LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

In 1910 Chicago, a suffragist-social reformer woman asks an immigrant mechanic to build her a new steam boiler. But instead of central heating, the pair gets drawn into the Progressive Era political struggle over how money and labor will collide. The first ever romantic comedy about the founding of the Federal Reserve Bank.

In 1910 Chicago, a suffragist-social reformer woman asks an immigrant mechanic to build her a new steam boiler. But instead of central heating, the pair gets drawn into the Progressive Era political struggle over how money and labor will collide. The first ever romantic comedy about the founding of the Federal Reserve Bank.

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LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

Recommended by

  • Andrew Sellon: LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

    I'm uniquely qualified to recommend Like Money in the Bank: I was a member of the original 2016 cast, playing Lockett/Socialist/Sidney. The play is a crowd-pleasing mix of social satire, political drama, and romantic comedy, and still resonates today. Like Tom Stoppard, Jerry Polner has a real gift for making a potentially dense and complex topic remarkably accessible and engaging. Our audiences loved the play. And we actors loved playing these characters. I can also share that it's a great pleasure to work with Jerry; he is as kind as he is talented.

    I'm uniquely qualified to recommend Like Money in the Bank: I was a member of the original 2016 cast, playing Lockett/Socialist/Sidney. The play is a crowd-pleasing mix of social satire, political drama, and romantic comedy, and still resonates today. Like Tom Stoppard, Jerry Polner has a real gift for making a potentially dense and complex topic remarkably accessible and engaging. Our audiences loved the play. And we actors loved playing these characters. I can also share that it's a great pleasure to work with Jerry; he is as kind as he is talented.

  • Cheryl Bear: LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

    An eye opening romantic comedy that explores the history of the Federal Reserve Bank and where money and labor meet. With all the issues that emerge, can love be one of them? Well done.

    An eye opening romantic comedy that explores the history of the Federal Reserve Bank and where money and labor meet. With all the issues that emerge, can love be one of them? Well done.

  • Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos: LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

    Never have I read a play that moves at such a zippy clip, in such a light, frolicking way and still manages to explore such weighty and timely socio-political topics as income inequality, socialism, women’s rights, and immigration just to name a few. Polner has the amazing ability to load his scenes with American history, political theory, and pointed commentary while at the same time keeping the conversation between characters moving and the interactions real – not to mention genuinely funny! I would love to see this show in production with the appropriately raucous audience!

    Never have I read a play that moves at such a zippy clip, in such a light, frolicking way and still manages to explore such weighty and timely socio-political topics as income inequality, socialism, women’s rights, and immigration just to name a few. Polner has the amazing ability to load his scenes with American history, political theory, and pointed commentary while at the same time keeping the conversation between characters moving and the interactions real – not to mention genuinely funny! I would love to see this show in production with the appropriately raucous audience!

Character Information

The play can be comfortably performed by a cast of 7.
Suggested doubling:
BILLY-PETIE-EDDIE
LOCKETT-SOCIALIST-SIDNEY
PAULINE-CHARLOTTE-BESSIE
LOUISA-SUFFRAGIST
SULLY
MCREE-MAN OF PEACE
DOROTHY-MRS. WISTERIA-SMITH’S MOTHER
  • DOROTHY
    Character Age
    30
  • SUFFRAGIST
    Character Age
    30
  • SMITH'S MOTHER
    Character Age
    60
  • BESSIE ABRAMOVITZ
    A real person, a leader in the Chicago apparel strike
    Character Age
    24
  • SIDNEY HILLMAN
    A real person, later the founder of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and one of the founders of the CIO
    Character Age
    26
  • EDDIE
    A garment worker
    Character Age
    30
  • MRS. WISTERIA
    Character Age
    60
  • SOCIALIST
    Character Age
    38
  • MAN OF PEACE
    Character Age
    60
  • BILLY
    A bank teller in the western U.S., 1907
    Character Age
    18
  • CHARLOTTE
    A baker in Chicago, Petie's wife
    Character Age
    30
  • PETIE
    A baker in Chicago
    Character Age
    30
  • McREE
    We don’t exactly know where he comes from.
    Character Age
    60
  • SULLY
    An Italian-American, owns the Chicago Steam Boiler Company
    Character Age
    35
  • LOUISA
    Manages her mother’s boarding house in 1911 Chicago
    Character Age
    30
  • PAULINE
    Works in the same bank
    Character Age
    16
  • LOCKETT
    Billy's supervisor
    Character Age
    38

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Year 2014

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Radical Gags Theatrics at Theatre Row Studio Theatre, Year 2016

Awards

  • Finalist
    PlayFest Santa Barbara
    2023
  • Best Production of a Staged Reading (under previous title How Do You Want It)
    Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
    Winner
    2014