Laredo College’s upcoming musical production, WORKING, pays homage to those at the heart of building a community, whether by laying bricks and foundations or planning for its future.
Performances are set for the weekends of Nov. 8 and 15 at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Theater. Saturday performances begin at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for the public, while LC staff and students may enter free with their ID at the door.
Audience discernment is advised due to intermittent harsh language.
“For WORKING, people need to understand how many hands sacrificed themselves to build the buildings in which we work, the homes in which we live, the roads on which we travel, and the cities in which we complete all of it,” noted LC Performing Arts and Communication Director David McGinnis. He added, “I hope this production reminds us of the many people who built, and continue to build, the two nations that share our city.”
McGinnis, who has been eager to produce WORKING since 2018, said the musical reflects how people around the world live their lives. The LC production features a localized version that showcases Laredo’s workforce through interviews and original material, reflecting the community that creates and experiences it. “I chose to produce this because the people of Laredo have welcomed me into their city and their lives, and this allows me to honor their voices,” McGinnis said.
WORKING is based on the book of the same name by Studs Terkel. It was adapted for the stage by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso. It is presented by special arrangement with Musical Theater International. The production features songs by Craig Carmella, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz, and James Taylor.
