Jay Armstrong Johnson, Donna Lynne Champlin & More Clock In for Working Revival

Jay Armstrong Johnson and Donna Lynne Champlin are among the cast of Working, a newly reconceived production of the 1978 musical, according to Variety. Joe Cassidy and Kenita Miller have also been tapped for the musical, which begins its run at off-Broadway's 59E59 Theater on December 1. Opening night is set for December 12.

The previously reported musical is based on essays published in Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, the bestselling non-fiction book by Studs Terkel. Working tells the story of 26 workers, including a parking lot attendant, corporate executive, schoolteacher, gasman and more as they talk and sing about the jobs that define their lives, but not their hopes and dreams. The musical first opened on Broadway on May 14, 1978 at the 46th Street Theatre and earned five Tony nominations. The original production features songs from Criag Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, Stephen Schwartz and James Taylor. 

The revival will feature two new songs by Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights, Bring It On). Gordon Greenberg, who's directed earlier stagings of the revised Working, is on board again, with choreography by Josh Rhodes.

Jay Armstrong Johnson's credits include Catch Me If You Can and Hair. He played Matthew in the MCC off-Broadway production of Wild Animals You Should Know, and will soon be seen in the previously reported Hands on a Hardbody. Donna Lynne Chmaplin appearead as Pirelli in the 2005 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd. Her other credits include Billy Elliot, Hollywood Arms and By Jeeves. Cassidy's Broadway credits include Next to Normal and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Miller has appeared in The Color Purple and Xanadu.