How well do you know your office cleaning woman? How about the parking lot valet? The checkout girl at your local grocery? The UPS man? This summer, audiences at Theatre Horizon will get to know the real stories, hopes, and dreams of working Americans in the professional theatre company's re-imagined production of the rock-and-roll musical Working, running July 2nd-27th in King of Prussia.

Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews and adapted by Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), Working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the parking lot attendant, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman, and the housewife, and countless others. This unforgettable musical first came to life through the efforts of Schwartz and a number of other well-loved popular composers, including James Taylor, Mary Rodgers, and Craig Carnelia, eventually earning itself a total of 6 Tony nominations, including Best Book and Best Original Score for a Musical. Working has captured the attention of audiences across the nation and has become a staple in many regional, community, and university theatres thanks to its infectious score and visionary premise.

Artistic Director Matthew Decker was first drawn to this project because it is one of those rare musicals that is 'by the people for the people.' According to Decker, Working "gives voice to the disappearing middle class in this country-voices we too often to ignore or simply cannot hear. In reality, we all want to be heard, and this musical provides the perfect forum for appreciating the stories of real members of our community."

Thanks to a generous grant provided by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Theatre Horizon will take Studs Terkel's revolutionary premise one step further. The company has launched a project entitled "Our Community Works," which will weave the voices and likeness of actual workers from the Philadelphia region into the musical's soundscape and visual backdrop. Actors will find inspiration for their characters from these locals, and audience members can see photos and quotes from these local workers in an "Our Community Works" lobby display at the theatre. Theatre Horizon has become known for incorporating the stories of community members into its onstage work. "This exciting project will allow us to update and personalize Working, to gear it towards our own community," says Artistic Director Erin Reilly, "We wanted to take the same journey that Studs Terkel took , to turn to everyday people so that we could honorthe diligence, ingenuity, and perseverance of the American workforce." Theatre Horizon has already reached out to workers in each of the 26 professions featured in Working.

Decker's re-imagined production pares down the cast to six versatile actors who will become storytellers for each of the 26 workers featured in the play. This unique choice will highlight the work of the actor while also paying homage to each individual and his or her profession. "In this country, 'we are what we do,' but we are also so much more than just that. No one is 'just' a waitress. One waitress may be a mother, another, a student, and yet another, an aspiring artist," says Decker, "Directing this show has changed my perspective and inspired in me a profound respect for the workers of this community."

Theatre Horizon will invite community members to celebrate Independence Day on July 3rd with their own workforce-staff and crew members, designers, musicians, and actors will join audiences in an Apple Pie Picnic to kick off the holiday weekend. Theatre Horizon has also enlisted the help of economist Dr. Stephen Reilly of Cabrini College, to lead a post-show talk-back discussion on July 17th for audience members interested in knowing more about the realities of working-class life.

The production features Equity actress and Artistic Director Erin Reilly, alongside Ade Laoye and Rachel Camp, who return to the Theatre Horizon stage following their critically-acclaimed roles in last summer's production of Once on this Island. Rounding out the cast is Steven Wright (Walnut Street Theatre, 1812 Productions), of Philadelphia, and Joe Mallon (Kimmel Center, Montgomery Theater), of Newtown Square.

Tickets to Working are $10-$25 and are available at Theatre Horizon's website, www.theatrehorizon.org, or by calling (610) 283-2230.

PERF. DATES/TIMES:
July 2nd: 7:30 pm (PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN public dress rehearsal)
July 3rd: PREVIEW & Apple-Pie Picnic after the show!
July 5th, 8th: 7:30 pm - PREVIEW
July 6th: 2pm - PREVIEW matinee
July 9th : 7pm - OPENING NIGHT
July 10th: 7pm
July 11th, 12th: 8pm
July 13th: 2pm
July 17th: 7pm - Talk back with Dr. Stephen Reilly, Economics Professor
July 18th, 19th: 8pm
July 20th: 2pm
July 24th: 7pm
July 25th, 26th: 8pm
July 27th: 2pm

THEATRE: Produced by Theatre Horizon

LOCATION: Upper Merion Middle School Theatre, 450 Keebler Road King of Prussia, PA 19406

AGES: 13 and up

TICKET PRICES: $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $18 for students and children, $10 for all Preview Performances BY: Book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso , Lyrics by Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, Stephen Schwartz and Susan Brikenhead, Music by Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Mary Rodgers, Micki Grant and Stephen Schwartz, Based on the book Working by Studs Terkel, Directed by Matthew Decker

SPONSORS: Season: Allegiance Bank; Show: The King of Prussia Medical Building, Honorary Producers: Ritch & Lee Reilly, The MAE Group, Inc., Insurance Specialists

PRESS INFORMATION: Erin Reilly, Artistic Director, erin@theatrehorizon.org

TICKET INFORMATION: Buy online with NO SERVICE FEES at www.theatrehorizon.org or call 610-283-2230.