Octet (musical)

Octet
CD cover
Music	Dave Malloy
Lyrics	Dave Malloy
Book	Dave Malloy
Productions	May 2019 The Signature Theater

Octet is a chamber choir musical written and composed by Dave Malloy. The show "explores addiction and nihilism within the messy context of 21st century technology."

Synopsis

Eight internet addicts gather and share their stories.

Musical numbers

Part 1

• I. "The Forest"
• II. "Refresh"
• III. "Candy"
• IV. "Glow"
• V. "Fugue State"

~coffee break~

Part 2

• VI. "Monster"
• VII. "Solo"
• VIII. "Actually"
• IX. "Little God"
• X. "Tower Tea Ceremony"
• XI. "Beautiful"
• XII. "The Field"

Influences

The program's bibliography cites several sources of inspiration, including:

TEXT
Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio; John Cage, Silence; Nicholas Carr, The Shallows; Chuang-Tzu; Ernest Cline, Ready Player One; Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion; Philip K. Dick, Valis; James Gleich, The Information; Jonathan Heidt, The Righteous Mind; Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near; C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters; Angela Nagle, Kill All Normies; Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind; Catherine Price, How to Break Up with Your Phone; Jon Ronson, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed; Rumi, “A Great Wagon”; George Saunders, Tenth of December; Wallace Shawn, Essays; Neil Stephenson, Snow Crash; Alan Watts, The Book; Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass; Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving;

THEATRE
Caryl Churchill, Love and Information; Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante, A Chorus Line; Stephen Sondheim & George Furth, Company;

TAROT
The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot; Kim Krans, The Wild Unknown Tarot

FILM
Altered States; Black Mirror: S01E03 “The Entire History of You”; S03E01 “Nosedive”; S03E06 “Hated in the Nation”; Blade Runner; The Matrix; My Dinner with Andre''

PODCASTS
Reply All; Dear Sugar

GAMES
Candy Crush; Cookie Clicker' Everything; Inside; Journey; Universal Paperclips; The Witness; World of Warcraft

MUSIC
Robert Ashley, Perfect Lives; Luciano Berio, Sinfonia; Philip Glass, Einstein on the Beach; Meredith Monk, Dolmen Music; Nico Muhly, Two Boys, Mothertongue; Sacred Harp; Caroline Shaw, Partita for 8 Singers; Toby Twining, Chrysalid Requiem

Productions

The piece premiered on May 19, 2019 at the Signature Theatre. The production starred Adam Bashian (Ed), Kim Blanck (Karly), Starr Busby (Paula), Alex Gibson (Henry), Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby), J.D. Mollison (Marvin), Margo Seibert (Jessica), and Kuhoo Verma (Velma).

Directed by Annie Tippe
Music Supervision & Music Direction by Or Matias
Scenic Design by Amy Rubin & Brittany Vasta
Costume Design by Brenda Abbandandolo
Lighting Design by Christopher Bowser
Sound Design by Hidenori Nakajo
Production Stage Management by Jhanaë Bonnick

Critical response

The piece was well received by the New York press.