New Century Theatre Company (NCTC), Seattle’s newest professional theater, is gearing up for its debut at ACT Theatre’s Falls Theatre space with Elmer Rice’s rarely produced American masterpiece, The Adding Machine. NCTC was founded by eight well-respected Seattle theater artists - Hans Altwies, Paul Morgan Stetler, Amy Thone, Michael Patten, Stephanie Timm, Ray Gonzalez, Jennifer Lee Taylor and MJ Sieber - who share a deep desire to help reinvigorate Seattle’s national reputation as a vibrant force of cutting-edge, ambitious, relevant theater. Locally respected theater artists Darragh Kennan, Betsy Schwartz, and Peter Dylan O’Connor have recently joined NCTC to bring the company’s membership to eleven.
About “The Adding Machine”
Written in 1923, this groundbreaking play, with its themes of American business and quiet lives of desperation, is not only considered to be the first piece of expressionistic theater in the United States, but is also a surprisingly up-to-the-minute attack on the dehumanizing effect technology has on modern society. This serio-comic tale follows the exploits of Mr. Zero, a hard working, psuedo-Everyman as he toils through his rather inconsequential existence only to discover that after years of soul-rending dedication to his job, he'll soon be replaced by a machine. Mr. Zero does not take this news lightly and his choices will soon send him on a path discovering the true nature of his existence.
The Adding Machine is directed by John Langs (King Lear, Romeo & Juliet at Seattle Shakespeare Co.; Louis Slotin Sonata at Empty Space, Crumbs Are Also Bread at WET) and the cast features the acting talents of company members Paul Morgan Stetler (Eurydice at ACT) as Mr. Zero,
Amy Thone (Leni at Strawberry Theatre Workshop) as the relentless Mrs. Zero, Darragh Kennan (Hamlet at Seattle Children’s Theatre) as the eerie Shrdlu, Jennifer Lee Taylor as the wilted Daisy, and MJ Sieber as Lt. Charles. Other cast members include Tracy Hyland, Evan Whitfield, Jane May, Joseph P. McCarthy, Kate Wisniewski, Jonah Von Sprechen, Kate Witt, Erwin Galan, Noah Benezra and Kate Parker.
The all Seattle-based creative team includes: set designer Jennifer Zeyl, a Stranger Genius Award Winner and founding member of Washington Ensemble Theatre, lighting designer Geoff Korf, sound designer Rob Witmer (from the local musical phenomenon Awesome) and costume designer Pete Rush who most recently designed both the set AND costumes for Henry !V at Seattle Shakes. Props are provided by the incredibly resourceful Christy Penny, and the Stage Manager is Lori Amondson. Company member Peter O’Connor and Sean Bellyea are the production managers.
The Adding Machine will be produced under a Letter of Agreement with the Actor’s Equity Association. Tickets are $25 ($20 for patrons under 25, with a valid ID) and are currently available at the ACT Ticket Office, 700 Union Street, downtown Seattle, (206) 292-7676 or online at
www.acttheatre.org.
This production’s $55,000 budget is fully funded through individual donations from friends, family and the theater community, at large.
For more information about the New Century Theatre Company visit
www.newcenturytheatrecompany.org
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