Working Revisited with Stephen Schwartz and Mark Larson

Join us for a compelling conversation commemorating the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s timeless oral history, Working. Stephen Schwartz, (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, and Working), joins Mark Larson, author of Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater and the recently released oral history Working in the 21st Century. Together, they will delve into the creation and enduring impact of Schwartz's 1978 musical adaptation of Terkel’s 1974 classic, alongside Larson’s contemporary perspective on the book. Also hear some of Larson’s intimate interview clips with today’s workers and Schwartz’s live performance of the unforgettable song "It’s an Art" from the show. A Q&A session and book signing will follow.

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Mark Larson is the author of Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater, for which he conducted over 300 interviews with Chicago theater artists, past and present. He is a retired educator with over 30 years of experience including high school English, and leadership positions at the Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, and National Louis University. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership. Larson’s new book, Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation, will be released February 20, 2024, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s Working. He is currently working on Ed Asner: A Composite Portrait.

Stephen Schwartz's career as a lyricist and composer spans over five decades with such beloved hit musicals as Godspell, Pippin, Wicked, and an adaptation of Studs Terkel's Working. He has also contributed lyrics to a number of films, including Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted. He has received three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe, as well as nominations for six Tony Awards. In 2015, he received the Tony Awards' Isabelle Stevenson Award.