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Adding Machine Closes in NYC July 20; Composer Is Musicalizing Shaw's Candida
By Kenneth Jones
20 Jul 2008
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i>Adding Machine star Joel Hatch
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| photo by Carol Rosegg | The award-winning Off-Broadway musical Adding Machine, one of the best-reviewed musicals of the 2007-08 New York theatre season, plays its final performance at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre July 20.
Direct from a hit world-premiere production by Chicago's Next Theatre Company (winning the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical), Adding Machine began previews in Manhattan Feb. 8. The 90-minute intermissionless musical officially opened Feb. 25.
When it closes, the musical will have played a total of 16 previews and 149 regular performances.
"We close the Adding Machine in New York City comfortable and excited in what looks to be a busy, exciting, and varied afterlife for the show," composer and sound designer Josh Schmidt told Playbill.com July 16.
The composer is currently working on a new musical version of Bernard Shaw's play Candida, to premiere in the Chicago area in 2009. The new show is called A Minister's Wife, with book by Austin Pendleton, lyrics by Jan Tranen, music by Schmidt, conceived and directed by Michael Halberstam.
The production is set to premiere in May 2009 at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, IL. "We just had our first workshop and everyone is very excited about what's happening," Schmidt said.
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In a statement producer Scott Morfee stated, "Adding Machine is a labor of love for all involved. The New York production, which sits so perfectly at the Minetta Lane Theatre, has allowed this musical to get the kind of attention it deserves. My partners and I are proud to know that Adding Machine will prove to be a significant addition to the repertoire of opera companies and adventurous theatre troupes around the world, and the introduction of an extraordinary new voice in the musical theatre (Mr. Schmidt)."
For its New York run Adding Machine was awarded two Outer Critics Circle Awards (Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Outstanding New Score), four Lucille Lortel Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Lighting Design) and four Obie Awards as well as nominations from the Drama Desk and Drama League awards.
Adding Machine features a score by Joshua Schmidt and a libretto by Jason Loewith and Schmidt, inspired by Elmer Rice's 1923 play, The Adding Machine. Under the direction of David Cromer, Adding Machine stars Cyrilla Baer as Mrs. Zero, Joel Hatch as Mr. Zero and Amy Warren as Daisy (all reprising their acclaimed performances from the original production). The opening cast included Joe Farrell as Shrdlu, Jeff Still as the Boss, Adinah Alexander as Mrs. Two, Niffer Clarke as Mrs. One, Roger E. DeWitt as Mr. Two and Daniel Marcus as Mr. One. Randy Blair and Ariela Morgenstern were also in the company.
"Darkly comic and heartbreakingly beautiful, Adding Machine…tells the story of Mr. Zero, who after 25 years of service to his company is replaced by a mechanical adding machine," according to producers. "In a vengeful rage, he murders his boss. An eclectic score gives passionate and memorable voice to this stylish and stylized production, which follows Zero's journey to the afterlife in the Elysian Fields where he is met with one last chance for romance and redemption."
Adding Machine is produced Off-Broadway by Scott Morfee, Tom Wirtshafter and Margaret Cotter and features scenic design by Takeshi Kata, lighting design by Keith Parham, costume design by Kristine Knanishu, sound design by Tony Smolenski, projection design by Peter Flaherty, properties design by Michele Spadaro and musical direction by J. Oconer Navarro.
The show's cast recording was recently released on the PS Classics label.
For more information visit www.addingmachineamusical.com.
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The cast of Adding Machine.
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| photo by Carol Rosegg |
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