S T A G I N G

CAST: 5M, 2F + Ensemble (optional 1M and 1F understudy)​

CHARACTERS

LEO SZILARD (30) - A brilliant Hungarian physicist with an annoying habit of always being right. He sees the future and science as the way he's going to save it.

TRUDE WEISS (20) - A gifted doctor. She's smart enough to know how tough a life with Leo will be, and strong enough to deal with that.

ENRICO FERMI (30) - Italian Nobel-winning physicist. If it's not science, he's not interested.

ARTHUR COMPTON (30) - Nobel-winning quantum physicist and head of the Chicago Metlab. Torn between science and religion, morality and duty.

EDWARD TELLER (30) - A Hungarian genius like Leo with a more aggressive World view. He wants a bigger bomb.

LEONA WOODS (20) - The only woman on the Metlab team, but she's not going to let that stop her.

ROBERT OPPENHEIMER (30) - The bomb is his ticket to the recognition his brilliance deserves. It's an expensive ticket.

GENERAL GROVES (30) - Highly intelligent and quite reasonable. Till you get in his way. He will use the bomb to end the war. Yes he will.

PAUL TIBBETS (30) - A fearless young pilot with a keen sense of duty. If he can't win the war single-handed, he'll show how it's done.

LAVERNE/MAE/LENA (20) - Rosie the Riveter meets the Andrews Sisters.

BARTENDER (20)

FEMALE SCIENTIST (20)

SCIENTIST (20)

U.S. Military men x 2 (20)

NY Commuters x7

​VOICES: News Announcers, Scientist, Roosevelt, Truman, Japanese announcer

SUGGESTED DOUBLING

1. Leo (m1)

2. Trude / Laverne / Commuter #1 (f1)

3. Fermi / Commuter #2 (m2)

4. Compton / Commuter #3 (m3)

5. Teller / Tibbets / Groves / Commuter #4 (m4)

6. Oppenheimer / Scientist / Commuter #5 (m5)

 7. Leona / Lena / Commuter #6 (f2)

8. (Optional) Male understudy / Bartender (m6)
​
9. (Optional) Female understudy / Female Scientist/ Mae (f3)

SONGS

ACT 1
 
THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1960)                Ensemble
 
LITTLE FIRE                              Leo, Trude, Ensemble
 
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS        Leo, Trude
 
A RISK YOU TAKE                     Leo, Trude, Ensemble
 
THERE ARE LINES                    Fermi, Leo
 
DARK DAYS                                Leo, Fermi, Teller, Trude
 
HEADLIGHTS                            Trude
 
ATOM SMASHER                      Leona, Ensemble
 
STARS AND STRIPES               Tibbets, Leo
 
WHERE IS HOME?                   Leo, Trude
 
ONE DAY                                   Leo

ACT 2
 
HOLES IN THE DONUTS                     Laverne, Mae, Lena
 
GREATER BATTLE                               Leo, Ensemble
 
WORLD OF GRAY                                Compton, Leo
 
GREATER BATTLE REPRISE               Leo, Fermi
 
THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1945)    Leo
 
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS REPRISE                 Leo, Trude
 
ONLY NUMBERS                                 Leo, Trude, Tibbets
 
WHAT I TELL MYSELF                      Leona, Oppenheimer, Ensemble
 
FINALE                                               Trude, Leo, Ensemble

BAND PARTS: Piano, Keyboard, Guitars, Bass Guitar/Double Bass, Cello, Drums, Violin