The newest play by Rob Ackerman, CALL ME WALDO takes a comic and insightful look at the workplace, upending stereotypes about the working class when an ordinary electrician begins channeling the spirit of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Mr. Ackerman's earlier comedy TABLETOP -- also set in the workplace, behind the scenes at the making a television commercial -- enjoyed much critical success when Working Theater debuted the play Off-Broadway in 2000.
Now in its 27th season, Working Theater is New York's only professional Off-Broadway theatre company dedicated to producing plays for and about the working men and women of New York. Past productions include Lisa Ramirez's play about nannies, EXIT CUCKOO directed by Colman Domingo; Roberto Aguirre Sacasa's KING OF SHADOWS; PORT AUTHORITY THROW DOWN; HOLD PLEASE; ABUNDANCE; RECONSTRUCTION; WAITER, WAITER; Israel Horovitz's HENRY LUMPER and many others. CALL ME WALDO is the third play by Rob Ackerman to debut at Working Theater following TABLETOP and DISCONNECT. Last season Working Theatre presented the acclaimed premiere of Stephanie Zadravec's HONEY BROWN EYES. Mark Plesent is Working Theater's Producing Artistic Director.
In addition to TABLETOP, Mr. Ackerman is the author of ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES (later a film starring Amanda Peet), DISCONNECT (presented in 2005 by Working Theatre), LOONS (EST) and VOLLEYGIRLS. He has been Prop Master for NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE for many years, working on numerous commercial parodies such as "Schmitt's Gay Beer," "Mom Jeans," "Chewable Pampers" and "Red Flag Perfume."
Margarett Perry has directed Brian Dykstra's plays CLEAN ALTERNATIVES Off-Broadway at 59E59 (Fringe First Award-Edinburg) and A PLAY ON WORDS, along with THE BODY POLITIC by Richard Abrons and the NY premieres of WELCOME TO ARROYO'S, FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, SPILL THE WINE, COMPETING NARRATIVES and MOTHER TONGUE. She has directed over 15 productions at Ithaca's Kitchen Theatre and served as Producing Artistic Director of Access Theater in NYC for several years.
Matthew Boston appeared in THE BODY POLITIC (59E59), Mr. Ackerman's DISCONNECT, at SoHo Playhouse in MAGIC HANDS FREDDY and in A RITUAL OF FAITH on Theatre Row. His numerous regional credits include roles at Hartford Stage, Intiman, Tale Rep, Huntington Theatre Company and ACT.
Brian Dykstra is an actor, playwright and HBO Def Poet. In addition to appearing in his own play CLEAN ALTERNATIVES Off-Broadway, he has appeared in RED at St. Louis Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse, PRIVATE LIVES (Ithaca's Kitchen), COPENHAGEN (Arizona Theatre Company), among others. His solo works include THE JESUS FACTOR, CORNERED & ALONE and HO! Film and TV: HBO's "Def Poetry," "Chappelle's Show," "Freedomland" and "Knight and Day."
Rita Rehn has appeared on Broadway in NINE, A CHORUS LINE and ROYAL FAMILY. She's toured the U.S. in TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE with Valerie Harper. Other credits include DEFIANCE and OUR LEADING LADY at Manhattan Theatre Club, AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND.
Jennifer Doer White has performed Off-Broadway in SEALED FOR FRESHNESS, THE FLASHING STREAM, THE 'A' WORD, WOMEN OF MANHATTAN and PERA PALAS. She appeared last season in THE PLAY ABOUT MY DAD (59E59) and in BETTER LEFT UNSAID and BORN OF CONVICTION (Irondale Center).
Set & lighting design is by David L. Arsenault; sound design is by Don Tindall; costume design is by Hannah Kochman.
Other highlights of the Working Theater season include a night of poetry reading featuring the work of 2011 U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning working class poet Philip Levine with guest readers including Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jeffrey Eugenides.
For tickets or more information, visit www.theworkingtheater.org.
CALL ME WALDO runs through March 11.
