WORKING 2017 World Premiere Play Opens Tonight at Whitefire Theatre

The Actors Gym, in association with the Whitefire Theatre, present the world premiere of WORKING 2017 conceived by Bobby Moresco ("Crash"), developed and directed by members of Bobby Moresco's Actors Gym, produced by Bryan Rasmussen, Bobby Moresco, Will Clevinger and Elliot Smith. The play is a fresh look at the struggle of the middle class in Studs Terkel's Working updated with new characters. The play runs Thursdays, October 5 through November 9 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA.

The cast, writers and directors include the talents of Emma Barrett, Tom Bower, Patrick Brennan, Tonya Corneliese, Bob Costanzo, Maggie Mae Clearly, Anne DeSalvo, Eddie Goines,Elizabeth Grullon, Julia Huff, BEverly Leech, Robert Mangiardi, Robert Marlowe, Larry A. McLean, Leo Rossi, Goya Robles, Pauline Schantzer, Isabel Serrano, Krissy Shook, Howie Skora, Allan Steele, Javier Molina, Amanda Moresco, Jessica Moresco, Jeremiah O'Brien, Michael Pare, Thomas Polanski, Bryan Rasmussen, Ryan Surratt, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Amy Smallman-Winston. David Svengalis serves as Technical Director. Derrick McDaniel.is the Lighting Designer.

Author Stud Terkel's best known book Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do consists of more than one hundred interviews "...with everyone from gravediggers to studio heads...(it) provides a timeless snapshot of people's feelings about their working lives, as well as a relevant and lasting look at how work fits into American life." In Bobby Moresco's own words, "I felt some responsibility to speak to it. The idea of marrying what Studs Terkel did in the original Working and what Camus explored in (his philosophical essay) "The Myth of Sisyphus," the idea that work is the essential question in one's life. And it will either destroy you, or be your salvation. That's intriguing in a very contemporary way for me. Camus suggests that one must imagine Sisyphus happy. It seems essential."

Moresco "...brought the idea into the Actor's Gym Saturday afternoon sessions (at the Whitefire Theatre) presented it to the writers and actors in the group, and asked them to consider writing a character study that might explore the ideas outlined above. I gave them a structure to work with. And they went to work. It was about a two-year journey where everyone continued to put forth ideas, dialogue, characters, and then a reworking, until we wound up with what is now the play. The world premiere of WORKING 2017 opens tonight, October 5 at 8:00 pm, and runs Thursdays at 8:00 pm, October 5 through November 9. Appropriate for ages 18+. Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets and for information working2017.brownpapertickets.com or 800 838-3006. The Whitefire Theatre is located at 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks 91423.

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