig Carnelia
Micki Grant
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead
Stephen Schwartz
James Taylor
Blank Performing Arts Center
Barnum Studio Theatre
February 14-16, 2025
Director
Jennifer Nostrala
Scenic & Props Designer
Natalie Hining-Bruce
Costume, Hair & Makeup Designer
Caroline Frias
Music Director
Damon Stevens
Lighting Designer
Rick Goetz
Deputy Stage Manager
Katrina Colahan
WORKING is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
Lyza Cue……………..…………………………...
Sharon Atkins, receptionist; Janet S., server*
Elainë Frey………………………………………………..Amanda McKenny, project manager; Kate Rushton, housewife; Zee B., Simpson student*
Evan Frey…………………………
Man Wearing Headphones;Alex C., gas station attendant*; Jairo Trujillo, elder care worker; Eli J., Simpson student*
Jasper McGrath…………………………………………………….
Another Woman in Cubicle; Kiersten J., elementary school choir teacher*; Jessica P., 911 dispatcher*
Kylie Ozbun…………………………………………………...
Rikki P., animal shelter worker*
Theresa Bautista, nanny; Meredith D., Simpson student*
Aaron Scholes…………………………….………………..
Rex Winship, hedge fund manager; Joe; Simpson father
Joey Ulrich……………………………………………………
Freddy Gomez, fast food worker; Anthony Coelho, stone mason; Jack C., Simpson student*
Maxwell Wearmouth-Gweah………………………….
Man in Cubicle; Raj Patel, tech support; Thad K., rock quarry worker*
Hunter Weppler..…….….……………………………
Zach K., welder*; Frank Decker, trucker; Tom Patrick, fireman*
Leah Wilson………………….…………………………………....Grace Clements, millworker; Jennifer P., cleaning business owner* Band
Conductor/Keyboard
Damon Stevens
Guitar
Don Salting
Bass
Gary Goudelock
Percussion
Jordan Gould
* These monologues were created by interviewing local workers and Simpson students
Musical Numbers
“All the Livelong Day”
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (with acknowledgments to Walt Whitman) Ensemble
“Delivery”
Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda Freddy and Ensemble
“Nobody Tells Me How” Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, Music by Mary Rodgers Kiersten
“Brother Trucker”
Music and Lyrics by James Taylor Frank and Truckers
“Just a Housewife”
Music and Lyrics by Craig Camelia Kate and Homemakers
“Millwork”
Music and Lyrics by James Taylor Grace and Workers
“If I Could’ve Been”
Music and Lyrics by Micki Grant Ensemble
“The Mason”
Music and Lyrics by Craig Camelia Anthony and Thad
“It’s An Art”
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Janet and Customers
“Joe”
Music and Lyrics by Craig Camelia Joe
“A Very Good Day”
Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda Jairo, Theresa
“Cleanin’ Women”
Music and Lyrics by Micki Grant Jennifer and Cleaners
“Fathers and Sons”
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Dad and Ensemble
“Something to Point To”
Music and Lyrics by Craig Camelia Ensemble
Working: The Localized Version
In 2019, Daniel C. Levine, Artistic Director of ACT of CT, developed the first localized version of Working, creating a pathway for other companies to create a project related to their community. Levine edited versions of the video interviews for the ACT production. For our production, I took the transcripts of the interviews and edited them down to monologues that our performers could present.
The Process
Last fall, we interviewed 12 local people for the project. These interviews were conducted primarily by two students, Lyza Cue and Hannah Rosenfeld. It was important in many cases that the person's job was similar to the person represented in the original production. For instance, the original waitress, Dolores Fuente, spoke right before the song "It's An Art," was replaced with a local server. We decided to interview Janet S. since she works both on campus and at Crouse Cafe. I conducted the interview with Kiersten Johnson '19, a Simpson College alum who teaches at Irving Elementary. The students contacted the individuals, created the interview questions (based on the guidance provided by Levine), and conducted the interviews. I then edited the interviews, some of which were about 30 minutes long, so that they could fit into the context of the production. I was careful during the editing process to represent the person accurately. The monologues are verbatim but spliced together from different moments in the interview.
