Q1: Are "EPIC: The Musical" and "Penelope: An Epic New Musical" the same production?
No. They are two entirely separate adaptations of Homeric myth. EPIC: The Musical is a 40-song, multi-saga concept musical conceived by Jorge Rivera-Herrans that achieved viral popularity online. Penelope: An Epic New Musical is a standalone, one-woman chamber musical written by Alex Bechtel, produced regionally by companies including Jobsite Theater in Tampa, Florida.
Q2: Who plays Penelope in Jorge Rivera-Herrans’ EPIC: The Musical?
Penelope is voiced by singer and actress Teagan Earley. Her performances are central to both the Wisdom Saga and the grand finale, the Ithaca Saga, where she sings key numbers like "The Challenge" and "Would You Fall in Love With Me Again."
Q3: Who starred in Jobsite Theater's production of Penelope?
Tampa Bay theater veteran Colleen Cherry starred in Jobsite Theater’s staging of Penelope. She performed the 75-minute musical as a solo act, supported live by an on-stage string quartet and percussion ensemble.
Q4: What musical genres are featured across these adaptations?
Rivera-Herrans' EPIC incorporates a dynamic blend of pop-opera, modern symphonic scoring, electronic dance beats, and video-game style leitmotifs. In contrast, Bechtel's Penelope leans into chamber-folk, theatrical cabaret, indie-pop, and intimate rock instrumentation.
Q5: How does Penelope’s character differ from the original Homeric text in these shows?
Both modern adaptations discard the ancient framing of Penelope as a purely passive, sorrowful bystander. Instead, they frame her waiting as an active political and psychological siege, emphasizing her tactical brilliance, her survival instincts, and the emotional toll of protecting Ithaca’s throne alone.
