The Story of Workforce is a lively musical, as well as, a tale of college sweethearts forced apart by their own ambitions. Upon graduation, Zack and Louise bid each other a bittersweet goodbye as they each set out to pursue their separate careers in the Silicon Valley and New York. In the ensuing six years, Louise becomes a Wall Street star while Zack advances up the corporate ladder. Though Zack has attempted to move on from Louise, the fire for the love he lost still burns. But in the Workforce, a twist of fate along with a devious scheme derail Zack’s plan.
In the Workforce, you will meet Zack’s fiancé, Marie, whom you may recognize from any episode of Bridezilla. You will meet her doting father, Bob, who despite the best of intentions while spoiling his little girl, is now faced with ever increasing demands of an overbearing young woman. There’s Chuck, the guy in the office that everyone loves to hate and his boozing sidekick, Henry, who enables Chuck’s illegal schemes. Doris is that someone who for some odd reason climbs the corporate ladder faster than anyone else. Workforce would not be complete without Paula, the steady handed CEO who keeps everyone in line. Or does she?
Come see this crew as they sing and dance their way through the Workforce. Watch as they navigate the choppy waters of corporate greed and corruption. In a world that rewards deception, betrayal, power, and influence, can love and integrity survive? Who would you trust? It’s all in the Workforce.
Workforce, The Musical, coming soon to a theater near you.
The Evolution of Workforce was thirty years in the making. It started as a collection of songs written on the back of spreadsheets and cocktail napkins. As a theme started to emerge around life in the corporate world, two co-workers, Jim Maher and Alan Beliakoff crafted a story based on the collection of Jim’s songs. After a few years, the authors felt the story was good enough to read to family and friends.
Then in 1998, Jim convinced the choir at the Christ the King church to participate in the reading of Workforce. After a few weeks of learning the songs, the choir gathered on a Sunday afternoon and performed it in front of family and friends. Feedback was mostly positive, but Workforce still needed to be subjected to a more critical audience.
By 1999, the authors’ careers had taken different paths so refining the play as well as Jim’s musical endeavors fell to the back burner as both pursued their careers and raised their families.
Several years later, Jim, with a new found determination, came across an advertisement for a contest to perform unpublished plays in Contra Costa County. Workforce was submitted and was selected to perform one scene at the Old School House Theater in Pleasant Hill, CA, using two actors from the local Junior College. Although, Workforce was not chosen as a finalist, having the play judged by subjective reviewers in the theater business, proved that Workforce was a viable play.
By 2015, both Jim and Alan had retired from the corporate world. Jim immediately set out to fulfill his dream as a songwriter and recorded a new album, “Malaga Way”. He then set his sights on finishing Workforce and seeing it performed. He spent hundreds of hours re-mastering the music and writing additional songs for the play. Jim then reconnecting with Alan to re-write much of the script. Meanwhile, Jim volunteered at the Martinez Campbell Theater; helping out in the concessions and volunteering as their Marketing Director.
In January of 2019, Workforce was ready for a formal reading with local actors. The Martinez Campbell Theater gave us two nights of rehearsals and a Wednesday night performance. We had nine actors and 30 people in attendances. It was a thrill. Afterward, the audience provided feedback that helped shape the next revision.
In June of 2019, Workforce was ready for a second reading of the script along with music in front of a live audience. It was again a success from all the audience feedback and positive responses. View scene from reading.
Story Behind the Music
This was not your typical text book musical where you take a proven story and add music. We did this completely backwards. I wrote several songs before a pencil ever wrote a word of the script. Something I wouldn’t recommend. It’s doable but more difficult.
Anyway, the four songs that got me riding the musical carousal are……..
Workforce
It was originally a heavy rock song built from a jazz chord that I enjoyed playing when I was in the Jazz Band in Junior College. I later added a middle section for a dance sequence that reminded me of “Vahevala” from Loggins and Messina. Hopefully I don’t get sued. I loved the original version of Workforce but it didn’t fit very well with the other songs during the first reading at the Campbell Theater. So after some soul searching I decided to rearrange it into a jazzy piano intro with a distinct bass line. The basic premise of the song was my initial experience of entering the corporate world. Young men and women all competing for a chance to climb up the corporate ladder. Some bumbling and stumbling while others leaping to the top.
Brown Knows It
We all know that guy that sucks up to management and then is dismissive to subordinates. Truly an outstanding corporate citizen. Anyway, when I went to record this song I noticed the chorus wasn’t working very well; which created quite a lot of stress given that it was the morning of the first reading. So in a flurry I decided to rewrite and rerecord it; finishing just in time for the show to begin.
Welcome to Wednesday
It’s the good morning to work again song. The daily routine of going to work and going through the motions of preparing yourself for the day ahead. The drudgery of putting on a suit and tie just to sit in a cubicle all day. Who was I trying to impress?
You Think I Want to Get Married
This song was written at the same time I got married to my lovely wife Rene. I’m sure there was a direct correlation to the fact that getting married was a major decision and weighting heavy on my mind. So making it apart of the show was a very natural extension of my life. I’m happy to report that we’re still going strong after 30+ years.
So with these songs dancing in my head, Alan and I started to piece together a storyline based on the tunes I had written. We’d sit in my backyard with a beer in one hand a pencil in the other scratching out ideas. We even got serious and went to DVC to escape into the seclusion of the library conference rooms. I would occasionally try to use songs that I had previously written hoping they would fit our story but usually to no avail. One such song that came from the demise of another was “Can it be”. An eerie tune that reflects back on memories of relationships that soured for one reason or another. I can remember telling Alan that I’m not sure how this song will fit but he reassured me that it was good and we’ll find a way.
Repurposed songs was also a main stay in the evolution of our musical. “I’ll Take the Next Train” was written very early on and I just keep changing the words to fit the storyline. Zack and Louise had there shot at singing the song in previous scripts but it was Marie that won out in the end.
Several songs came about after the second reading at the Campbell Theater. Rachel Powers had created such a stir with her role as Marie that several patrons requested I write a song specifically for that character. So out of some wonderful dialogue by my co-author I wrote “Busy as a Bee” to highlight Marie’s self-absorbed personality. Two other songs, “Gibberish” and “Life”, were crafted from the dialogue and also came as a request from the audience. More music and less dialogue.
“Where would I be without your love” was a song from my first album that I was bound and determine to include in this musical regardless of the multiple storyline rewrites it required. Plus, it was one of my mom’s favorite songs.