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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
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

Patrick Bateman

Lead

Male

Tenor

Paul Owen

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Craig McDermott

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Tim Price

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Courtney Lawrence

Supporting

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Evelyn Williams

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Detective Donald Kimball

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Sean Bateman

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Patrick’s Mother

Supporting

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

David Van Patten

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Luis Carruthers

Supporting

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Jean

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Christine

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Sabrina

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Victoria

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Mrs. Wolfe

Featured

Female

Spoken

Ensemble

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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress