Nickel and Dimed...

Past Production - March 2006
by Barbara Ehrenreich
Adaptation by Joan Holden

Produced by Venture Theatre and the Rankin File's Producer's Club
Directed by Wendy Kessler

Nickel and Dimed has become a national theatrical event. Premiering in 2002 at Seattle's Intiman Theatre, the play was subsequently produced by professional theatres in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Denver (at the Curious Theatre where Artistic Director Mace Archer just finished up a two month observership).

Many are familiar with the New York Times best-selling book, Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich. Fewer are perhaps familiar with the stage adaptation, which has had a great four years' worth of productions.

The adaptation was handled by Joan Holden who is a resident writer for the San Francisco Mime Troupe, a politically charged theatre company with a nearly 40 year history. The collaboration resulted in what you see tonight, a very funny but very poignant look at women in the trenches just trying to make ends meet. It is with great pleasure, in the tradition of great womens' work at Venture Theatre, that we bring you this fantastic collaborative effort from two astounding women.

Venture Theatre sought to raise awareness of the plight of the the working poor with Nickel and Dimed.  We invited District 7 HRDC, a not-for-profit organization that provides social and human services to individuals and families in need in Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Yellowstone counties, to set up a table to hand out information and to accept donations to help the working poor.  They included the following facts about the working poor in the program:

• About a quarter of the workforce (over 28 million people) earn less than $9.04 an hour.

• A full-time salary of $9.04 an hour translates into an annual income of $18.800 - the federal poverty line for a family of four.

• Sixty-three percent of U.S. families below the federal poverty line have one or more workers.

• Sixty percent of these workers are white.

• Only one-fifth are foreign born.

• The majority possess high school diplomas and even some college.

• Poverty has increased from 31.6 million in 200 to 35.9 million in 2003.

• In 2003 1.6 million people were earning a wage below the federal minimum wage of $5.15.

• In 2003 545,000 workers were only earning $5.15 per hour.

• 3.5 million people are homeless in any given year.

• In 1997 as many as 3 million low to moderate income working families spent more than half their income on housing.

• In 2001 this number increased to 4.8 million.

• Over 41 million Americans have no health insurance.

• Forty-six percent of the jobs with the most growth between 1995 and 2005 pay less than $16,000 per year.

• In 2003, the wage gap in the U.S. between men and women broke down as follows:  White women earned just 75.6% vs. white men.  Black women earned just 65.4% vs. white men. Hispanic women earned just 54.3% vs. white men.

The Rankin File:

The Rankin File, a group interested in seeing theatre from a woman's point of view, was formed in 1999 by Venture Theatre. When one looks at the plays that are produced nationwide, it is difficult to find much representation by women playwrights or feminine subject matter. In 1999, Venture Theatre solicited its patrons to see who would be excited about seeing more work about and by women. Twenty women came forward and donate $50 each to produce Parallel Lives. Our commitment to work concerning the lives of women continues and we'd like to thank the following members of the 2006 Rankin file for making this production possible.

For information on how you can become a Rankin File member in the future, contact Dina Atwood at Venture Theatre by calling 591-9535 or e-mailing venture@venturetheatre.org.

Press and Photos:

See photos and read Jaci Webb's March 3 article in the Billings Gazette's Enjoy here.

Read Angie Buckley's March 3 article about auditioning for the show in the Billings Gazette's Enjoy here.

Read Jaci Webb's March 16 review in the Billings Gazette here.

Cast:

Barbara:  Anjanett Hawk-Johnson
Gail/Marge/Rich Lady/Winn Dixie Manager:  Dina Atwood
Hector/Carlie/Nanny/Melissa:  Mary Monaghan
George/Editor/Boyfriend/Pete/Ted/Howard:  Chas Llewellyn
Nita/Phillips/Maddy/Kimberly:  Amber Jacques
Joan/Holly:  Sarah Butts
Ensemble:  Angie Buckley, Angela Fulkerson, Clarissa Ball-Vadeboncoeur, Jamie Hernandez, Amber Meyer, Tiffany Melia

Production & Design:

Director:  Wendy Kessler
Set Design:  Tim Gross
Light Design:  Tim Gross
Stage Manager:  Ali Schubert
Set Construction:  Tim Gross, John Kessler, Carl Fox, Shawn Welch, Anjanett Hawk-Johnson, Angie Buckley, Wendy Kessler, Amber Meyer, Brandi Miller, Lysa Fox
Light Operator:  Ali Schubert
Follow Spot Operator:  Sarah Beth Gumm, Amber Welborn
Sound Operator:  Kate Hughes
Props:  Erin Claxton, Blaine Jensen, Lysa Fox
Poster Design:  Crytech - Matthew Struck
Promotional Coaster Design:  Crytech - Matthew Struck
Special Thanks:  Walker's Grill, Sutton's, Scheel's, First Interstate Bank, The Rex, The Granary, Sweet Ginger, 11 Cafe, City Vinyard, City Brew, Cactus Creek, MacKenzie River Pizza

Show Dates & Times:

March 2, 2006 - 7:30 (Thursday)
March 3, 2006 - 8:00 (Friday)
March 4, 2006 - 8:00 (Saturday)

March 9, 2006 - 7:30 (Thursday)
March 10, 2006 - 8:00 (Friday)
March 11, 2006 - 8:00 (Saturday)

March 16, 2006 - 7:30 (Thursday)
March 17, 2006 - 8:00 (Friday)
March 18, 2006 - 8:00 (Saturday)

Show Location:

Venture's Blackbox Theatre: 2317 Montana Ave., Billings, MT