Working

Madeline Anderson (Rose Hoffman) is a fourth-year double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education. She is thrilled to be making her Theatre UCF debut! Previous credits include Chicago (U/S Mary Sunshine), As It’s Written (U/S Parker), Phantom of the Opera in Concert (Carlotta) and The Diary of Anne Frank (Mrs. Van Daan).

Frankie Benitez (Swing, Woman #5 and Woman #6) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Recent theatre credits include Clue (Ms. Scarlet) and L’orfeo (La Speranza).

Alexa Boese (Grace Clements) is a senior in the BFA Musical Theatre and Dance Minor programs at UCF. She was most recently involved in Theatre UCF’s productions of Shrek (Blind Mouse #1) and First Date (U/S Woman 1). Professional credits include A Chorus Line (Tricia, U/S: Cassie, Shelia, and Judy) - Theater West End, Sister Act (Sister Mary Celeste), 9 to 5 (Ensemble), Mamma Mia (Ensemble) and Rock of Ages (Ensemble) - McLeod Summer Playhouse. Other credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaff), Once Upon A Mattress (Lady Larkin) and Bring It On (Skylar). @alexaboese

Manuella Guerra Canal (Woman #1, U/S Grace Clements) is a sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include Shrek (Dragon) and First Date (U/S Casey). She has also been seen in Project Spotlight’s Race to Infinity (Stage Directions, U/S Lucia, U/S Guadalupe/Mrs. Ramos). Other theatre credits include Beauty and the Beast (Belle) and Urinetown (Soupy Sue). @manuellaguerrac

Kane Carter (Ralph, U/S Mason, U/S Joe) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is his Theatre UCF debut. His other credits include My Fair Lady (Freddy), as well as the devised productions of Tarzan (Ensemble/Assistant Director) and East of the Sun (The Prince/Assistant Director). @Kanecarterj

Marc Chinea  (Man #2, U/S Frank Decker)  is making his Theatre UCF debut. He is a third-year transfer student in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Other theatre credits include Mamma Mia! (Sam), Chicago (Billy Flynn) and Not Ready for Prime Time. He enjoys tap dancing, fishing and playing Ukulele.

Jillian Cossetta (Woman #3, U/S Kate Rushton) is a sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre and Dance Minor program. She has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in Welcome to the Moon (Mary, U/S Sally) and in Shrek The Musical (Fairy Godmother, U/S Princess Fiona, Ensemble). Other theatre credits include Something Rotten! (Ensemble/Assist. Dance Captain), The Wedding Singer (Julia) and Legally Blonde (Elle). @jilliancossettaperformer

Jaden Doig (Raj Chadha/Tech Support) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Acting program. Some of his previous performances include The Addams Family Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, and Mamma Mia. This will be his first time performing at Theatre UCF. Jadendoig.com

Isabella Fedele (Woman #7) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program with a minor in Dance and Health Services Administration. Theatre UCF productions include The Wolves (#13), Scaramouch in Naxos ( Satyr) and The Crucible (Abigail Williams). She spent her summer working in the theme park industry as an actor at Cedar Point in Ohio. Other theatre credits include Hello Dolly! (Minnie Fay) and Godspell (Lindsay). @isa.fedele

Johnny Flannagan (Mike Dillard/Tom Patrick) is a second-year transfer student in the BFA Musical Theatre program. He was most recently seen in Sandusky, Ohio as a performer on Snake River Expedition at Cedar Point. Theatre UCF credits include First Date (U/S Aaron) and Shrek the Musical (King Harold, Big Bad Wolf, Captain of the Guard, and U/S Shrek). @johnnyboy_flannagan

Emilee Mari Fruscella (Terry Mason/U/S Roberta) is a second-year student in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is Emilee’s second show at Theatre UCF! Some of her favorite credits include First Date (Casey U/S), The Addams Family (Morticia), Oklahoma (Laurey) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator U/S). @emileemariii

Kayla Rose Ginty (Ellen Epstein, U/S Charlie Blossom) is a fourth year in the BFA Musical Theatre program at UCF. Previous Theatre UCF credits include First Date (Casey), The Rover (Ensemble, U/S Valeria) and Songs of Inspiration. Kayla spent this past summer performing at Playland Park in Rye, New York as the lead band singer for 'Off the Record' as well as being the sole swing and company manager. @kaylaginty

Erin Greening (Roberta Victor, U/S Terry Mason) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. She has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in The Wolves (U/S #14) and Songs of Inspiration (Vocalist). Other theatre credits include The Wedding Singer (Ensemble), The Little Mermaid (Ursula) and State Fair (Emily Arden). @eringreening

Giselle Gutierrez (Woman #4, U/S Theresa) is a freshman in the BA Theatre Studies program. This is her Theatre UCF debut. Her previous theatre credits include Bright Star (Alice), Moon Over Buffalo (Roz) and The Addams Family (Ensemble).

