Initial casting for the European premiere production of Working: A Musical which will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 2nd June has been announced.
This highly original and universal portrait of the American workday is told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress amongst many – whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation.
Employing a range of musical styles and genres from contributing composers such as five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor and Pulitzer Prize winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton; In The Heights), Working makes for a strikingly dynamic and contemporary look at what it is to work and what it is to be a musical.
It has been confirmed that Gillian Bevan, Dean Chisnall, Krysten Cummings, Siubhan Harrison, Peter Polycarpou and Liam Tamne will be leading the cast for the European premiere of the musical, directed by Luke Sheppard.
Gillian Bevan’s stage credits includes playing the title role the RSC’s production of Cymbeline, the Witch in Into the Woods (Manchester Royal Exchange), Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot (West End), Polonia in Hamlet (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory).
Krysten Cummings originated the role of Mimi Marquez in the West End production of Rent, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination. She recently appeared in the UK arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Meanwhile, Dean Chisnall is currently playing the Narrator in Blood Brothers (UK Tour). His previous theatre credits include the title role in Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane & National Tour), LoveNever Dies (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre) and Never Forget (Savoy).
Siubhan Harrison was most recently seen on stage in Guys and Dolls (Savoy and Phoenix Theatres). Her other notable theatre credits include Lorene in From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Sally Simpson in Tommy (Prince Edward Theatre) and Rizzo in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).
Peter Polycarpou’s stage credits includes Buddy Fiddler in City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse), Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre) & Inspector Messiter in The Magistrate (National Theatre).
Liam Tamne most recently starred as Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show (UK Tour). His other theatre credits include Raoul, in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Enjolras in Les Misérables (The Queen’s Theatre) and Link Larkin in Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre).
Working is a genre defining musical created by Stephen Schwartz and is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. It originally premiered on Broadway in 1978, under the direction of Stephen Schwartz and has since then had a few revisions – including new songs written by Lin Manuel Miranda in 2009.
This new production is directed by Luke Sheppard and choreographed by Fabian Aloise. The production also features set design by Jean Chan, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Nic Farman and sound design by Tom Marshall.
Working will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 2nd June until the 8th July. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/working/