the musical

1.   Prologue - Cinematic projection of a small Croatian town circa 1861 under a mysteriously undulating full moon.  At the stroke of midnight on the town clock, Tesla’s birth occurs, silhouetted in a window.   What follows is a rapid sequence of images of Tesla’s life - including newspaper headlines, patent drawings, and a horrific explosion flooding the screen with light. The stage lights come up on an old radio in a widening spotlight that reveals a Hotel room with Tesla, age 87.

 

2.   I Hold The Keys -  The elderly Tesla contemplates non-existence but then feels a surge of vigor.   He finishes the song ready to “take on the world” when the ghost of a 12 year old boy (his brother Dane) appears and informs Tesla that he is dead but is trapped as a ghost in this world.

 

3. Coil of Your Sould - The ghost of Dane explains to Tesla what he must do to “cross over” and remain a ghost no more.

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4. Rooftop Scene - Dane makes Tesla relive a horrifying memory from their childhood.

 

5.  In My Tower - The ghost of Tesla transforms into Young Tesla, age 8.  His Mother enters and abruptly insinuates that Tesla was responsible for his brother’s death, then puts him to bed and leaves - just as strange spirits encircle Tesla’s bunk bed and taunt him.  Tesla uses a candle and various objects to fill the room with light and ward off the spirits. He finishes the song alone.

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6. I Hear Everything - A College-aged Tesla starts developingh the eccentricities that often go with genius, and in his case, plague him for life.

 

7.    I Never Left You - Years later in a college dorm room, life-mate and loyal assistant Anital puts a sick Tesla to bed and sings this song to him while he is sleeping.  After the song, Tesla awakens and spontaneously comes up with the idea for his first major invention - Alternating Current (A.C.).

 

8.    Dog Eat Dog World - Tesla journeys to America to pursue his career and meet the “noble” Thomas Edison.  Tesla discovers that Edison is rather crude and more interested in making money than “pure science.”  Edison views Tesla as a “novice” but takes him on as an apprentice.

 

9.    In A Moment - Tesla is hired by Thomas Edison to fix the electric system at a J.P Morgan party.   Tesla replaces Edison's D.C. system with his own A.C. system and all are impressed, including George Westinghouse.  In this song, J.P.’s 18 year old daughter Anne sees Tesla and is smitten for different reasons.  In an effort to keep Tesla “all to himself,”  Edison makes a bold promise of $50,000 if Tesla will keep his trolleys running for a year.

 

10.    When Dreams Die - After a year of service to Edison, Tesla comes to claim his money, only to be told by Edison that he was only “kidding”.  Tesla is furious and quits.  He is forced to take a job as a street laborer and sings this song amidst a chorus of Depression-era immigrant laborers.  

 

11.   River Of Light - Tesla is rescued from the street by Westinghouse.  In this scene, they realize they have a similar dream and decide to act upon it - to draw electric power from Niagara Falls.

 

12.   Wonderful - The Tesla / Westinghouse Niagara Power Project  has made Tesla famous.  In this scene he basks in his glory amidst a flurry of reporters and fans.  His friends Robert and Katherine Underwood and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) await him at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Room.

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13. Dane's Warning - In a split scene, Anne Morgan learns of her father's treachery by using her to gather information about Tesla.  Meanwhile Dane's ghost tries to direct Tesla in his journey of discovery.

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14.   The Frequencies - Back in his lab, Tesla explains the scientific concept of Resonant Vibration to Katherine, Robert, Sam and Anne.  Tesla also shows how the concept has been utilized in his inventions, which include fluorescent bulbs, x-ray, a purple neon Tesla sign, and a strange platform.

 

16. Pan Am Expo - The Act II opener starts with Tesla and friends enjoying themselves at this showcase for modern science, and preparing for the world to recognize his genius.
 

17.  The Edison Show - Tesla's mood is dampened by the devious Thomas Edison, bad-mouthing him and electrifying animals for a crowd with Tesla's generator.

 

11.   How Should I Love Him - Anne makes an appeal to Tesla for him to rescue her from her father’s control.  Tesla is unresponsive.  Then, in a split scene, she and Anital sing this duet about Tesla, while the scientist is oblivious to their feelings and tinkers away behind them in his laboratory.

 

18.   My One, My Only - At a party, Tesla is asked about his romantic preference.  He informs Anne, Anital and an anxious crowd that his one and only love is science, and sings this song.   He is then interrupted again by Westinghouse, who informs him that Edison has used his generator to create the first “electric chair” in a fallacious “smear campaign” against the safety of Tesla’s AC system.

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19.  River of Light Reprise - Tesla tries to honor his friendship with Westinghouse by tearing up the contract that would have made him the richest man in the world, 

 

20.   Higher Ground - Tesla realizes too late that Westinghouse is not as dedicated to their friendship as he, when his old friend has nothing to offer when Tesla’s laboratory mysteriously burns down,  Tesla contemplates suicide.  Anital comes to his rescue, and sings openly about his feelings for Nikola.  Tesla is unmoved except by Anital’s poetic words “higher ground,” which rekindle the concept of an invention he has long been contemplating...a “tower” he believes will be his greatest invention to date.

 

21.  These Were My Friends - Tesla is on his way to ask Morgan for money for his new project, but before he arrives, J.P gives Anne an ultimatum -  of either remaining a “spy” for him of marrying a young competitor. She sings this retaliation, but to no avail - J.P. is implacable.

 

22.   How Should I Love Him: Reprise - While Tesla unsuccessfully tries to interest J.P into backing his new project, Anne takes a moment alone and sings this song.  She then bargains with J.P. to fund Tesla’s project if she agrees to marry.

 

23.    I Never Left You: Reprise - After near completion of the mystery “Tower” project, Tesla reveals to J.P it’s true nature of delivering unlimited power to any point on the earth for free.  Morgan is outraged by this un-businesslike oversight and demands it be dismantled immediately.   Tesla pleads with Anital to assist him in a desperate effort to impress the world by transmitting electrical power straight through the earth itself.  Anital refuses and demands Tesla abandon his mad plan.

 

24.    The Deed - Anital leaves and Tesla performs the experiment.  The ghost of Dane informs him of his miscalculation and the murder of dozens of Siberian Tribesmen in what is later known as the “Tunguska Event”.  The mysterious sprits once again surround him and Tesla is forced to confront his crime.

 

25.  Aftermath - Tesla attributes his life’s obsession to the guilt  of murdering his own brother.  Dane then makes him again witness that “murder”.  It is revealed that Dane’s death was an accident.  Dane reveals what Tesla’s life flaw was - the lack of love in his life for those around him.

 

26.  Finale - With the events of his life sorted out, Tesla prepares to “cross over”.  For a brief moment, living Anital and Tesla seem to see each other.  The show ends as it began, with the radio playing in a sole spotlight.