Musical · 1977
Working
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and others, adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso from the book by Studs Terkel
A musical built from real workers' stories, with songs about teachers, firefighters, waitresses and others, based on Studs Terkel's book.
The story
Working is a musical in which a company of actors plays a wide range of everyday workers: a mail carrier, a waitress, an iron worker, a teacher, a retired person and many more. There is no single hero. Each character steps forward to tell what their job means to them, and the evening shifts between funny, tender and thoughtful.
The show was adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso from Studs Terkel's 1974 book of interviews with ordinary Americans about their jobs. Stephen Schwartz wrote songs, and other writers contributed songs too, including Craig Carnelia and James Taylor. It opened on Broadway in 1977, and the creators have updated the script over the years, so each production can feel slightly different.
What to look for
The score blends folk, pop and Broadway styles because different writers contributed. Songs to look for include the opening number, All the Livelong Day, in which the whole company sets the theme, and Millwork, a gentle ballad from a factory worker's point of view. Just a Housewife is a number many audiences remember. Each song works like a short portrait, so listen for the character in each one. It suits teenagers, families with older children and anyone who likes a show about real life.
Seeing it for the first time?
- Songs people know best include All the Livelong Day, Millwork and Just a Housewife.
- The cast plays many roles, so one actor may play several jobs.
- Running time is usually under two and a half hours with an intermission; ask your theater.
- Suitable for ages 10 and up.
- Scripts have been updated over time, so details may differ by production.
Written by PlayhouseFinder, reviewed October 2026.