The ConnectorScript, Piano/Vocal Score & show details

Full synopsis

Robin tells us that the story we're about to hear first appeared in 1997, in the final issue of the legendary magazine, The Connector.

New York City, 1995. The offices of The Connector,a monthly magazine at the center of American political and literary conversation since the 1940s. The editor-in-chief, Conrad O'Brien, in his 60s, toasts the assembled writers and editors, the new corporate owners (a German media conglomerate), and the past, present, and future of the magazine ("The Whole World Changed").

Ethan Dobson, fresh out of Princeton, blazingly talented and fiercely ambitious, arrives at the office for a meeting, where he meets Robin Martinez, a 30-year-old copy editor. Robin has tried and failed to get Conrad interested in her writing, so she's fascinated by Ethan's boldness and easy manner, and the two of them begin to form a friendship. Conrad too is charmed and impressed by Ethan and gives him a job (" See Yourself").

Ethan makes his way through the offices, connecting with every staff member. Robin observes it all with bemusement ("I'm Watching You").

Ethan's first article ("Success") makes a splash. Robin and Ethan celebrate in a fabled nearby bar ("So I Came To New York)". Conrad encourages Ethan to push even harder on the next story-to find something The Connectorhas never published before.

Several months go by, with Ethan delivering story after story to great acclaim. When Conrad is interviewed on Booknoteswith Brian Lamb, Ethan imagines himself on TV ("Voice Of My Generation").

Among Ethan's new fans is Mona Bland, a dedicated reader and nitpicker known for writing fact-checking letters that come to Muriel, the longest-serving staff member and senior fact-checker. She is unyielding in her commitment to the magazine's integrity.

Robin shares with Ethan her growing frustration that Conrad refuses to take her writing seriously. Ethan tries to defend the situation, but Robin knows the only voices that will appear in the pages of The Connector belong to people who look and sound like Conrad and Ethan ("Cassandra").

Meanwhile, Ethan's newest story contains a bombshell: he's found a man who has a copy of a videotape of Mayor Wheeler of Jersey City smoking crack with a teenager ("Wind In My Sails"). It's legally risky for the magazine to publish, especially since Ethan's sources are seemingly impossible to confirm. Muriel advises against publishing, but Conrad overrules her. The article sends out shock waves, and the Mayor resigns. Ethan is now the Golden Boy-there is even talk of a Pulitzer.

Conrad, his faith rewarded, confides to Zachary, the magazine's attorney, that he sees retirement soon, knowing someone new can steer the ship ("Now What"). Mona finds some large inconsistencies in Ethan's story and writes her monthly letter to Muriel.

Robin decides to jump ship and join the staff at the much-less-prestigious New York Press.Ethan is astonished that Robin would give up working for The Connectorto write for a free paper. She is offended, and they sever ties. Ethan starts to craft his next story ("Help Me Forget Everything").

At Mona's instigation, Muriel discovers that Ethan may have invented his Mayor Wheeler story out of whole cloth. She gathers evidence and passes it to Robin ("Proof").

Ethan sees Robin and the editor of The New York Press enter a meeting with Conrad and begins to panic. He narrates his final, unpublished article for The Connector ("The Western Wall").

Conrad and Zachary and Robin interrogate Ethan in an attempt to find verifiable information in his stories. Ethan is like a caged animal. His excuses unravel until it becomes clear his entire body of work is a lie. Conrad goes to draft his resignation, hoping in vain the magazine itself can be saved.

Ethan, disgraced and alone, defends himself. He rips up his notebooks and papers ("There Never Was").

Robin holds up a copy of the final issue of The Connector,which contains "Ethan Dobson & The Truth: A New York City Story," by Robin Martinez. She finally got a story in the magazine. Robin turns to look back at Ethan. As Ethan pushes the torn paper off his desk, the set dissolves into a flurry of loose magazine pages fluttering to the ground, leaving an empty stage, followed by a quick blackout.