The Interviewees
By interviewing people in our community, we are reminded that all of the characters in Working are real people. These people, and the labor they do, are essential but often invisible. We are grateful to all the interviewees for taking time out of their day to share their experiences with us.
The Workers
Alex C.
Kiersten J.
Thad K.
Zach K.
Jennifer P.
Jessica P.
Rikki P.
Janet S.
The Students
Zee B.
Jack C.
Meredith D.
Eli J.
--Jennifer Nostrala, Director
WORKING is a non-fiction musical. A musical documentary. The words spoken, and generally the words sung, did not spring from a writer's imagination; they were spoken by real people. It is not the only musical of its kind. There was a wonderful off-Broadway documentary musical in the seventies called THE ME NOBODY KNOWS. To some extent, A CHORUS LINE and RUNAWAYS are documentary musicals as well, though those two are significantly fictionalized. But suffice it to say it is a rare genre.
In musicalizing WORKING, Studs Terkel's insightful collection of interviews with people about their jobs, my fellow songwriters and I were determined to try to preserve the documentary quality of the text. Therefore, in most cases, we stayed as close as possible in our lyrics to the actual words of the characters portrayed.
The music has a similar intention. When I was first contemplating composing songs for WORKING, it quickly became apparent to me that, in order to have the music reflect the characters, I was going to wind up writing a great deal of pastiche. After all, I don't naturally write in the voice of an older black parking lot attendant. So I decided to invite other songwriters, from other backgrounds and with other natural styles, to join me in the enterprise. That black parking lot attendant, for instance, became the province of Micki Grant. James Taylor had a notion for a song for the Millworker, whom I had never even envisioned singing. Craig Carnelia knew how to compose music for a man struggling with retirement that was so evocative, one knows who he is from the music alone, without even having to hear the lyrics. Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead instinctively understood a teacher of long standing struggling with a changing neighborhood.
Of course there came a time when the show needed to be updated. Obviously, the workplace has changed greatly in the quarter-century since WORKING first opened. Just to cite one significant example, the advent of computers has made office work a very different experience. A monologue by a secretary about how she torments her boss by deliberately misspelling words is no longer valid in an era of word processers and Spellcheck. But in order to update, once again my fellow authors and I have striven to remain true to the documentary nature of the show. New interviews were conducted, and new material was based once again on the words of actual people.
We hope we have achieved our intention of honoring the real people whose words and lives we have borrowed for WORKING. And we hope you enjoy spending time in their company.
--Stephen Schwartz
Production Staff
Technical Director Natalie Hining-Bruce
Assistant Stage Manager. Lupe Contreras
Assistant Scenic & Props Designer Maddy Gunzenhauser
Assistant Costume Designer Robyn Aguilar
Deck/Prop Crew Head Vanna Freese
Deck/Prop Crew
Wardrobe Crew Head
Wardrobe Crew
Light Board Operator
Sound Engineer
Sound Board Operator
Sound Technician
Box Office Manager
House Manager
Head Usher
Ushers
Concessions
Poster Design
Keira McLain, Arseydia Rodriguez, Larry Schippers, Todd Whelan
Piper Jackman
Aurora Bales, Paisha Goodrich, Hannah Roth, Ian Wilde
Kenneth Norris
Chris Williams
Bekah Geerdes
Larry Schippers
Amanda Orozoco
Cade Clark
Hannah Larsen
Performers
Abby Hintz
Nayeli Mejia
Production Crew
Scene Shop Supervisor: NatalieHining-Bruce
LightingandSoundSupervisor:RickGoetz
Costume Shop Supervisor: CarolineFrias
Costume Construction Crew: Robyn Aguilar, Piper Jackman, Kylie Ozbun
Set Construction Crew: VannaFreeseUGA ,SeanChavez,SerymarMatiasMcMillan, AaronScholes
Lighting Crew: Nox Bazer, RebekahGeerdes,McFarland, MaxMonroe,LarrySchippers
Sound : LupeContrerasUGA
Properties:MaddyGunzenhauserUGA
Simpson Productions:
Production Assistant: Hannah Larsen UGA
Marketing: Abby Hintz UGA
Audience Services: Amanda Orozoco UGA
Faculty Supervisor of Marketing: Jennifer Ross Nostrala
Educational Outreach Coordinator: Ann Woldt
Faculty Supervisor for Audience Services: Kara Raphaeli
Simpson Productions Student Leadership
Simpson Productions Scholarship Students
Scholarship recipients hold theatre as an essential part of their lives and are an integral part of the Simpson Productions company.
