Lyric Stage Company of Boston to Present WORKING, A MUSICAL, 1/3-2/1

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston presents WORKING, A MUSICAL, running January 3 - February 1, 2014. Press opening, Sunday, January 5, 3pm.

From the book by Studs Terkel, adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, with additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg. Songs by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz, and James Taylor.

Directed and choreographed by Ilyse Robbins with music direction by Jonathan Goldberg.

From the everyday lives of "ordinary" working people comes a musical that is anything BUT ordinary! Newly adapted in 2012 by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Wicked) and Nina Faso from Studs Terkel's magnificent oral history, Working reveals the hopes, dreams, joys, and concerns of the average working American by following 25 characters through one 24-hour workday. Schwartz wrote the songs along with James Taylor, Lin-Manuel Miranda, (In the Heights) and others, creating an inspired eclectic, tuneful, moving, and uplifting score.

CAST:

Tiffany Chen Woman 1

Merle Perkins* Woman 2

Shannon Lee Jones* Woman 3

Phil Tayler* Man 1

Cheeyang Ng Man 2

Christopher Chew* Man 3

Roles include: cleaning lady, community organizer, elder care worker, ex-newsroom assistant, fast food worker, fireman, flight attendant, fundraiser, hedge fund manager, housewife, interstate trucker, ironworker, millworker, nanny, project manager, prostitute, publicist, receptionist, retiree, schoolteacher, stone mason, student, tech support, UPS delivery man, waitress

CREATIVE TEAM:

Scenic Design, Anne Sherer

Costume Design, Rafael Jaen**

Lighting Design, John Malinowski

Sound Design, Brendan Doyle

Production Stage Manager, Natalie Lynch

Assistant Stage Manager, Samantha Setayesh

*Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

**United Scenic Artists (USA-Local 829)

The show runs January 3 - February 1, 2014, playing Wednesdays, Thursdays - 7:30pm; Wednesday matinees - 2pm, January 8 & 29; Fridays - 8pm; Saturdays - 3pm & 8pm; Sundays - 3pm; Press opening: Sunday, January 5, 3:00pm. Post-show Q&A with the artists: Sundays, January 5 & 19 after 3pm performance. VIP opening: Wednesday, January 8, 7:30pm (post-show reception with the artists at Zocalo Restaurant - open to all ticket holders). The Lyric Stage is located at 140 Clarendon Street, Copley Square, Boston, Mass.

Tickets: $25 - $65. Seniors - $10 off regular price. Student rush - $10. Group rates available. Box Office: 617-585-5678 or lyricstage.com. RUNNING TIME 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. For more information, visit lyricstage.com/blog, Facebook.com/LyricStageBoston or follow on instagram: @lyricstageboston

Ilyse Robbins (Director/Choreographer) makes her Lyric Stage directing debut with Working although she is no stranger to this stage. Choreography credits at The Lyric Stage: On the Town, Avenue Q, Kiss Me, Kate, Grey Gardens, Speech and Debate, Follies, Man of La Mancha, 1776, Urinetown (IRNE Award, Best Choreography), Shakespeare in Hollywood, A Little Night Music, When Pigs Fly '03, Dirty Blonde, Sunday in the Park with George, Curse of the Bambino, A, My Name Is Alice (IRNE Award, Best Choreography), The World Goes 'Round (IRNE Award, Best Choreography), She Loves Me, Never the Sinner, Assassins. Acting credits at The Lyric Stage: On the Town, Lost in Yonkers, She Loves Me, Urinetown, Shakespeare in Hollywood. Directing credits: Stoneham Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, UpStage Lung Cancer, Wheelock Family Theatre Summer Youth Intensive. Other choreography credits: Hanover Theatre, Stoneham Theatre (IRNE Award, Best Choreography for 42nd Street), New Rep (IRNE - Best Choreography for Das Barbecue), Fiddlehead Theatre, Overture Productions, Jewish Theater of New England, American Stage Festival, Boston Theatre Works, Wheelock Family Theatre, Museum of Science, Publick Theatre (IRNE Award, Best Choreography for Gypsy), Boston Women on Top Festival, Liberty Mutual, Fidelity. Other acting credits: Stoneham Theatre, New Rep (IRNE Award, Best Ensemble for The Wild Party), Hanover Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, New Arts at the Modern Theater, Fiddlehead, Reagle Players, Publick Theatre. Ilyse's production of Miracle on 34th Street that she directed is currently running at the Stoneham Theatre. She can next be seen playing the role of Dessa in Tongue of a Bird at the New Repertory Theatre. Ilyse holds a B.S. in Theater from Northwestern University and an Ed.M. from Harvard University. She teaches Creative Drama Ed. at Brandeis University and Jazz Dance/Jazz Dance History at Wheelock College. www.ilyserobbins.com

Tiffany Chen (Woman 1) last appeared in The Lyric Stage's production of One Man, Two Guvnors and was seen last season in Chinglish. Recent performances include Car Talk: The Musical!!! (Central Square Theater), Anything Goes (Suffolk University), Miss Saigon, LES MISERABLES, The Sound of Music, and When You Wish (Theater Under the Stars), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Texas Repertory Theater). She has also performed in various galas and recitals. Aside from performance, she loves her work at Blue Man Group at the Charles Playhouse. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support, especially Judy and Matt, Demps, and her BMG family.

