Its an Art Its an Art to Be a Fine Waitress

Stephen Schwartz's waitress vocal "It's An Art" from Working

Stephen Schwartz Lyrics and Behind-the-Scenes story

"Information technology's An Art"

Barbara Robertson in "Working," the 2011 revival in Chicago [Photograph © Amy Boyle Photography 2011]

About "Information technology'due south An Art" past Stephen Schwartz

Based on Studs Terkel's interviews with Dolores Dante

Notes from Schwartz biographer Carol de Giere

Of all the waitresses in Chicago, interviewer Studs Terkel discovered Dolores Dante, who had worked at the aforementioned restaurant for xx-three years. "To be a waitress, it'south an art," Dante told Terkel. To Stephen Schwartz, her words leapt off the page equally being suited to song. At his piano, he worked on music and lyrics for a piece based on her interview. He'd call it, "Information technology'southward An Art."

"I experience like a ballerina," Dante continued. "I have to get between those tables, between those chairs…. If I drop a fork, in that location is a sure way I pick it up. I know they can see how delicately I choice it up. I'm on stage."

.... Read more

in Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked

Author Ballad de Giere includes more details from her interviews with Stephen Schwartz and his collaborators about how "Information technology'southward An Fine art" and other songs from Working emerged.

ALSO

see Terkel chapter in Footwork section of Book Five: Dolores Dante.

Lyrics for "It's An Fine art" the waitress song from Working

THERE'S SOME AS DON'T Care
WHEN THEY PUT Downward THE PLATE, In that location'S A SOUND
Non WITH ME
WHEN THEY Motility A CHAIR
IT WILL SCRAPE WITH A GRATE ON THE GROUND
Non WITH ME
I WILL Have MY HAND RIGHT WHEN I PLACE A Drinking glass
Detect HOW I STAND Correct Equally CUSTOMERS PASS
SERVE A DEMI-TASSE WITH A GESTURE SO GENTLE
OR Practice Information technology AGAIN TILL
It'S NEAR ORIENTAL ...

(SHE hums a snatch of "Un Bel Di" from "Madame Butterfly")

It'S AN Art, Information technology'S AN Art
TO BE A FINE WAITRESS
TO Run into THAT YOU Pleasure EACH Guest
At that place'S A TWIST TO MY WRIST
WHEN I BRING YOUR STEAK IN
AND Lookout man HOW I Take IN
YOUR LIVER AND BACON
Information technology ALL WILL BE STYLISH AND SMART
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT AN ART ...

I Remember ONE DAY
Every bit I DO NOW AND THEN, I HAD SHAKES
AND Down I WENT
There WITH MY TRAY
FULL OF COFFEES AND CORDIALS AND CAKES
DOWN I WENT
BUT I KEPT MY POISE -- Non ONE Invitee HEARD ME Autumn
NEVER Made A NOISE, Non I Noise, Food AND ALL
IF YOU HAVE TO CRAWL, YOU GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY Similar
YOU Deport YOUR TRAY Similar
Information technology'S Nigh BALLET-Like

(SHE hums a snatch of "Swan Lake" )

It'S AN ART, IT'S AN Art
TO Exist A FINE WAITRESS
EACH EVENING I TREASURE THE Exam
LIKE This night WAS A FIGHT
'Cause THEY HIRED THIS BUSBOY
THIS Wearing apparel-ALL-A-MUSS-BOY
AND GUESTS HEARD HIM CUSS -- Boy,
DID We Accept A QUICK "HEART-TO-HEART"!
EVEN THAT WAS AN Art ...

TIPS! HA!
TIPS ARE Of import TO PEOPLE Like CAPTAINS AND BARMEN
FOR THEM, IT'S A TIP, SEE?
FOR ME, I'1000 A GYPSY
JUST TOSS ME A Coin AND I SUDDENLY Feel Similar I'Grand
CARMEN!

SO ON THROUGH THE ULCER
THE BACKACHE, THE HOT SWEATY Feet
ON YOU GO
THROUGH IS YOUR Pocketknife DULL SIR?
AND MADAM WANTS WHAT WITH HER MEAT?
ON You Become

Two A.K. APPROACHES, THE Defunction DESCEND
In that location AMONG THE ROACHES, MY Deed'S AT AN Cease
EVERY Nighttime I TEND TO Detect MYSELF CRYING
THERE'Southward NO Work SO TRYING
OR And then SATISFYING ...

I tell anybody I'm a waitress and I'm proud. When somebody says to me, "Hey, you lot're terrific! How come you're only a waitress?", know what I say to them? I say, "Why? Don't you call back yous deserve to be served by me?"
.
IT'Due south AN ART
IT'Due south AN Art
TO BE A GREAT WAITRESS
TO Exercise WITHOUT LEISURE OR REST
And then I ZOOM
THROUGH THE ROOM
WITH A FLAIR NO I ELSE HAS
AN AIR NO ONE ELSE HAS
I SWEAR NO 1 ELSE HAS
MY LILT
WHEN I SAY
A LA Bill of fare...
Y'all CAN Encounter IT GIVES ME A GLOW
EVERY Fourth dimension I Bear witness
I'Thou A PRO
MAYBE I'M Non QUITE
MICHELANGELO ...
Only I'Yard NOT Just A WAITRESS
I'M A One-Adult female
SHOW
Permit'S
GO!

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Director Scott Schwartz

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