Cadence Clark
Lyza Cue
Vanna Freese
Rebekah Geerdes
Paisha Goodrich
Maddy Gunzenhauser
Abby Hintz
Piper Jackman
Hannah Larsen
Keira McLain
Kenneth Norris
Kylie Ozbun
Arseydia Rodriguez
Hannah Roth
Larry Schippers
Ian Wilde
PerformingArts Theme House
The Performing Arts Theme House focuses on supporting the performing arts on campus by sponsoring workshops and hosting a monthly cabaret style show, The Underground. This is the twenty-sixth consecutive year for the PA House.
Piper Jackman (house manager), Lyza Cue,Maxwell Wearmouth-Gweah, Jasper McGrath
UGA-UndergraduateAssistants
Undergraduate Assistants are positions across campus that are designed to offer students the opportunity to gain practical, in-depth experience complementing their formal education.
2024-2025 UGAs
Lupe Contreras-Sound
Vanna Freese-Tech Assistant
Maddy Gunzenhauser-Props
Abby Hintz-Marketing
Hannah Larsen-Production Assistant
Amanda Orozoco-Audience Services
Upcoming Shows
Medea
By Euripides
Pote Theatre March 28-30, 2025
Lies, betrayal, and revenge culminate in this Greek tragedy as a passionate exploration of the depth of Medea’s pain.
Aesop’s Fables
Adapted by James Brock
Barnum Studio Theatre April 25-26, 2025
Four of Aesop’s best loved fables, ‘The Fox and the Crow,’ ‘The Hare and the Tortoise,’ ‘The Donkey In the Lion’s Skin,’ and finally, ‘The Fox and the Sour Grapes,’ are delightfully created in this interesting approach to storyteller’s theatre. All the scene changes and costume adaptations are done in full view of the audience. As the actors become the Rabbit, the Turtle, the Fox, the Crow, or the Donkey in the Lion’s skin, the audience is brought into the action of the play by seeing the change from actor to character and back to actor again.
Forticketsandinformation,goto https://events.humanitix.com/host/simpson-productions
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Simpson Productions Would Like to Thank:
Members of the Simpson College football team
Simpson Productions Mission Statement
Founded in 2019, Simpson Productions is an interdisciplinary, collaborative partnership between the departments of Theatre and Music at Simpson College. Previously two separate production entities, this merger of theatrical and operatic programming fosters greater creativity and connectivity across the college, allowing us to share resources, experiences and talents of students and professors alike. We seek to offer innovative and diverse programming to both the Simpson community and the greater Central Iowa region, keeping our college’s values of curiosity, discovery, and integrity at the core.
Vision
To create a unique, nationally recognized academic performance community for the study and practice of theatre and opera.
Mission
• To present high quality productions which offer our students and audiences experiences that embrace diverse performance modes.
• To explore performance as a communication tool and form of service that can reach multiple audiences.
• To provide students various opportunities to design, perform, and create collaboratively.
Into the Woods 2023
Caroline Frias
Costume Designer
Costume Shop Supervisor; Courses in Design and Tech
Rick Goetz
Natalie Hining
Jennifer Ross Nostrala
Lighting and Sound Designer Courses in Design and Tech
Scene Designer
Technical Director, Scene Shop Supervisor; Courses in Design and Tech
Simpson Productions Producer; Courses in Directing, Acting, Literature, Script Analysis; Director
Kara Raphaeli
Damon Stevens
Ann Woldt
Assistant Professor; Courses in Directing, Plays and Performances, Script Analysis; Director
G. Dewey and M. Maine Larsen Chair in Opera; Courses in Music History, Ensembles, CollaborativePiano,Opera; Conductor
Theatre Department Chair; Outreach Coordinator; Courses in Acting, Voice, Arts Management, Interpretation; Director