Woodrow Jackson Helms (Frank Decker, Anthony Coelho, U/S Rex Winshi) is a senior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. UCF credits include First Date (Aaron), Shrek the Musical (Pig, Bishop), Blood at the Root (Colin) and A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Inspector Pinkney). Woodrow recently returned from his summer 2022 professional internship at Cedar Point, where he performed in the comedic musical revue, Lusty Lil’s Lil-Abration. @woodrow.helms

Dakota Jenkins (Amanda Mckinney U/S Delores Dante) is a second year in the BFA Musical Theatre program. She has been seen on the Theatre UCF stage in Shrek (Blind Mouse #2 ) as well as The Wolves (U/S #2 #8). Other recent credits include Chicago at the Dr. Phillips Center  (U/S Roxy) and 42nd Street at Alhambra Theatre and Dining (Dianne). Dakota is also pursuing her Minor in Dance at UCF.

Alyssa Johnson (U/S Maggie Holmes and Women #6) is a first-year in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is her Theatre UCF debut. Her most recent credits include being a company member of the Dr.Phillips performance troupe called the Four Counts.

Emma Johnson (Charlie Blossom, U/S Ellen Epstein) is a first-year in the Secondary Education program (Theatre Minor). She is making her debut on the Theatre UCF stage. Other theatre credits include Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett) and Footloose (Vi Moore). She plans to teach theatre after graduation!

Makenna Kirsch (Candy Cottingham, U/S Sharon Atkins) is a senior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. She is excited to be making her Theatre UCF debut. Makenna can be found at Universal Studios in Diagon Alley singing and dancing with Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. Some of her past credits include Universal’s Holiday Parade ft. Macy’s (Lemur), SeaWorld Orlando Electric Ocean (dancer), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Philia), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (dance captain/swing). @makennakirsch www.makennakirsch.com

Amy Lacey (Kate Rushton, Dramaturg) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program.  Theatre UCF credits include Shrek (Blind Mouse/Ensemble), First Date (U/S Woman 2) and Scaramouch in Naxos (Columbine). Recently, she was in the world premiere of the musical McBride’s Call as Julia Peel (cast recording now available on all streaming platforms). Offstage, she has been excited to dip her toe in the world of dramaturgy. @amylacey_

Aidan Leary (Conrad Swibbel, U/S Eddie Jaffe) is a freshman in the Theatre Pending program. This is his Theatre UCF debut.  His other acting credits High School Musical (Zeke Baylor) and All Shook Up (Ensemble). @lear_is_here

Eileen Lee (Dolores Dante, U/S Amanda McKinney) is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is their Theatre UCF debut! Other credits include Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman) and Matilda (Miss Honey). They are involved in the dance minor program and have been a part of the 2021 and 2022 UCF dance concerts. @eileenmlee_

Alex Leeds (Freddy, U/S Anthony, U/S Utkarsh) is a freshman in the Musical Theatre program.

Rachel Mertz (Swing) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is her Theatre UCF debut. Professional theatre credits include Nunsense (U/S Sister Leo), Matilda (The Acrobat) and Urinetown (Robbie the Stockfish). Other theatre credits include Chicago (Velma) and A Chorus Line (Bebe). She also works as a freelance Assistant Stage Manager for corporate events. @rachiemertz

Jessica Moore (Maggie Holmes) is a second-year transfer in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Other theatre credits include Shrek the Musical (Queen Lillian, U/S Dragon), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and Oklahoma! (Ado Annie).

Mackenzie Prince (Man #1, U/S Ralph Werner, U/S Conrad Swibel) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Acting program. This will be Mack’s Theatre UCF debut. Other credits include Spring Awakening (Melchior Gabor) and White Christmas (Bob Wallace). He is involved in Project Spotlight and volunteers as a director for children’s youth theatre.

