Ada and the Engine
by Lauren Gunderson
directed by Kelley Holley
As the British Industrial Revolution dawns, young Ada Byron Lovelace (daughter of the flamboyant and notorious Lord Byron) sees the boundless creative potential in the “analytic engines” of her friend and soulmate Charles Babbage, inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada envisions a whole new world where art and information converge—a world she might not live to see. A music-laced story of love, friendship, and the edgiest dreams of the future. Jane Austen meets Steve Jobs in this poignant pre-tech romance heralding the computer age.
AUDITIONS: January 19 from 6:30-9:30pm in SAU A120
CALLBACKS: January 21 from 1-5pm in SAU A120
REHEARSALS: Some rehearsals may occur during the fall semester. In the spring semester rehearsals will start on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Rehearsals will be 3-4 times a week. Actors will be called for rehearsals only when they are in the scenes rehearsed that day.
TECH: March 30, April 1-4, 2024
SHOW: April 5-7, 2024
Please note: you cannot miss any tech rehearsals.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: This production will utilize a combination of Deaf and hearing actors working together to create characters. Doubling of roles as well as double casting may be used for various characters.
CASTING NOTE: This production is open to all students at RIT/NTID of any size, race, and ethnicity. Although the gender of the characters cannot be altered, auditions and casting are open to all students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender identity.
CONTENT NOTE: This play contains plot elements that revolve around sickness and death.
Ada Byron Lovelace: Sings. (18–36, she/her) Curious, funny, brilliant, aware of her brilliance, stories, aware of her story. Never met her famous father. Tries to be a “good girl” but just cannot help her curiosity and love of all things impossible. A woman of our time stuck in hers.
Lady Anabella Byron: (35–55, she/her) Ada’s mother, harsh, strict, jealous? Yes. But realistic. She has had a hard life largely due to Ada’s father. Projects his sins on her.
Charles Babbage: Sings. (40–60, he/him) Ada’s soul mate, friend, mentor. Lauded genius of London. A holder of famous salons, an inventor, a mathematical scholar, a dreamer who just cannot seem to make his dreams into the metal they require to be real. Almost perfect for Ada. Almost.
Lord Lovelace: (25–45, he/him) A gentleman who becomes Ada’s husband. He’d rather that he was more rich and more lordly but he’ll manage with his lot. A proud man. A wanting man. A serious man. Is not madly in love with Ada but she’ll do just fine. (May be doubled with Byron.)
Mary Sommerville: (40–60, she/her) Charles’ friend and colleague and Ada’s mentor. There are no women as successful and respected in science and math as her. Pragmatic, sharply friendly, someone who will tell you when you’re wrong. (May be doubled with Lady Anabella Byron.)
Lord Byron: Sings. (36, he/him) A charming man, darkly funny, unpredictable, emotional, brooding but self-aware. A poet.
This production is looking for:
- a student interested in designing scenic elements with a faculty mentor
- a student interested in assisting the music and vocal director
- students interested in Assistant Stage Managing
- students interested in assisting designers for costumes, lighting, and projections
- students interested in backstage, costume, and prop crews
If you have questions or would like to request a copy of the script for review, please email Kelley at kthspa@rit.edu.
