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
- Book
- Jason Loewith
- Music
- Joshua Schmidt
- Lyrics
- Jason Loewith , Joshua Schmidt
- Conceived By
- Jason Loewith , Joshua Schmidt
- Based On Book By
- Elmer Rice
- Libretto
- Joshua Schmidt , Jason Loewith
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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