Production Requirements

This page is for producers intending to mount a production of Work Is Cheap. Casting, set, and other requirements are discussed below.

ORCHESTRA

REED 1 (FLUTE/ALTO SAX)
REED 2 (CLARINET/TENOR SAX)

REED 3 (BASS CLARINET/BARITONE SAX)

VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
GUITAR (ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC)

PIANO/SYNTHESIZER

BASS
DRUMS

CAST

Cast Size: Medium (11 - 20)

Cast Type: Ensemble (Six featured adults. Three Male. Three female. Age ranges from 16 to 45. Four Greek chorus types. Two Male. Two Female. Early 20s. At least three character actors to play various customers.)

Dance Requirements: Some movement for the six main characters; moderate dance for the Greek chorus members and the three multiple-role actors.

Casting Requirements: There are NO racial or physical “type” requirements for any of the characters. There are, however, age and vocal requirements. Actors should also match the character description. Vocal requirements and descriptions are as follows:

AMBROSIA - Character is 19. Optimistic every woman. Alto G3-F5.

RUDY - Character is 22. Cynical. Student. Angry. Tenor D3-G4.

TANYA - Character is 30. Assistant Manager. Wanting. Stuck. Alto F3-D5.

GARY - Character is 26. Loser. Self Important. Wanna be. Tenor E3-G#4.

MONICA - Character is 17. Lonely. Sexy. Attention Seeking. Soprano C#4-G5.

MARC - Character is 35. Company man. Out of his depth. Baritone D3-F4.

HAPPY #1 - Female. Low to Mid 20s. Spritely. Hip. Dancer. Alto B4-A#5.

HAPPY #2 - Female. Low to Mid 20s. Spritely. Hip Dancer. Alto F#3-F#4.

HAPPY #3 - Male. Low to Mid 20s. Spritely. Hip. Dancer. Tenor D3-F#4.

HAPPY #4 - Male. Low to Mid 20s. Spritely. Hip. Dancer. Bass/Baritone D3-E4.

CUSTOMER #1 - Male. This actor will play several different characters. No vocal requirement.

CUSTOMER #2 - Female. This actor will play several different characters. Mezzo soprano A4-D5.

CUSTOMER #3 - Male. This actor will play several different characters. No vocal requirement.

SET

Work is Cheap takes place in several different locations in the ERS convenience store. These locations are the sales floor, Marc’s office, and a break/meeting room. Additionally, two characters have scenes that take place outside the store. Set designers are encouraged to work with a unit set. Additional elements needed for these locations are:

Sales Floor: This is the main set for the play. It needs a service counter with an operational cash register, plus shelving and merchandise. A drop showing the back counter or rest of the store could also be useful.

Additionally, a set of shelves, with merchandise, which actors can walk around and reach through, is required for one scene.

Marc’s Office: An office chair (very used), desk and security monitor.

Meeting/Break Room: Six chairs.

LIGHTING

The only lighting effects that Work Is Cheap requires are transitional fades and actor isolations. However, additional lighting effects might be useful in establishing and aiding a training video sequence.

SOUND

Work Is Cheap requires basic sound cues, and possibly a God mic for a conversation over speakerphone.

COSTUME

Costuming is contemporary and left largely up to the costume designer. The one requirement is a set of colored, matching work aprons, possibly with embroidered names, the ERS logo, or both. There should be one of these aprons for each employee, with the exception of Marc.

RUNNING TIME

Approximately two hours.