“Nerds://A Musical Software Satire, an audience favorite at the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival, emerges again Jan. 25, 2007, in a refreshed/reloaded Philadelphia Theatre Company staging helmed by Broadway talents,” Kenneth Jones reports for Playbill.
“The musical comedy that charts the rise of computer industry giants Bill Gates and Steve Jobs will be directed by Philip Wm. McKinley (Broadway’s The Boy from Oz) and choreographed by two-time Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (Smokey Joe’s Café, The Life), with scenic design by Tony Award-winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone),” Jones reports.
“The creatives in Philly are all new since the earlier NYMF test of the project; given their high-toned resumes, it’s clear this production is aiming for a commercial future,” Jones reports. “Opening is Jan. 31 for a run that will last to Feb. 25 at the resident not-for-profit Equity theatre in Philly.”
Jones reports, “Nerds://A Musical Software Satire features book and lyrics Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner (Off-Broadway’s The Bomb-itty of Errors, TV’s “Robot Chicken”) and music by Hal Goldberg (NYMF’s The Children).”
“The show ‘is an outrageous epic take on the parallel stories of technology pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as they blaze a path from garage inventors to warring titans of the computer revolution,’ according to PTC. ‘From the invention of the floppy disk and the mouse to the present-day phenomenon of instant messaging and podcasting, Nerds hilariously celebrates the birth of computer technology and the two pop-culture icons that made it possible…,'” Jones reports.
Jones reports, “The original score features songs titles including ‘Stroll Through the P.A.R.C.,’ ‘Think Different,’ ‘Let’s Merge,’ ‘The Windows Rap’ and more.”
Jones reports, “Nerds will feature Jim Poulos (Broadway’s Rent, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) as Bill Gates and Charlie Pollack (Broadway’s Urinetown) as Steve Jobs, and Andrew Cassese as Paul Allen, Aaron Cromie as Herbert, Joseph Dellger as IBM president Tom Watson, Michael Parish DuDell as Dustin, David Rossmer as Steve Wozniak, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Sally Engelbart, and Emily Shoolin as Myrtle.”
More info, including ticket information, in the full article here.
Related article:
‘Steve Jobs’ and ‘Bill Gates’ to star in off-Broadway musical ‘Nerds://A Musical Software Satire’ – August 10, 2005
Wonder if we’ll get to see a preview at Macworld.
So long as it ends correctly I’m happy with that:
ie Bill Gates living in hiding having been responsible for creating a living hell for the world
..and white knight Steve riding triumphantly to the worlds rescue on his white stallion (which is humphing: “developers, developers, developers ..and: I loved that companeeee…)
Nevermind the Broadway stuff! where’s the iTunes versions?
I wonder if “Take this, Jobs, and Shove It” will be on the repertoire…
The Phantom of XP’s inside…. your drive! DUN-Dun-dun-dun-dunnnnnn dun-dun-dun-Dun-DUNNNNNNNNN!
Philadelphia isn’t “off-Broadway.” It’s not even really described as “off-off-Broadway.”
I’d like to play Woz so I don’t have to lose any weight.
…and with the late, great Jackie Coogan as Steve Ballmer.
Peter Boyle would have made a great Ballmer.
Macaday,
Well said, especially the part about BG.
Only problem is, Bill Gates is a definitely the classic all-time nerd, while Steve Jobs is definitely NOT a nerd. He’s a cool guy. Putting them both in that same category is not at all accurate.
With Gates singing the song “Fiddler behind the Desk,”
“Start-up, shut down, start up, shut down swiftly I debug.
I have more money that most nations,
Sad that so many are so blind,
I gave the human race salvation,
Who knew a virus was so kind.”
It needs Bill Gates singing “The Rainbow Connection”.
So does Gates sing It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green?
i still like Pirates of Silicon Valley more