Depot Theatre’s second 2021 main stage production celebrates everyday heroes
Westport, NY — The Depot Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of its second 2021 main stage production, WORKING: A MUSICAL, with performances from July 22 – August 8.
Nominated for six Tony Awards, WORKING: A MUSICAL features vibrant portrayals of 26 real-life American workers – including a schoolteacher, trucker, housewife, fireman, and millworker – played by 6 actors. The show conveys how people’s relationships to their work reveal key aspects of their humanity. The musical includes songs by Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda and favorite numbers by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, and James Taylor.
Six vocal powerhouses comprise the cast, including Broadway and Depot Theatre alumni, along with some artists making their Depot debut.
The Depot’s own Producing Artistic Director, Kenney M. Green, will take the stage as Man #1 for this production. Along with being a seasoned director, choreographer, dancer, and musician, Green’s acting credits include: Off-Broadway: FINKS! (Ensemble Studio Theatre) and GROWING UP 70’s starring Barry Williams (Luther). National/European Tours: SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ starring Gladys Knight (Victor/Dance Capt.), AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, and THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Ensemble).
Broadway alum Brandi Chavonne Massey will play the role of Woman #2. Her credits include: West End Nala in Disney’s THE LION KING. Broadway and National Tours include roles such as Nettie/Celie in THE COLOR PURPLE; Elphaba in WICKED; The Radio in CAROLINE OR CHANGE; and Lucy in JEKYLL AND HYDE. New York projects include Ghetto Superstar singing background for Billy Porter as well as Sam Smith; Kira in BARE; Pam in BABY; Myrt in CARMEN JONES at the York Theater; Muse in the Nike workshop of Ball with L.L. Cool Jay and Savion Glover; Linda Eder’s Christmas Concert; and Dionne in HAIR in the Encore Series. She also has several T.V and film credits.
Amy Fitts is thrilled to be back at the Depot in the role of Woman #3. She’s worn many a wig and dress on the Depot stage, playing Philia in FORUM, Woman 2 in I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, Yum Yum in MIKADO, and more. In NYC she’s performed in shows at The Mint, Lucille Lortel, Joe’s Pub, and other downtown venues. She traveled Japan singing Disney songs with the Tokyo Philharmonic and performed closer to home at Peterborough Players (Laura, GLASS MENAGERIE), Weston Playhouse (HAIRSPRAY/AS YOU LIKE IT), and Cohoes Music Hall (Gooch, MAME).
Xavier Reyes plays the role of Man #2. Reyes is a storyteller from Puerto Rico and a graduate of upstate New York’s Ithaca College. Some favorite credits include Broadway’s National Tour of KINKY BOOTS in the USA, Japan, and Canada; Roy/Mark/Peter in FUN HOME at American Stage; Angel in HAIR at the Titusville Playhouse; Graffiti Pete in IN THE HEIGHTS at Geva Theatre/Melissa Rain Anderson; and Lynn Nottage’s SWEAT at Pioneer Theatre Company.
Terry Lewis and Thani Brant will be making their Depot Theatre debuts in WORKING. Lewis plays the role of Man #3. Favorite roles include: Frank-n-Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Selma Arts Center, Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf in INTO THE WOODS, and Black Stache in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at Stageworks Fresno.
Thani Brant will play the role of Woman #1. A 2021 graduate of the University of Michigan, with a BFA in Musical Theatre, recent credits include Touchstone in U of M’s AS YOU LIKE IT and Anna in SPRING AWAKENING with Exit Left Theatre Co.
The show is directed by Julie Lucido, an associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreography Society and a graduate of the University of California Santa Cruz in Theatre Arts. Lucido is thrilled to be making her Depot directing debut. “Celebrating the ‘every’ person, the worker, as the backbone of what makes the world go around is particularly important in this time,” said Lucido. “As we have been reminded, we should honor the essential workers, and how interconnected we are; the stories we will weave, share, and sing are so very important.”
The Depot Theatre’s production of WORKING: A MUSICAL runs Thursdays-Sundays from July 22 through August 8, 2021, and is sponsored by Chazy Westport Communications/Westelcom. The 2021 Season sponsor is Casella.
As a professional Actors’ Equity- and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society-affiliated theatre, the Depot must adhere to both government and union health and safety guidelines. As such, audience members are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Tickets and information are available by calling the box office at 518.962.4449 or visiting DepotTheatre.org.
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About The Depot Theatre
The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2021 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by Essex County Arts Council. www.DepotTheatre.org