'Nerds' musical celebrating computers comes to Raleigh

Darren Ritchie, who plays Steve Jobs in "Nerds: A New Musical Comedy," talks with WRAL about the show coming to the A.J. Fletcher Theater.
Posted 1/22/2013, 1:13:00 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:49:29 PM

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT

BROADWAY, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

LES MIDST,BUT NERDS.

HE PLAYS STEVE JOBS.

THE STORYLINES BUT SURPRISED

THIS COULD BE TURNED INTO A

MUSICAL.

GIVE US THE STORYLINE IN A

NUTSHELL.

>> IT'S BASICALLY ABOUT THE

STRUGGLE FROM THE '70s UP TO

MODERN DAY WITH BILL GATES AND

STEVE JOBS.

THEY WORKED TOGETHER AND

BRANCHED OFF IN DIFFERENT WAYS,

OBVIOUSLY.

WE SAY, ARE YOU A STEVE OR A

BILL BECAUSE YOU ARE EITHER A

MAC USER OR A PC USER.

THAT'S BASICALLY THE STORY IN A

NUTSHELL.

THERE'S A LOVE INTEREST PUT IN

THERE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S SOMEONE FOLKS WILL

KNOW.

DEANA DIGARMO ON AMERICAN IDOL.

SHE WAS THE SEASON 3 RUNNER-UP,

LOST TO FANTASIA.

WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING WITH

HER?

>> DIANA IS GREAT.

WE HAVE A GREAT TIME ON STAGE

TODAY.

WE DO SORT OF ZANYCOMEDY.

BUT WE HAVE BROADWAY VETERAN,

BUT DIANA'S GREAT.

>> THIS IS UNTIL FEBRUARY 3rd.

IT'S A PREBROADWAY SHOW.

EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHEN YOU TRY TO GET A SHOW

TO BROADWAY, EWE -- YOU GO OUT

OF TOWN.

THEY FLY IN ALL THESE FUN

PEOPLE AND GET TO SHOW IT TO

NORTH CAROLINA AND WE CHANGE IT

DAILY.

JUST WITH ANY SORT OF BIG

PRODUCTION, YOU HAVE TO WORK

OUT THE KINKS IN THAT KIND OF

THING.

BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IN A

WHILE.

THIS GUY IS A SOUTH CAROLINA

NATIVE.

THIS IS A BIG BASKETBALL

COMMUNITY.

UP NORTH, MY MOM WAS IN

PROSPERITY WHICH IS A LITTLE

BIT NORTH OF COLUMBIA.

IT'S NICE TO BE BACK HOME IN

THE CAROLINAS WORKING ON

SOMETHING THAT WILL THEN GO TO

NEW YORK.

IT'S NICE TO BE HOME.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, DID

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GET IN

TOUCH WITH ANYONE?

FOLKS WHO KNOW STEVE JOBS, BIG

GATES OR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING

FLOWN OUT TO THE CAPITAL AND

GOT TO MEET SOME OF THE

ORIGINAL INVESTORS IN APPLE AND

BILLION DOLLAR 35-YEAR-OLDS.

>> DID THEY TAKE YOU OUT TO

LUNCH?

>> WE HAD A VERY FANCY CATERED

LUNCH.

I WAS HOPING FOR SOME iPADS AND

STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT IT WAS

GREAT TO MEET ALL OF THEM AND

FOR MYSELF AND THE GUY THAT

PLAYED STEVE WOZNIAK TO BE IN

THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> DARIN RICHY, THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR JOINING US AND WE WISH

YOU LUCK IN YOUR PRODUCTION.

YOU CAN WATCH IT NOW THROUGH

FEBRUARY 3rd.

GO OUT AND GET YOUR TICKET.

>> THANKS, GUYS AND WE WELCOME

DARIN'S FAMILY HERE IN RALEIGH

© WRAL