The York Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Penelope, or How the Odyssey Was Really Written, begining performances on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 PM for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, April 24 at 2:30 PM.
Book and lyrics are by Peter Kellogg, who wrote the award-winning Desperate Measures; music is by Stephen Weiner, two-time Richard Rodgers Award winner. Direction and choreography is by Emily Maltby (York’s Lolita, My Love), with music direction and orchestrations by David Hancock Turner (York’s Cheek to Cheek, Desperate Measures).
Penelope is funny, feminist and relevant because it’s about a woman who lives through and for her husband, only to realize that her life is just as important as his. Penelope, married to Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, is waiting for him to return from the Trojan War. She’s been waiting a long time: twenty years; ten years since the war ended. A bevy of suitors have gathered, each wanting to marry her and take over the kingdom. To stall them, Penelope writes letters to herself and pretends they’re from Odysseus saying he’s on his way. Little does she know that her letters gathered together are creating the story of The Odyssey. (Since no one knows who really wrote The Odyssey, this theory is as good as any other.) Meanwhile the suitors, having little else to do but eat and drink, form an a cappella group—the acoustics in The Great Hall are terrific.
Penelope plays the following performance schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:00 PM, Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM.
Tickets may be purchased by visiting Ovation tickets here, or by calling the Box Office at (212) 935-5820, Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, or via email at boxoffice@yorktheatre.org. For full information, visit www.yorktheatre.org
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