WHEN PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!
A musical about creation of first interactive personal computer at Xerox PARC.
Music & Lyrics by Terry Crystal*
Book by Terry Crystal & Don DiVecchio
special thanks to Chris Jeffers for use of ‘Happy Hacker’, an early tune written for PC.

Alto computer created at Xerox PARC, 1972

For draft scene outline, click – XP Scene Outline

During a brief five year period, in the early 70’s, the scientists of Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) created much of the technology we see in computers today – laser printing, the Ethernet, and the first personal computer with Graphical User Interface and mouse. This musical celebrates the founding of PARC, the creativity, collaboration, and energy of PARC researchers, and the creation of the Alto computer, one of the signature creations of those early years.

Sample Songs:

(Scene 1b) Creating the Space (duet with ensemble):
Jack recruits George to run new lab (Xerox PARC), and they discuss what it will look like. When curtain rises, their duet segues into production number with ensemble singing backup at PARC.

(scene 4b) Mothers of Invention – Adele & Diana talk about ‘the women who came before’.

(Scene 10) Moving On – At Larry’s going away party, Bob, Alan, and ensemble sing final song of appreciation – of each other and the scientists who came before.

For your added enjoyment, here are a few more songs and bits of interactive computer history – Intergalactic Computer Network, Shape of Learning and Engelbart.

*Xerox PARC is the third musical by Terry Crystal and Don DiVecchio (Caitlin County and The Side Effect Pill).
For books that proved inspirational to this project, see Resources.