Christopher Chew* (Man 3) returns to The Lyric Stage having appeared in Urintown: The Musical, Shakespeare in Hollywood, A Little Night Music (IRNE Award, Best Actor), Sunday in the Park with George, It's All True, Side Show, and The Spitfire Grill. He can be seen regularly serving in the role of Headmaster at North Middlesex Regional High School. Regional credits: Next to Normal, Johnny Guitar, The Wild Party (SpeakEasy Stage), and work at Wheelock Family Theater, Village Theatre Project, Stoneham Theater, and. Chris is a proud alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University Drama and a member of Actors' Equity. Christopher has a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Christopher thanks his phenomenal wife and children for enduring his schedule.

Shannon Lee Jones* (Woman 3) is making her Lyric Stage debut. Local regional credits include Carnival (Gloucester Stage Company), Into The Woods (Reagle Music Theatre), Cabaret and World Goes Round (New Repertory Theatre), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Foothills Theatre), My Fair Lady and Gypsy (Stoneham Theatre), and A Chorus Line (North Shore Music Theatre). Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles. National tours: A Chorus Line, La Cage Aux Folle (first national), Hello Dolly, and Funny Girl. Off Broadway: The Barrow Group's Things Being What They Are, Vic's Boy, and Tales of Hollywood (La Mama). Other Regional credits: Anything Goes, Drowsy Chaperon, Hairspray, Mame, Christmas Carol and I Do I Do (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Guys and Dolls (Long Wharf), Cabaret (Barrington Stage). Television & film credits include the soon to be released The Judge, Guiding Light, All My Children, and The Irving Berlin Special at Carnegie Hall. Shannon teaches the Alexander Technique at the Boston Conservatory.

Cheeyang Ng (Man 2) is making his Lyric Stage debut. Born and raised in Singapore, Cheeyang is a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music (B.Mus.) and a proud member of Actors' Equity. Recent credits include Miss Saigon (North Shore Music Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Stoneham Theatre), LES MISERABLES, Shrek, Annie Get Your Gun (Weathervane Theatre). In addition, he just made his New York City cabaret debut at The Duplex in a self-produced Jason Robert Brown tribute. Many thanks to the supportive Boston theatre community and Avalon Artists Group. Love to Mom and Dad. Cheeyang is also a composer working on a new musical for 2014. www.cheeyang.com

Merle Perkins* (Woman 2) returns to The Lyric Stage after having appeared in Crowns and And the World Goes 'Round. Ms. Perkins works as actor, singer, director, and teacher. New England credits: Caroline or Change, Company and The Wild Party (SpeakEasy Stage) Jacques Brel . . (Stuart Street Playhouse 2nd Stage), Jesus Has Two Mommies (Somerville Theatre and Copley Theatre), Ain't Misbehavin' and Living in Exile (Vineyard Playhouse), Harmatia Blues and Bel Canto (Theater Offensive and Wheelock Family Theatre), Derek Walcott's Walker (Boston Playwrights' Theatre). Her film work includes roles in Mermaids and All the Rage; her TV work includes a performance in the final season of the HBO series, Six Feet Under . She received her training at Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts and Boston University. Ms. Perkins also works as actor and director with the Emmy winning, innovative arts education program Urban Improv. She received her training at Boston University and Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts.

Phil Tayler* (Man 1) appeared at The Lyric Stage last season in Stones in His Pockets and On the Town, and previously in Avenue Q (Elliot Norton, Best Ensemble, W.I.S.E. Award), Big River, Kiss Me, Kate, Follies. Regional: Spring Awakening (Gloucester Stage), Big River (Arvada Center), Hair (New London Barn Playhouse). Boston-area (select): the title role in Floyd Collins, Of Mice and Men (Moonbox Productions), Marry Me A Little (New Repertory Theatre); LES MISERABLES (Reagle Music Theatre); other Boston-area companies Phil has worked with include Whistler in the Dark, Huntington Theatre Company, Swiss Stage, German Stage, Stoneham Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, Marblehead Little Theatre, Salem Theatre Company, Fiddlehead Theatre Company, Turtle Lane Playhouse, and Orfeo Group. Directing credits: Killer Joe, Dirty Story (The Boston Conservatory). TV: High School Stories (MTV 2). Phil can also be seen in Douglas Farwell Productions commercial One Liner for Hooker Beer, a micro-brewery based in CT. Look for him this spring as Billy Nolan in Carrie the Musical at SpeakEasy Stage.

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