Jose Rivera (Rex Winship, Eddie Jaffe, U/S Mike Dillard) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program and is excited to make his Theatre UCF debut. Previous theatre credits include Pippin (King Charles), Bright Star (Mayor Dobbs), Into The Woods (The Baker). @jrr.2004

Edgar Sanchez (Utkarsh, U/S Freddy) is a first-year transfer student in the BFA Musical Theatre program. This is his Theatre UCF debut. Edgar’s previous theatre credits include Children of Eden (Noah) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Jasper) at the State College of Florida. @edgysanchez

Madeline Rae Soriano (Theresa Liu) is a junior in the BA Theatre Studies program with a minor in Music and Hospitality Management. She is so excited to be making her Theatre UCF debut! Other theatre credits include Grease (Teen Angel), Parade (Sally Slaton), Legally Blonde (Chutney and Whitney), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ruth/Mama) and Mamma Mia (Lisa). She also is the Vice President of Glee Club at UCF and is an active member of one of UCF’s music fraternities, Sigma Alpha Iota (Zeta Tau). @maddy_raee

Jameson Stobbe (Man #3, Assistant Music Director) is a third-year in the BFA Musical Theatre program. His Theatre UCF credits include First Date (U/S Aaron, U/S Man 1), Songs of Inspiration Concert (Soloist) and Much Ado About Nothing (First Watchman, U/S Claudio). He’s recently performed at the Athens Theatre in DeLand in their productions of Rock of Ages (Franz) and Ragtime (Younger Brother). @jamesonstobbe

Marquis Stubbs (Man #5, U/S Raj Chadra) is a freshman in the Theatre Pending program. This is his very first Theatre UCF production. His previous theatre credits include The Addams Family (Gomez) and Frozen (Kristoff) in a Disney Broadway Magic Production of Colder By The Minute. @marqui_qui

Haley Sweat (Sharon Atkins, U/S Candy Cottingham) is a senior in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Previous credits include Mamma Mia! (Sophie), School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins), Into The Woods (Little Red) and Godspell (Lindsey). She is involved with numerous on-campus organizations and teaches youth dance classes in her spare time. haleysweat.com

Terry Thomas (Joe) is a Music Specialist at Theatre UCF. He holds a Masters’ Degree from Indiana State University in Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis and a graduate assistantship in Music Theory. Terry is making his debut on the Theatre UCF stage. Other theater credits include Singin’ In The Rain (Cosmo), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Gregory), The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), The Gingerbread Lady (Jimmy) and A Class Act (Lehman Engel).

Sienna Weir (Woman #5) is a sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Her theatre credits include And The World Goes Round (show opener). She also has experience working as an usher for Plant City Entertainment.

Natalie Werba (Woman #2 and U/S Rose Hoffman) is a sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Her previous theatre credits include Welcome To The Moon (Betsy), Pippin (Fastrada) and Bright Star (Lucy Grant). She has been showcased at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center: Applause Awards for the past four years as a medley lead, outstanding performer and alumni performer.

Ella Zarrilli (Swing for Woman #1, Woman #3, and Woman #7) is a freshmen in the BFA Musical Theatre program, and this is her Theatre UCF debut. Some of her past credits include Bring it On! (Eva), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ella). She also has been a volunteer at BCCT, teaching children’s theatre for children grades 1-5.

Stevie Bleich (Lighting Designer) is a senior in the BFA Design and Technology program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include Fabulation (Programmer), Welcome to the Moon (Production Electrician, Programmer), As It’s Written (Lighting Designer) and Songs of Inspiration (Co-Lighting Designer). Other credits include Lizbeth (Assistant Lighting Designer) and Bohemian Heat Repertory Concert (Programmer).

Sabrina Boudreaux (Wardrobe Supervisor) is a senior in the BA in Theatre Studies program with a minor in Education. Their previous Theatre UCF credits include UCF Celebrates the Arts (Company Manger) and Indecent (A2).

Taylor Bray (Assistant Stage Manager) is a second-year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management program. Their previous Theatre UCF credits include Race to Infinity (Stage Manager), UCF Celebrates the Arts (Stage Manager) and The Wolves (Production Assistant). Other theatre credits include Privilege (Main Ensemble) at Valencia College. They have also been involved with numerous productions and summer camps at Penguin Point Productions.

