A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Penelope

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  1w

Music and Lyrics by Alex Bechtel
Book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz

Blending sharp humor with a folk-pop score, this modern musical retelling of The Odyssey gives Penelope a voice as she awaits her husband’s return, moving through her loneliness to discover her own strength.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Fable/Folktale
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Penelope

Details

Summary

Penelope has been waiting… and waiting… and waiting for her husband, Odysseus, to return from a decade-long war. Given the rest of the soldiers came home years ago – forgive her, but she’s going to need a drink while she tells you about it. With a beautiful folk-inflected pop score backed by an onstage band of strings, piano and drums, Penelope opens up about her loneliness, her son’s disappearance, her suitors, her gods, her faith in her marriage – and ultimately, the faith that she must have in herself. So go ahead and grab a drink, too, and listen to this ancient tale made new: A woman wondering who she is if she’s alone, and discovering that she has been, is and will always be complete – with or without her husband by her side. 

Blending sharp humor with a folk-pop score, this modern musical retelling of The Odyssey gives Penelope a voice as she awaits her husband’s return, moving through her loneliness to discover her own strength.

History

Penelope premiered at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in September 2023. It subsequently played various regional stages across the country, including in DC at Signature Theatre in March 2024, an acclaimed co-production in Philadelphia between Theatre Horizon and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in May 2025 and in concert at Joe’s Pub in October 2025, the latest starring Grace McLean in the titular role.

PENELOPE – Age Flexible. A bright and unyielding woman, engaged in an epic journey of the imagination. She handles her insistent imaginative thoughts of doom with alcohol and dry wit, eventually finding strength in her own values and faith in the future. Versatile vocalist capable of singing the vast majority of the score. A classical actor, a poetic mover, a gifted clown and the lead singer of a band.

ONSTAGE BAND (ATHENA)

  • Time Period Contemporary, Greek/Roman/Biblical
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“Delicate, contemporary, unconventional.” – The New York Times

“What splendid musics Bechtel has written... In Penelope’s telling, Phillips’ heroine talks of the ever-new pictures she makes with each new swath of fabric as though they’re each an adventure — a kind of escape, travel without moving, storytelling in the time-stealing mode of Scheherazade. I left thinking I would gladly have listened for another day.” – Washington Post

Videos

  • Grace McLean Performs Penelope youtube thumbnail

    Grace McLean Performs Penelope

  • Drunk Iliad From Penelope youtube thumbnail

    Drunk Iliad From Penelope

  • Penelope at Signature Theatre youtube thumbnail

    Penelope at Signature Theatre

Music

Music Samples

1. “Overture” – Penelope
2. A Very Long Wait – Cello
3. One By One – The Band
4. “Penelope” – Penelope, The Band
5. “Drunk Iliad” – Penelope, The Band
6. “Prayer” – Penelope, The Band
6a. “Weaving” – Penelope, Piano
7. “Lose My Mind” – Penelope, The Band
7a. A Very Long Wait II – Violin, Viola, Cello
7b. “Athena’s Song” – Athena/The Band
8. “Tired of Faith” – Penelope, Athena/The Band
9. Sunset – Violin, Viola, Cello
9a. “Like Him…” – Penelope, Piano
10. “Pilgrim’s Song” – Penelope, The Band
11. Rain – Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello
12. “I Do” – Penelope, The Band
12a. To The Sea – The Band
13. “Resolution” – Penelope, The Band
14. “Sunrise” – Penelope, The Band
15. The Return – The Band
16. “Take My Hand” – Penelope, The Band
17. By The Fire – Piano, Cello
18. Night – Violin, Viola, Cello
19. “Us” – Penelope, The Band
20. “Epilogue” – Penelope

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock, Folk
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

2   Libretto-Cast Vocal
1   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

1   Percussion
1   Violin
1   Viola
1   Cello

2   Libretto-Cast Vocal
1   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Grace McLean

Grace McLean (she/her) is a performer, writer, composer. In addition to performing on Broadway (Suffs; Bad Cinderella; Natasha, Pierre...), Off-Broadway and regionally (MCC, LCT3, The Public, Vineyard, La MaMa, BAM, Weston Playhouse, ART, WTF), and TV (The First Lady [Showtim ...
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