Mundelein Theatre Streaming Spring Musical - Working
Studs Terkel is a Chicago legend. He was a Pulitzer Prize winning author, historian, actor and broadcaster. He also had an impact on the theatrical stage when his 1974 nonfiction book of interviews with American workers, Working, was adapted into a Broadway musical. This show will be the spring musical presented by Mundelein Theatre. The show will be available for streaming on May 13, 14 and 15 at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students (plus fees). A family viewing package is also available. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.mundeleintheatre.org.
Working was adapted into a musical in 1978 by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell) and Nina Faso. The show has been updated several times over the years, and includes music by Schwartz, James Taylor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and others. The show paints a vivid portrait of the men and women who 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.
This Mundelein Theatre production was filmed on an outdoor set that was constructed in a courtyard at the school. “This entire year has been about trying new things and figuring out how to keep producing shows,” said Jonathan Meier, the show’s director. “The format of Working sets up perfectly for the limitations that we had to work under,” continued Meier. “It is also a wonderful piece of theatre, with a great message and a host of relatable characters. We had a great time filming, though we did have the challenges of rain, wind and sun, not to mention airplanes flying overhead and the occasional family of noisy birds swooping down to see what we were doing.”
The ensemble is led by seniors Bella Buono, Matthew Callas, Lucas Fuller, Joslyn Gange, Mira Guiritan, Kayla Kirton, Amari Liebe, Mary McMurray, Brenda Olayo, Megan Saunders and Zoe Trahan. Rounding out the cast are Stephanie Aquino, Tori Collins, Grace DiMilio, Madeline Demuth, Max Dunlap, Taylor Gates, Will Gonzalez, Gianna Horcher, Kalib Keblys, Abbey McFarland, Juliana Myrant, Katie Myrant, Chris Nacion, Leandro Ocampo, Rey Palacios, Addison Salski, Grace Sciortino, Marissa St. Clair, Zoe Van Krey, Eli Walter and Kessler Young. The student leadership teams consists of Rosy Castro, Meghan Matthys, Christopher Moyer, Dean Hahn, Andy Lacroix, Hailey Lindenbaum, Sam Roberts and Marley Wilkins.