Ancient myths are increasingly being adapted into modern musical theatre, with shows like Disney's Hercules, Hadestown, and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical gaining popularity. This trend is attributed to the inherent theatricality of Greek tragedies, the emotional power of music, and the timeless relevance of these stories in exploring identity and human experience.
From Hadestown to Hercules: ancient myths are the gods’ gift to musicals
MusicalsTheatreStageCultureWest End
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Ancient myths are increasingly being adapted into modern musical theatre, with shows like Disney's Hercules, Hadestown, and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical gaining popularity. This trend is attributed to the inherent theatricality of Greek tragedies, the emotional power of music, and the timeless relevance of these stories in exploring identity and human experience.
Trending- 1 1997: Disney animation film Hercules released.
- 2 Early 2000s (implied): Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson book series published.
- 3 Past: Ancient Greek dramas thrived on West End stage (e.g., Medea, Elektra, Oedipus).
- 4 Current: Hadestown is in its second year at the Lyric.
- 5 This month: Disney's Hercules opens.
- 6 This summer: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is going on tour.
- Increased popularity and production of mythological musicals
- New interpretations and modern relevance for ancient stories
- Emotional connection and self-reflection for audiences through musical adaptations
What: The growing trend and success of adapting ancient myths into modern musical theatre productions.
When: Currently, with Disney's Hercules opening this month, Hadestown in its second year, and The Lightning Thief touring this summer. This trend has been observed in 'recent times'.
Where: West End (London), Broadway (New York), Other Palace (London), and on tour.
Why: Ancient Greek dramas were originally performed with dance and music, making their adaptation to musicals fitting. Music is seen as a pure and effective way to tell stories, touching heart and soul, and reflecting contemporary lives with emotional depth. These myths offer an exploration of authentic identity, are 'larger than life', and provide eternally relevant stories through metaphor.
How: By translating ancient narratives into full-blown modern musical theatre, incorporating diverse music genres (gospel, jazz, folk, bluegrass, soul), contemporary stage design, and modern themes (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, isolation, masculinity, social media counterpoint). Adaptations aim to retain the 'DNA' of the myths while making them relevant to contemporary society.