Isabel Gallman (Wardrobe Crew) is a first-year theatre student. Isabel has most recently performed in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown the Musical ( Lucy Van Pelt) and Into The Woods (Narrator).  She was a member of the American Musical Theater and Vocal Ensemble for four years.

Kaitlyn Gamory (Sound Designer) is a junior in the BFA Design and Technology program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include Shrek the Musical (A2), Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Assistant Sound Designer), First Date (A2), To Saints and Stars (Sound Designer), The Amphibians (Sound Designer) and Knights’ Ghostlight Podcast.

Kaitlyn Gill  (Production Assistant) is a second-year transfer in the BFA Stage Management program. She made her Theatre UCF debut as an assistant stage manager for The Body during this past summer’s Pegasus PlayLab. She also worked on the stage management team for UCF Celebrates the Arts 2022.

Jaime Happel (Deck Crew) is a third-year in the BFA Acting program with a Dance Minor. She has previously participated in Theatre UCF’s Shrek the Musical (Elf/Rat Tapper/US Dragon Puppeteer), Blood at the Root (U/S Asha), and Still Life with Iris (Iris).This summer, she had the opportunity to dance her heart out at Theater West End in their production of A Chorus Line (Lois/US Bebe, Maggie, Connie). @jaimehappel

 Caelus Leadley (Followspot Operator) is a freshman Theatre Pending student. This is his Theatre UCF debut. His previous credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (ASM), Newsies (Sound Board Operator), and The Addams Family (Crew). @caelus.a.le

Leslie MacMillan (Props Manager and Scenic Charge Artist) is a senior in the Design Technology BFA program. Previous Theatre UCF credits include Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Scenic Charge) and Shrek the Musical (Scenic Charge). Additionally, she is a professional fine artist, focused on textiles and is very involved in the Central Florida arts community. LKMArtist.com

Cassandra McKay (Stage Manager) is in her final semester in the BFA Stage Management program. Theatre UCF credits include Shrek (ASM), First Date (ASM), A Knight of Dance 2021 (PA), Dear Helena (SM). Other credits include A Little Night Music, Andy Warhol in Iran at Barrington Stage Co., Noises Off, Once, Importance of Being Earnest, A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors at Cape Playhouse, Evita, Showboat, La Cage Aux Folles and Newsies.

Jonanthony Rodriguez Olivero (Scenic Designer) is a senior in the Design and Technology program. He  plans to pursue a career in themed entertainment industry as a set designer. His previous UCF credits  include a Knight of Dance (Wardrobe Crew) at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2021 and Indecent (Assistant  Projection Designer). He also gained experience collaborating in the UCF scene shop building sets for  UCF productions.

Sefa Ozbay (Wardrobe Crew) is a senior in the Film program with a minor in Theatre. His previous theatre credits include The Tempest (Ferdinand), The Addams Family (Uncle Fester), The Servant of Two Masters and Black Comedy (Georg Bamberger).

Bridgett Rojas (Assistant Stage Manager) is in her second-year of the BFA Stage Management program. Her previous Theatre UCF credits include Orlando Repertory Theatre’s Youth Academy: Magic Treehouse: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens Jr (Production Assistant), Fabulation or the Re-Education of Undine (Production Assistant), Spells of the Sea (Assistant Stage Manager).

Lukas Royer (Sound Board Operator/A1) is a third-year transfer in the BFA Design and Technology program. His previous credits include Shrek (A2), Welcome to the Moon (Assistant Sound Designer) and Sombra Del Sol (A2).

Tyler Simons (Assistant Director) is a senior in the BA Theatre Studies program. His past Theatre UCF credits include Affinity Lunch Minutes (Assistant Director), Thaddeus Blair: Werewolf Hunter (Director) and First Day (Director). He works at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in the education department and previously was involved in the educational student internship at Orlando Shakes.

Luis F. Williams (Followspot Operator) is a first-year transfer BFA Stage Management program. Recent projects include Mamma Mia!, The Addams Family Musical, Hairspray, Shrek The Musical where he worked as Assistant Director (Panama City, Panama). @luisfew18

Natalie Wynne (Wardrobe Crew) is a freshman in the BFA Musical Theatre program.  This is her Theatre UCF debut. Her favorite roles include Addams Family (Morticia) and Footloose (Vi Moore). In her free time, she loves traveling and spending time with family and friends. @ncharlotte_dream

Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit Wicked, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, Working (which he also adapted and directed), Rags, and Children of Eden. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie Butterflies Are Free. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, Captain Louie and My Son Pinocchio. He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s Enchanted as well as the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. His first opera, Seance on A Wet Afternoon, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.

