FOES OF A MINIMUM WAGE GUARD

Join us at The Intersection for an intimate theater experience that asks timely questions about work, aging, and humanity without ever losing its heart or humor.

🎭 Award-Winning Solo Play | All Ages Welcome

Written and Performed by Ken Harris
Directed by Michael Buster McMahon of Feeding Hills, MA
Produced by Angela Grout out of West Springfield, MA.

Foes of a Minimum Wage Guard, an award winning solo play written and performed by Springfield native Ken Harris, is a story of self discovery about an underappreciated retail guard who is called into work on his day off and reassigned as a loss prevention detective. If he fails to protect the store’s inventory, he faces termination by a ruthless manager. Harris portrays 10 different characters in this 65 minute show.
What happens when showing up for work becomes a test of your values?

Foes of a Minimum Wage Guard is a powerful, funny, and deeply human one-hour solo play that shines a light on aging, dignity, and the quiet pressures of low-wage work. The story follows Steve Smelly, an elderly retail security guard called in on his day off and abruptly reassigned to loss prevention. If he fails to protect the store’s inventory, he risks being fired by a ruthless manager in a system that offers little grace and no safety net. As Steve navigates shoplifting, surveillance, and mounting workplace pressure, he makes a discovery that forces him to confront his loyalty, his self-worth, and what he truly stands for.

Blending comedy and drama, this semi-autobiographical performance is the world’s first solo play to tackle retail crime, written by an artist with firsthand experience in retail security. The result is an honest, accessible, and compelling story that resonates across generations.

🏆 Awards & Recognitions:
2024 Springfield Cultural Council
2024 Chicopee Cultural Council
2025 Agawam Cultural Council

Official selection for the 2025 Spring and Fall United Solo Festivals in New York City, the world’s largest solo theatre festival
Positive 3 star reviews in the “All About Solo” March publication
Spotlight recognition in United Solo’s October Newsletter
United Solo Festival recognized “Foes of a Minimum Wage Guard” as the world’s first solo play to address modern retail crime and loss prevention, making it a significant factor in the solo theatre medium.

🎬 Watch a clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MeQScufT_AY
🎬 Hear the story behind the play: https://www.retaildive.com/news/podcast-backroom-foes-of-a-minimum-wage-guard-ken-harris-retail-theft/741078/