Atomic is a powerful new rock musical that blasts open the doors of The Manhattan Project, the government-funded program of top scientists tasked with creating the world's first atomic bomb. The show made its U.S. premiere in 2014 at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row after a successful engagement in Sydney, Australia. Euan Morton starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, alongside Jeremy Kushnier as Leo Szilard, the mastermind behind atomic power whose heart harbors deep reservations about the weapon's use.
Synopsis
In the midst of World War II, Leo Szilard is a brilliant physicist who flees Nazi Germany for America with an idea for a weapon that might win the war—or lose it if Germany builds it first. Convincing the U.S. government to overlook his status as an enemy alien, he becomes the mastermind behind atomic power and discovers what he's truly capable of when someone believes in him.
As the threat of Nazi Germany creating their own atomic weapon looms, the Manhattan Project gains urgency. However, ethics, scientific progress, and true love are tested as Leo discovers the moral implications of his creation. The story explores the complex relationship between Szilard and Oppenheimer, as well as the scientists' inner conflicts about creating a weapon with such devastating potential.
Euan Morton as J. Robert Oppenheimer
Euan Morton portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific director of the Manhattan Project who would later be known as "the father of the atomic bomb." In the musical, Oppenheimer serves as a narrator for much of the show, providing exposition through interrogation scenes that take place during the McCarthy era when he lost his security clearance during the Red Scare of the 1950s.
Morton's performance brought depth to Oppenheimer's complex character—a brilliant scientist caught between scientific achievement and moral responsibility. While Szilard (played by Jeremy Kushnier) is the central protagonist with reservations about the bomb's use, Oppenheimer represents the scientific establishment that pushed forward with the project despite ethical concerns.
Historical Context
The musical is based on real historical events and figures. Leo Szilard was indeed the physicist who conceived of the nuclear chain reaction in 1933 and later convinced Einstein to send a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning about the possibility of Nazi Germany developing nuclear weapons. This led to the formation of the Manhattan Project.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, as portrayed by Euan Morton, was the scientific director of Los Alamos Laboratory where the first nuclear weapons were designed. After witnessing the first nuclear test (Trinity) in 1945, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
The musical explores the scientists' complex feelings after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ended World War II but at a devastating human cost.
Production Details
Atomic made its U.S. premiere at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row on June 26, 2014, with the official opening night on July 13. The production ran through August 16, 2014. The musical featured book and lyrics by Danny Ginges and Gregory Bonsignore with music and lyrics by Philip Foxman.
The production design captured both the scientific and human elements of the story. Scenic design was by Neil Patel, costume design by Emma Kingsbury, lighting design by David Finn, and sound design by Jon Weston. Christopher Jahnke served as music producer, and Andrew Peterson was music director.
Critical Acclaim
"Euan Morton is excellent as J. Robert Oppenheimer, who serves for much of the musical as a narrator, providing much-needed exposition by answering questions posed by an interrogator [...]."
- New York Theater
Creative Team
Atomic was written by Danny Ginges, an Australian former advertising executive who became fascinated with the story of Leo Szilard while researching Machiavelli. After initially conceiving of the story as a film, Ginges reconceived it as a musical with composer Philip Foxman, a Jewish composer from Sydney whose parents were Holocaust survivors. Foxman created a rock score that incorporated elements of klezmer and Yiddish folk songs to reflect the Jewish heritage of many of the scientists involved in the Manhattan Project.
Links
Official Site
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