Nina Faso made her directorial debut with Peter Ustinov's, The Unknown Soldier and His Wife. Following a stint with the improvisational comedy group: The Committee, she became one of the creators of Godspell and directed most major productions of the show in America and Europe. She then took The Rocky Horror Show from Los Angeles to Broadway. She co-adapted and co-directed the musical, Working based on Studs Terkel's book, for the Goodman Theater in Chicago and for Broadway. She co-wrote the teleplay for Working for the PBS series American Playhouse. She is the author and director of the children's television special, The Fable Company, and the co-producer and co-director of a short film called Sing for Your Life. Among her other directing credits are the musicals Just Once and Is It Just Me, Or Is It Hot In Here? which enjoyed long runs in New York and Los Angeles, respectively.

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).

 “One of the things [Working] taught me is that people reveal their biggest truths in small ways.”

-Craig Carnelia (Composer/Lyricist of “Just a Housewife”, “Joe,” “The Mason,” and “Something to Point To”)

In 1974, Stephen Schwartz encountered legendary radio broadcaster Studs Terkel’s book of interviews -- Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. Through reading these unsung heroes’ raw revelations of truth -- things impossible to admit in a normal conversation -- Schwartz (who had worked most of his life in entertainment) became aware of the hopes and dreams of these people and felt inspired to create the “Everyman’s Musical.”

A musical based on interviews was relatively unusual in the 1970s. In order to effectively theatricalize the unique stories of these Americans, many of whose lines are verbatim from Terkel’s original interviews, Schwartz enlisted the help of a multitude of composers whose unique styles would best serve the characters’ circumstances. James Taylor wrote “Millwork” and “Brother Trucker,” Micki Grant wrote “Cleanin’ Women,” and for the 2012 revival, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote “Delivery” and “A Very Good Day.” While this concept musical ditches the traditional linear narrative for vignettes, each one complements the other to create a silent, central consciousness. Each interview accentuates a through-line of the disparity and intersection between the “American Dream” and reality.

For many people, the word “America” is synonymous with “Work.” The concept of the American Dream is based on an ideal of equal opportunity wherein the highest aspirations, goals, and financial successes can be achieved through hard work. When Working was created in the mid-1970s, “The American Dream” felt like a distant fantasy for some and within reach for others. The nation was embroiled in the Vietnam War and a major economic recession. Many American households were under immense financial strain due to unchecked inflation and an energy crisis that quadrupled gas prices. At the same time, the rise of the feminist movement saw women trailblazing in male-dominated fields -- this meant further alienation between the spheres of work and home, a trend that has largely continued into the 21st century. In the last 50 years we’ve experienced a rise in dual-income households, delayed retirement, and increased higher education standards for baseline work.

Today, we find ourselves in another remarkable era for working people. In a nation shaken and still scrambling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are reevaluating their relationship with work. In addition to major job losses experienced over the past two years, there’s been an extreme uptick in people voluntarily quitting their jobs -- a movement aptly titled “The Great Resignation”. Motivating this surge are workers fighting for higher pay, more opportunities for advancement, childcare, and more dignity and respect in their workplaces. Many people have decided to continue remote work from home by choice, rather than necessity. Many students at universities across the country, including UCF, work tirelessly at outside jobs to fund their undergraduate education, only to be dismayed by the bleak wages still awaiting them upon graduation. Today, so many Americans cannot imagine a world in which they are not struggling to make ends meet.

Even as our relationships with the workplace evolve, Working remains timeless -- managing to both evoke nostalgia and keep pace with the times. In order to maintain its relevance, the show has gone through several revisions since its inception, introducing new characters such as the delivery boy, the tech support, and the nanny. Working reflects people from all walks of life, and every character is the hero of their own story. Their stories remind us that, as humans, we are connected to each other in more ways than we realize. Working is an opportunity to take pride in the uncelebrated labor of everyday Americans in a culture that idolizes celebrity influence. Thanks to the resilience of these unsung heroes to create a better tomorrow, the “American Dream” lives on.

-Amy Lacey