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Overview

Synopsis

In Adding Machine, Mr. Zero, a middle-aged accountant, is “let go” from his job after twenty-five years; he will be replaced by an adding machine. Facing a mundane and repetitious life with a shallow wife and a strained relationship with his female assistant, he murders his boss and finds himself facing execution. In the afterlife, Zero and his assistant find the romance they could never have in life, but Zero cannot reconcile his newfound happiness with his sense of justice and his new identity as murderer. In death, Zero discovers his true nature, the history of his soul, and has one final chance to find redemption. A nearly-operatic abstract score further conveys the expressionist nature of this deeply philosophical and dark commentary on the meaning of life.

Show Information

Conceived By
Jason Loewith , Joshua Schmidt
Based On Book By
Elmer Rice
Based on the Play/Book/Film
The Adding Machine, a play by Elmer Rice
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2007
Genres
Drama
Settings
Simple/No Set
Time & Place
1920s city and afterlife
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
None
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Mr. Zero

Lead

Male

Baritone

Mrs. Zero

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Daisy Devore

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Shrdlu

Supporting

Male

Tenor

The Boss/The Fixer/Charles

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

Songs

  • Prelude - Ensemble
  • Something to Be Proud Of - Mrs. Zero
  • Harmony, Not Discord - Ensemble, Zero, Daisy
  • Office Reverie - Zero, Daisy
  • Movin' Up-in Numbers - Zero, Daisy
  • In Numbers - Zero, Ensemble
  • I'd Rather Watch You - Daisy
  • The Party - Mrs. Zero, Ensemble
  • Zero's Confession - Zero
  • Ham and Eggs! - Zero, Mrs. Zero
  • Didn't We - Zero, Mrs. Zero
  • I Was a Fool - Zero, Mrs. Zero
  • The Gospel According to Shrdlu - Shrdlu, Zero
  • Death March - Zero, Fixer
  • A Pleasant Place - Zero, Ensemble
  • Shrdlu's Blues - Shrdlu, Zero, Ensemble
  • Daisy's Confession - Zero, Daisy
  • I'd Rather Watch You (Reprise) - Zero, Daisy, Ensemble
  • Freedom! - Shrdlu, Zero, Daisy
  • In Numbers (Reprise) - Ensemble
  • Freedom! (Reprise) - Zero
  • The Music of the Machine - Zero, Daisy, Charles, Ensemble

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

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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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