In a time when essential workers have helped more than ever to care for our country and keep the public safe in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Menlo Drama department will pay homage to the workforce as they plan to perform the musical “Working” this springtime.

“I chose [‘Working’] because it celebrates the workforce,” Creative Arts Director Steven Minning said. “Last spring, I realized that this [pandemic] is going to be for some time and I was trying to think of how we could best continue what we perform and do musicals but still celebrate the reality of what’s going on today.” The musical “Working,” based off a 1974 book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, highlights everyday situations and reveals the stories, lives, dreams, hopes and aspirations of the familiar working people all around us. The audience will meet various non-fictional workers including the schoolteacher, the parking lot attendant, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman and the housewife.

While their real names have been changed, Schwartz and Faso tried to remain as accurate as possible to the characters’ original words. “It really makes a strong comment to respect and acknowledge the workforce has really helped us get through this pandemic,” Minning said.

The musical will spotlight one worker’s story at a time, making the musical easier to perform while adhering to COVID-19 regulations. “I thought it’s a good way for us to respect social distancing and all the proper protocol while still performing,” Minning said. 

San Mateo County recently moved to the orange tier, which allows the easing of certain restrictions. “We’re trying to adhere to the San Mateo County guidelines and working with [Upper School Director John Schafer] closely on this,” Minning said. 

Auditions for “Working” and the first two weeks of rehearsals took place on Zoom. “We’re now doing staging rehearsals without singing, and those we’re doing in the Spieker Center and on the back patio of the CADC,” Minning said. 

The drama department is still in the midst of figuring out how San Mateo’s guidelines will affect their performance. “We’re still planning on performing it live,” Minning said. The musical is set to run on April 30, May 1 and May 2 outdoors on the Upper School quad.