''Myths and Hymns'' (originally known as ''Saturn Returns'') is a

song cycle A song cycle (german: Liederkreis or Liederzyklus) is a group, or cycle (music), cycle, of individually complete Art song, songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a unit.Susan Youens, ''Grove online'' The songs are either for solo voice ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

Adam Guettel Adam Guettel (; born December 16, 1964) is an American composer- lyricist of musical theater and opera. The grandson of musical theatre composer Richard Rodgers, he is best known for his musical '' The Light in the Piazza'', for which he won the ...

, based on

Greek myth A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of d ...

and lyrics found in an antique

hymnal A hymnal or hymnary is a collection of hymns, usually in the form of a book, called a hymnbook (or hymn book). Hymnals are used in congregational singing. A hymnal may contain only hymn texts (normal for most hymnals for most centuries of Chri ...

. ''Myths and Hymns'' was first performed

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

, under the title ''Saturn Returns'', at the

Public Theater The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as the Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers.Epstein, Helen. ''Joe Papp: An American Li ...

on March 31, 1998 and closed on April 26, 1998 after 16 performances. It was directed by

Tina Landau Tina Landau (born May 21, 1962) is an American playwright and theatre director. Known for her large-scale, musical, and ensemble-driven work, Landau's productions have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, most extensively at the ...

with a cast of 6 performers that included Annie Golden, Vivian Cherry, Theresa McCarthy, Lawrence Clayton, Jose Llana and

Bob Stillman Bob Stillman (born December 2, 1954, in New York City) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. Biography Stillman studied piano at Juilliard, and composition at Princeton University. He made his Broadway debut in ''Grand Hotel'' as Erik in ...

. ''Myths and Hymns'' is structured as a revue, with no through plot. Performed in concert format, it concerns the relationship of humans to gods, past and present.Cain, Scot
Review, Cincinnati, ''Myths and Hymns''
talkinbroadway.com, December 1, 2000 The songs range from electronic

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

and

piano ballad A ballade (from French '' ballade'', , and German ''Ballade'', , both being words for "ballad"), in classical music since the late 18th century, refers to a setting of a literary ballad, a narrative poem, in the musical tradition of the , or to a o ...

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

and

musical theater Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

. ''Myths and Hymns'' received its first narrative treatment, written and directed by Elizabeth Lucas (

Clear Blue Tuesday ''Clear Blue Tuesday'' is a 2009 musical film directed by Elizabeth Lucas. It premiered at the Quad Cinema in New York City on September 3, 2010. Plot Over the course of seven years, eleven New Yorkers affected by the events of September 11, 2001 ...

), in February 2012 at Prospect Theater in New York Cit

This marks the first production of the show in New York since its premiere at the Public and the first ever in New York under the current title.

Song list

A cast recording was released by Nonesuch Records, Nonesuch on March 30, 1999. The performers on the recording include the off-Broadway cast, and also include others who were not in that production. Performers include:

Audra McDonald Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American actress and singer. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four act ...

Mandy Patinkin Mandel Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television and film. He is a critically acclaimed Broadway performer, having received three Tony Award nominations, winning ...

Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Dawn Chenoweth (; born Kristi Dawn Chenoweth; July 24, 1968)Kristin Cheno ...

, Vivian Cherry, Billy Porter and Theresa McCarthy.Suskin, Steve
"On the Record:Little Me, Charlie Brown and especially, Adam Guettel"
, playbill.com, March 21, 1999 ''Songs on the recording in its final form'': *Children of the Heavenly King *At the Sounding *Saturn Returns *Icarus *Migratory V *Link *Hero and Leander *Sisyphus *Come to Jesus *How Can I Lose You? *Awaiting You *The Great Highway *There's a Land *Saturn Returns (Reprise)

European premiere

The show had its European premiere at the Finborough Theatre, London, on 22 April 2007, and was scheduled to run a further two performances on 29 April and 6 May. Due to popular demand the show was scheduled for two further performances on 30 April and 7 May. Directed by Tom Cooper, and with musical direction from Joe Hood, the cast featured Leon Craig,

Ashleigh Gray Ashleigh Gray is a Scottish Actress and Musical Theatre performer best known for playing Elphaba in the London and UK & Ireland touring productions of ''Wicked''. Early life Gray was born in Fife, Scotland and educated at Newbattle Com ...

, Hazel Holder, Craig Purnell, David Randall, and

Caroline Sheen Caroline Sheen is a Welsh actress who has played leading roles on stage in the West End alongside TV and film appearances. She won a Helen Hayes award for playing the role of Mary Poppins on the National Tour of America. Background Born and ...

.''Myths and Hymns'' listing at the archive of the Finborough Theatre
finboroughtheatre.co.uk, accessed February 20, 2009 "... This is musical theatre that is challenging, compelling and compulsive... there is an astonishing intelligence and physicality throughout... bring yourself to it - as the fiercely committed cast of Tom Cooper’s production do - and it one of the most rewarding experiences you can have..." Mark Shenton, "The Stage" ;Song list ''The show's order followed that of the score rather than the recording'': *Prometheus *Saturn Returns *Icarus *Migratory V *Pegasus *Jesus the Mighty Conqueror *Children of the Heavenly King *At the Sounding *Build a Bridge *Sisyphus *Life is but a Dream *Link *Hero & Leander *Come to Jesus *How Can I Lose You? *Awaiting You *The Great Highway *There's a Land *Saturn Returns (Reprise)

References

External links

''The New York Times'', April 10, 1998

{{Authority control Song cycles Musicals based on religious traditions 1998 musicals