Add, Subtract, Unite, Divide

Gertrude Blanch.

She could have been somebody.

A real contender.

There was real demand for scientific talent. 

A global economic depression. 

A world war.

If only she hadn’t been a woman.  

But only because she was a woman, could she find an opportunity in the Mathematical tables Project, a quirky work-relief office that was intended to give employment to New York City clerks who were unable to find a job.  She turned it into the world’s most power computing organization.  At least the most powerful organization before computing people were replaced by computing machines.  

She did calculations for the government, for the military, for scientists and engineers.  They were championed by Einstein, by John von Neuman, professors from Cornell and MIT.  She dined at the White House and sat at tables of power.  Until she was forgotten.  Forgotten by a country that is more constant in its love of technology than it is in its love of people.  

A story of Gertrude Blanch, her best friend Ida Rhodes, and their improbably employer, the Mathematical Tables Project.  A story of love, dedication, courage and (brace yourselves) long division. 

Cast: (in order of named appearance)

• Josh Wilson – Chief Whip, Milt Abramowitz
• Debbon Ayer – Gertrude Blanch
• Josh LaForce – Dr. Jones, Nurse, Chorus 
• Zoe Anastasiou – Judy, Orderly, Chorus 
• Geoffrey Grier –  Leonard Marx, Commissioner, Chorus 
• Sahara Ale – Sister, Chorus
• Ron Bianchi – Arnold Lowan, Chorus
• Kit Kuksenok – Customer, Chorus 
• Michelle Thomas-Hanson – Arlene, Chorus, Stage Manager
• Margaux Amie – Ida Rhodes 
• Noah Masur – Dr. Smith
• Anastasia DeLoret – Linda, Chorus 
• Kota Fudauchi – Ken, Chorus
• Ethan Madds – IBM Guard, Chorus
• Tehya Merrit – Evie, Chair, Chorus
• Skippy –Himself

Base on the book When Computers Were Human by David Alan Grier from Princton University Press.