Off-Broadway Adding Machine To Close July 20

The Off-Broadway production of The Adding Machine, the new musical version of Elmer Rice's expressionist play, has announced that it will close at the Minetta Lane Theatre on July 20. The unusual musical by Joshua Schmidt and Jason Loewith is about a man called Mr. Zero who, after 25 years of service, is replaced by a machine - and then murders his boss in a moment of blind rage. Dark and strange, the Off-Broadway musical is also surprisingly sweet and funny. The Adding Machine originated at the Next Theatre Company in Chicago, and thanks to its healthy Off-Broadway run of roughly 150 performances, the musical will likely go on to a good life in regional theatre.

Lortel Awards Honor Off-Broadway Shows

The winners of the 2007-2008 Lucille Lortel Awards, which award excellence in New York's Off-Broadway theatre, were announced today. The honors were fairly evenly distributed among notable Off-Broadway productions including George Packer's Betrayed (Outstanding Play) and Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders (Outstanding Revival). Some of the recipients of acting honors included Elizabeth Franz in The Piano Teacher and Mare Winningham in 10 Million Miles. The closest thing to a sweep was The Adding Machine's four wins, for Outstanding Musical, Director, Lead Actor, and Lighting Design. This is the 23rd year for the Lortel Awards, which are presented by the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers.