A new musical which sounds rather promising has been announced, premiering at The Other Palace, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s venue for trying out new shows.
It’s entitled MYTH: THE RISE AND FALL OF ORPHEUS and it’s to be directed by Arlene Phillips and has been written by Sam Cassidy.
The press release tells us it will have 9 concert-style workshop performances at The Other Palace from Saturday 10 - Saturday 17 March 2018. The production will be semi-staged and performed by a live 6-piece band.
Apparently it’s a “modern retelling of the Ancient Greek tale of Orpheus and the underworld, looking at mental illness and addiction in society and more specifically the rock music business, with a storyline with echoes of the tragically short lives of some of music’s brightest stars, including Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse”.
Pre-publicity optimistically predicts “Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus is a show that’ll break your heart, make you laugh and rock you to your very core”
We shall see!
Arlene Phillips said: “We were inspired by the recent workshop performances of Andrew Lloyd Webbers Starlight Express and believed this method of presentation would be invaluable to the development of Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus.”
Sam Cassidy said: “It’s true that musicals are not written, but rather rewritten, and this is a fantastic opportunity. In 2016, we opened a completely new British rock musical and enjoyed a very successful 6-week season at the 170-seat Cockpit Theatre. We had great audiences, with many people seeing it more than once, but we were not completely happy with elements of the production. I’ve since looked at the book, revised the storyline, dropped some songs and added new ones. This latest run will give us the chance to see how this new version works with the chance for audiences to give us feedback.”
The cast and full creative team is yet to announced but director Arlene Philips biog reads as follows:
“Arlene Phillips is a showbiz legend honoured as a CBE for her services to dance; she has worked with stars from film and TV, to theatre and arenas, as well as becoming one of Britain’s favourite television judges. Her credits as director: Saturday Night Fever, international productions of Starlight Express, US tours of Joseph and Jesus Christ Superstar, Lord of the Dance, The Songbook of Judy Garland, Brazouka, Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games. As choreographer: Jackie The Musical, Starlight Express, Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, The Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar, EFX at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Sam Cassidy, we’re told, is primarily known as an actor. “Having performed in musicals before transitioning into television”
“However, with a burning passion for music, he never could kick his musical theatre itch, but for Sam, it was all about creating new exciting theatre that challenged the status quo of what musicals should be”
The team say “Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus may be the first show Sam has put out into the world, but it is by no means the last. Myth is just the beginning”
I wonder if that will feel like a threat or a promise once we’ve seen the show!
It’ll be performed from Saturday 10 March to Saturday 17 March, 2018 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee performances 2.30pm
Playwright James Graham continues his run of success in the West End, following the critically acclaimed INK and LABOUR OF LOVE, with a new play QUIZ. 