Andrew Gillis

Alexander Quilty '15, left, is Mr. Zero and Bianca Di Cocco '14 is Daisy in the Department of Performing and Media Arts production of the musical "Adding Machine," Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Schwartz Center.

The Department of Performing and Media Arts will present the musical "Adding Machine," Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1, in Kiplinger Theatre at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

"Adding Machine" uses music and comedy to offer a telling look at the oppression associated with being a nameless subordinate. The story concerns Mr. Zero, a man replaced by an adding machine after 25 years on the job, who is driven by rage to murder his employer.

Based on a 1923 play by Elmer Rice and adapted by Joshua Schmidt and Jason Loewith, the musical earned several Drama Desk Award nominations and won two Outer Critics Circle Awards and four Lucille Lortel Awards, including Outstanding Musical. It premiered in 2007 at the Next Theater in Illinois and off-Broadway in 2008.

The Schwartz Center production is directed by Michael Doliner '13, a biology and theater arts major.

"Joshua Schmidt [the composer] has managed to completely revitalize and reinvent both his source material -- the 1923 play -- and the entire genre of musical theater," Doliner said. "It is an exciting work that is creating major changes in the theater community and has been rapidly produced by theater companies across the nation since its debut five years ago."

Andrew Gillis

Amara Aja '13, top, plays the Boss opposite Alexander Quilty '15, seated, as Mr. Zero.

Doliner's Cornell stage credits include directing "Elegies" and "Trial by Jury" at the Schwartz Center and "[title of show]" and "The Doctor Despite Himself" at Risley Theatre; and acting in the Schwartz Center main stage productions of "Our Town" and "Those Learned Ladies."

The "Adding Machine" cast includes Alexander Quilty '15 (Mr. Zero), Daniel Robert Burns '13 (Shrdlu), Monica Burnett '15 (Mrs. Zero), Bianca Di Cocco '14 (Daisy), Amara Aja '13 (Boss/Fixer/Charles), Leah Meyerholtz '14 (Mrs. One), Anna Brenner '16 (Mrs. Two), Ben Hennessy '13 (Mr. One) and Bryan Marlow '13 (Mr. Two).

The production also features musicians Roddy Russell Jr. '15, Matthew Lavengood '13 and Jeff Cox '13. Danny Bernstein '14 and Cox are co-musical directors, Ellie Kaplan '13 is assistant director, Danielle Diniz '13 is assistant stage manager and Weili Shi '13 is associate lighting director.

Evening performances are Nov 16-17 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.

For tickets, visit the Schwartz Center box office at 430 College Ave. (open 12:30-4 p.m. weekdays), purchase online or call 607-254-ARTS. Half-price discount tickets -- $6 for students and seniors, $7 for the general public -- are available until 4 p.m. Nov. 16 with the coupon code "Zero" (online, by phone or in person).

Kathy Hovis is communications manager in the Department of Performing and Media Arts.