Alex Bechtel's 'Penelope' performed by Grace McLean

At the beginning of the pandemic, forced to quarantine in separate cities from his romantic partner, Alex Bechtel began to write music from the point of view of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife in Homer’s “Odyssey”. Conceived as an album, and now expanded into a soaring work of concert theatre, this unique and captivating musical is led by Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, In the Green) who plays the title role of Penelope with stunning vocals and stirring pathos.

Alex Bechtel (composer) is the creator/composer of numerous plays and musicals, most recently “The Appointment” with Lightning Rod Special. Named Best of 2019 by The New York Times, TimeOut NY, and Vulture, “The Appointment” received Critic’s Pick reviews in the New York Times and TimeOut NY, and five Barrymore Award nominations for its Philadelphia run. He is a company member of Lightning Rod Special.

Grace McLean (performer) is a multi-hyphenate actress-singer-writer-teacher on the rise. In addition to performing on Broadway (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812) and Off (New Group, MCC, LCT3, Public, La MaMa, Vineyard, among others), Grace also makes time for her acclaimed original music with her band Grace McLean & Them Apples. Grace is a Broadway Women’s Fund 2021 Woman to Watch on Broadway. She is a Writer In Residence at Lincoln Center Theater where her first original musical “In the Green” was commissioned and produced, received a 2020 Richard Rodgers Award, and earned her a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.

Eva Steinmetz (director) is a Philadelphia-based theater and film maker. Local collaborations include Alexandra Tatarsky (Sign Felt), Lightning Rod Special (The Appointment – NY Times Critic’s Pick – Barrymore Nominee, Best Director), No Face Performance Group (Bastard Piece), Chris Davis (Anna K), the Pig Iron Theater Company (Zero Cost House; Twelfth Night; A Period of Animate Existence; The Caregivers), and Team Sunshine Performance Corporation (JapanAmerica Wonderwave). As lead artist of her ensemble theater company, The Eva Steinmetz Project, she directs and produces her own original productions. Eva attended Bard College where she received the Ana Itelman Prize for creativity, imagination, and invention in directing. She is also a graduate of the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Filmmaking at Temple University.

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