Overview
Synopsis
It is 1989. Wall Street greed is at its peak, and investment banker Patrick Bateman is determined to achieve the highest echelon of status in his image-driven, yuppie world. Restaurant reservations and swanky business cards are identifiers of success in his crowd, and Patrick meets his nemesis in Paul Owen, a rival banker who seems to have it all. But as Patrick enjoys the luxuries of consumerist greed, he feels increasingly disconnected from his world until his homicidal impulses can no longer be controlled. On his 27th birthday, Patrick commits his first murder--and takes off on a psychotic killing spree, taking out Paul, prostitutes, and anyone who even mildly annoys him. Patrick expresses his murderous desires to his fiancee Evelyn and his best friend Tim, but no one seems to hear, or even see, his torment. Patrick becomes one of the serial killers that have intrigued him for so long, and even yearns for the fame and notoriety that those killers possessed. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is an intriguing and disturbing take on yuppie disillusionment and greed set to a 1980s rock score.
Show Information
- Music
- Duncan Sheik
- Lyrics
- Duncan Sheik
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Based on 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2012
- Genres
- Dark Comedy, Horror
- Settings
- Contemporary, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Wall Street, New York City, 1989
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- Opening (Morning Routine) - Patrick Bateman
- Selling Out - Patrick Bateman, *Company
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Jean, Company
- *Cards - Patrick Bateman, Paul Owen, Timothy Price, David Van Patten, Craig McDermott, Luis Carruthers
- *You Are What You Wear - Evelyn Williams, Courtney Lawrence, Women
- *True Faith - Vanden, Company
- Killing Time - Patrick Bateman, Tim Price
- In the Air Tonight - Company
- *Hardbody - Hardbody Trainer, Craig McDermott, David Van Patten, Luis Carruthers, Men
- If We Get Married - Evelyn Williams, Patrick Bateman, Jean
- Not a Common Man - Patrick Bateman
- *Mistletoe Alert - Evelyn Williams, Patrick Bateman, Company
- *Hip to Be Square - Patrick Bateman, Paul Owen
Act Two
- Killing Spree - Patrick Bateman
- Nice Thought - Mrs. Bateman, Jean, Women
- At the End of an Island - Evelyn Williams, Patrick Bateman, *Company
- I Am Back - Patrick Bateman, *Company
- A Girl Before - Jean
- *Clean - Company
- *Don’t You Want Me - Paul Owen, Sean Bateman, Luis Carruthers, Company
- This Is Not an Exit - Patrick Bateman, Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress