Theater Department Presents <em>Working</em>: March 7-17

Working, a musical based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book, opens Wednesday, March 7, in the Donald Savage Theater and Communication Building's Flexible Theatre.

The production runs through Saturday, March 17.

In his book, Terkel interviewed dozens of everyday workers—from parking lot attendants to bricklayers. Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted Terkel's book into a musical with songs by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, James Taylor, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, and Stephen Schwartz.

Drew Kahn, Working director and professor of theater, said the production is the original play to the word, however, the cast of 10 actors, three band members, and two stage managers have adapted some of the music to connect with the theme “Listen to the extraordinary dreams of ordinary people.”

Although originally staged in Chicago in 1977, Working is a perfect performance for modern-day Buffalo. Kahn points out that the musical addresses the blue-collar values that built this town and, in the era of “Occupy Buffalo,” tells the story of the “99-percent of us” who work for a living in America.

“Working is not a typical ‘book musical,’ consisting of a series of monologues and songs with one cohesive story to drive the action forward,” Kahn said. “This production has required the cast members to engage and unleash their creativity and imaginations in profound ways.”

Performances are at 8:00 p.m. March 7-10 and March 14-17, and at 2:00 p.m. March 10 and 17. Tickets cost $6 for Buffalo State students; $10 for Buffalo State faculty, staff and alumni, other students, and senior citizens; and $15 general admission. (716) 878-3005.