Water Coolers, the Workplace Revue, Ends NYC Run Dec. 22, Aims for 2003 Tour

By Kenneth Jones
18 Dec 2002

The new musical revue, The Water Coolers, set in the world of 9-to-5ers, cubicles and Xerox machines, ends its fall Off-Broadway run Dec. 22 at Dillons, but a fall 2003 national tour is expected.

Previews for the show, which offers original songs and new lyrics to pop songs to spoof workplace situations, began Sept. 27; it opened Oct. 14. By close, it will have played 21 previews and 80 performances. In addition to a coming tour, resident sitdown productions are planned, with the potential for long runs in the business and arts neighborhoods of American cities. Not unlike The Second City, Forever Plaid and other shows, The Water Coolers, its producers say, has the potential of having multiple-week runs catering to the weary businessman and businesswoman.

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Such major Broadway producers as Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel and Rodger Hess, among others, are behind the work, which wants to do to the corporate world what I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change does to romance — make affectionate fun of it and lure in the thousands of white-collar workers who are the target audience.

Written and created by Thomas Michael Allen (Tony N' Tina's Wedding), the show has a writing team that includes Joe Allen, David Nehls, Marya Grandy and E. Andrew Sensenig.

The five-actor production, directed by William Wesbrooks, explores everyday life in the corporate world — by way of sketch comedy and songs. Songs include "Panic Monday" (about worries about last Friday's happy hour), "I Bought a Palm" (all about palm pilots) and "In Windows 2525" (all about technology).

The cast of The Water Coolers features Peter Brown, Marya Grandy, Adam Mastrelli, Kurt Robbins and Elena Shaddow.

The design team includes Michael Schweikardt (sets), Jeffrey Johnson-Doherty (costumes) and John-Paul Szczepanski (lights). Musical direction is by David Nehls and Fiona Santos, and choreography is by Timothy Albrecht.

The Water Coolers is presented by Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Pete Herber, Ross Meyerson, Ken Gentry and Rodger Hess.

For $65 tickets, call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200 or visit the Dillons box office, at 245 West 54th Street. For group sales, please call ShowTix at (212) 302-7000.