Orphie and the Book Of Heroes

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Cast Size

2w, 5m
Duration

75 Minutes
Target Audience

Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

In Ancient Greece, the famed writer Homer adopts a young, recently orphaned girl named Orphie – who also happens to be an avid fan of his writing. Devoted to the stories she’s read in Homer’s Book of Heroes, Orphie is dismayed to find one kind of story still missing: One with a Great Girl Hero. When sinister song-and-dance man Hades kidnaps Homer and brings him to the Underworld, Orphie embarks on a quest to save her beloved guardian and, in the process, writes the very story she’s been seeking all along. Filled with heroes and creatures right out of famous Greek myths, this musical combines the familiar and the ancient with fresh imagination together in a family-friendly tale of adventure and empowerment. Parents will recognize the mythical creatures and the poets, and their kids will discover them through storytelling, song and spectacle in this balanced and bright musical by the writing team behind Vampirina and Doc McStuffins.

History

Orphie and the Book of Heroes began as a commissioned piece for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Theatre for Young Audiences division and premiered in Washington, D.C. on 8 February 2014. Directed by Joe Calarco, the production featured Christopher Bloch, Paul Scanlan, Gia Mora, Samuel Edgerly, Lauren Du Pree, Evan Casey and Thomas Adrian Simpson. It later premiered at the Orlando Repertory Theatre on 12 October 2015.

Cast Attributes

Performing Groups

ORPHIE – Age 11. A spunky, pigtailed girl. A bit of a tomboy.
HOMER – A blind poet and Orphie’s guardian.
NEMEAN DANDELION, HYDRA and CERBERUS – Three fantastical monsters in Orphie’s imagination.
AESCHYLUS, EURIPIDES and SOPHOCLES – 12-ish. Three school boys. The Ancient Greek equivalent of Mean Girls.
HADES – Lord of the Underworld. Urbane and charming, but dangerous.
HERACLES – A hero with an ego the size of the Persian empire. A cross between a movie star and an obnoxious athlete.
HERMES – Messenger to the Gods. Loquacious, insecure and neurotic.
AGLIOPE, PEISINOE and TELLY – Sassy Sirens.
PERSEPHONE – Hades’ depressed wife.
ATLAS – A gigantic, cantankerous Titan with a sensitive side.
PEGASUS – A flying horse/flight attendant.
TANTALUS/SISYPHUS – Residents of the Underworld.
STATUE OF LIBERTY – The Statue of Liberty.

While this production was originally performed with 7 actors, the cast size can be expanded as needed, as there are 20 distinct named roles.

If using just 7 actors, the suggested doubling for the show is as follows:
TRACK ONE – ORPHIE
TRACK TWO – PERSEPHONE/CERBERUS #3/STATUE OF LIBERTY
TRACK THREE – HOMER
TRACK FOUR – AESCHYLUS/TELLY/SISYPHUS/PEGASUS/CERBERUS #2
TRACK FIVE – EURIPIDES/HERACLES/AGLIOPE/TANTALUS/HYDRA
TRACK SIX – SOPHOCLES/HERMES/PEISINOE/CERBERUS #1
TRACK SEVEN – HADES/ATLAS/DANDELION

While this production was originally performed with 7 actors, the cast size can be expanded as needed, as there are 20 distinct named roles.

Time Period Greek/Roman/Biblical, Ancient
Setting
Various locations in Ancient Greece.
Features Fantasy Costumes, Period Costumes
Additional Features No Intermission, Physical Comedy, Puppetry, Stage Combat, Special Effects
Duration 75 Minutes
Cautions
- No Special Cautions

Media

“Pure delight… Smart, funny and original.” – Broadway World

“A girl-power spin to a subtle message about the joys of reading… If, about a decade from now, there’s a spike in undergraduate classics majors, Dimond, Kooman and their colleagues may be to blame.” – The Washington Post

“Fun mash-ups of Greek Culture and our modern world filled with humor and unexpected character twists… Not only does it strive to empower young girls by example, it makes classical Greek mythology fun… One of Dimond’s goals was to create a ‘producible’ musical for family audiences. While productions of Greek mythology often conjure up grand adventures on an epic and inherently expensive scale beyond the resources of many theatre groups, [Orphie] is intended to be colorful yet simplistic in its design and presentation.” – Onstage Pittsburgh

“A true delight… Funny, memorable and had the kids dancing in their seats… The musical gives hope to children of both genders that anything is possible. Yes, it was particularly loved by the girls in the audience who were delighted to see that Orphie is successful at the end of her journey, but the boys in the crowd were having just as good a time.” – DC Theatre Scene

“Orphie features catchy tunes as it mixes tales of yore with a zippy modern vibe that appeals to younger audiences – but can also make adults chuckle.” – Orlando Sentinel

“The Kennedy Center-commissioned Orphie and the Book of Heroes, in its world premiere, creates a new definition of ‘hero’ in a tidal wave of brilliant songs, humorous dialogue and a whip-smart little girl who is not so little on the inside.” – MD Theatre Guide

“Chocked with valuable lessons, this exciting and entertaining new musical is a rare treat not to be missed.” – DC Metro Theatre Arts

Videos

Orphie and the Book of Heroes – Kennedy Center Trailer
Orphie and the Book of Heroes – Ateneo Blue Repertory Trailer
Orphie and the Book of Heroes – Orlando Repertory Theatre Trailer
The Writers on the Story of Orphie and the Book of Heroes

Music

1. “The Book of Heroes” – Cerberus, Dandelion, Homer, Hydra and Orphie plus Ensemble
2. “One More Story“ – Homer and Orphie
3. “Scrawny Little Orphan Girl” – Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles with Orphie
4. “What Would a Hero Do?” – Orphie
5. “Orphie Go Home” – Hermes
5a. “The Siren’s Song” – The Sirens
7. “Misery” – Hades, Sisyphus and Tantalus
8. “To Be a Siren” – The Sirens with Orphie
9. “Wrapped Up in a Story” – Atlas and Orphie
10. “He’s the Man” – Heracles and Men with Orphie
11. “Mount Olympus” – Hermes and Orphie
12. “Finale” – Hades, Homer, Orphie, Persephone and Company

Licensing & Materials

Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Authors

Michael Kooman

Composer Michael Kooman is best known for his work with Christopher Dimond, with whom he received the 2013 Fred Ebb Award and a 2010 Jonathan Larson Grant. The duo were also the first recipients of the Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award and the Samuel French Next Step Award. Add ...

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Christopher Dimond

Playwright and lyricist Christopher Dimond is best known for his work with composer Michael Kooman, with whom he received the 2013 Fred Ebb Award and a 2010 Jonathan Larson Grant. The duo were also the first recipients of the Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award and the Samuel Fren ...

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Orphie and the Book Of Heroes