Review: 'Working The Musical' by Naugatuck Teen Theater

"I hear America singing..."

Naugatuck, CT - Naugatuck Teen Theater chose ‘Working The Musical’ for their fall production presented at St.Michael’s Church on the Green. NTT is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the theatrical development of area seventh to twelfth grade students that is known for their two superior theatrical productions each year. ‘Working’ was directed by the new dad Matthew Cornish, with musical direction by Meric Martin in his first NTT production and choreography by Jean-Marie McGrath.

NTT Chairman of the Board Robert Rosa notes that since 2013 over two dozen seniors have graduated from the program and then headed to college. He also writes that his seventh show as chairman was a challenging one for various reasons, but the amount of hard work put in by everyone is evident in the finished product.

‘Working’ was based upon the book by Studs Terkel and adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (‘In the Heights,’ ‘Hamilton,’) Mr. Schwartz and James Taylor. The hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this rather unique musical. The everyday lives of these common people are made more compelling with the inspiring score and can easily reach anyone who is or was a worker. Based on Mr. Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, ‘Working’ paints a touching portrait of the men and women that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman and the housewife, and many more. I liked how one character’s monologue often gently passed off to the next.

My favorite musical numbers included the opener “All the Livelong Day,” “Brother Trucker,” “Millwork,” and the closing song “Something to Point To.” In these the lead singers and ensemble members worked together with precision.

Because the cast was so large, most of the teens got to play one worker and then round out the ensemble numbers. Woodland HS senior Jacob Marks opened the show as an ironworker, followed by Kennedy Morris, a ninth grade student at Chase Collegiate,who first portrayed a project manager. Ms. Morris has already been involved in over 60 productions and is an accomplished singer that showed off her amazing talent in this production.

WAMS freshman Eric Canfield appeared as a fast food worker and NHS senior Emily Wilcox, a member of the school’s Chamber Singers, was a hedge fund manager. Eleventh grade student Hannah Lavergne was an aging schoolteacher and Sydney Lauer, a junior at NHS, was a traditionally dressed flight attendant. Ms. Lauer appeared in last year’s production of ‘Afraid of the Dark’ at her high school and will be a part of ‘The Dragon’ in March of next year.

Naugatuck HS junior Quentin LaBrecque was an interstate trucker and NHS senior Hanna Zeliantsova worked in tech support. Naugatuck HS sophomore Anna Conforti was a lovely receptionist and sophomore Katelyn Lamprey led a chorus of housewives. Woodland HS freshman Nicholas Santovasi, who is a Blessed Sacrament Children’s Theatre alum, wore the brown uniform as the UPS delivery man. Eliana Cambra, a sophomore at Woodland Regional HS, was flashy prostitute and Sydney Lauer came back as a fundraiser. Sofia Dadamo, a freshman at WAMS, led the chorus of millworkers as Kennedy Morris played guitar with the pit orchestra.

Eric Canfield returned as a community organizer and ninth grade student Tyler White was a dedicated stone mason. NHS freshman Jackeline Mota was a publicist and Jessica Sember, a NHS junior, commanded the stage as a singing waitress. Nonnewaug HS senior Jakob Kelsey, who played Lucas in ‘The Addams Family at his high school, took on the role of an aging retiree and Holy Cross HS freshman Matthew Keating, a veteran of Blessed Sacrament Children’s Theatre ‘The King and I’ whose hair has grown back, was a firefighter. Mr. Keating thanked BSS director Bob Tansley in his bio for introducing him to theatre.

Woodland junior Adam Murray portrayed an elder care worker, WAMS sophomore Julianna Nascimento was a nanny and WAMS junior Dania Fedrick (‘Dreamgirls’ and ‘Hairspray’ by Landmark) played a cleaning lady, and wow, did this young lady sing amazingly her solo in “Cleanin’ Women!” Ms. Fedrick will be seen with her father in ‘Fences’ at the Ridgefield Playhouse in February.

Anna Conforti was back as a student and Claire Roberts of Watertown, a 12-year-old BSS veteran who is now old enough to join NTT, had a monologue as an ex-newsroom assistant.

The ensemble was comprised of Naugatuck HS junior Allison Bolduc, Woodland senior Cassie Crowley, Farmington HS freshman Makayla Hart and Woodland freshman Jaden Young. The audience gets a rare glimpse into the backstage workings of the actors and technicians and the show definitely opened with audible cues being called. Without explanation, such devices never appeared again.

The orchestra under the direction of Mr. Martin included Danielle O’Neil on piano, Derek Monahan on guitar, Paul Bilodeau on bass and the conductor on drums and mandolin. Aurora Montenero provided the costumes for the large cast and Ian Diedrich and Dan Wagoner designed the lighting. John Lauer assisted with the magnificent letters on the set. Photos are by stage manager Kerri Morris and Robert Rosa.

Kudos to all of the talented teens that were part of this production and thanks to all of the adults who worked with them this season. I apologized to Mr. Rosa that I was unable to attend a performance of ‘Working’ until the closing matinee and I appreciated the fact that an ad I submitted to the NTT program a couple of years back still appears in the program. Coming in the spring for NTT will be ‘Romeo and Juliet.’

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417